“Nope, just getting a good look at you.”
“I see.” I straighten and take a step back. “Do you need a better view?”
“You’re making quite the impression.” He flashes a grin so charming it’s almost blinding. “But something tells me you’re used to that.”
It doesn’t hit like a line, but it makes my stomach dip all the same. I smooth a hand over my hip. “It’s part of my charm.”
“I bet.” He makes no move to leave.
I flutter my lashes. “Come Thursday, you’ll be seeing me all the time. I assume you’ll get used to it.”
“You and your sister will be good for Revival.” He swipes the glass from the counter. “Town needs a little shake-up every now and then, don’t you think?”
I wave a hand in the air. “No one will even know I’m here.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” He laughs and walks away.
He’s wrong. I’m done with drama. I just have to deal with this Charlie situation, and then it will be smooth sailing from here on out.
Charlie
* * *
I have never in my entire life worked so hard to keep my eyes off a woman. It is actually difficult. It’s requiring effort. It should not be work; it should be easy, like it always is.
She’s driving me goddamn crazy. I swear she’s doing it on purpose.
And I really, really want to rectify that.
But instead of being able to take her in hand and control that attitude, I’m forced to sit next to her, impassive.
Like she has zero effect on me. Like I barely notice she’s alive.
My temples give a pulse of pain. I relax my jaw, giving my teeth a rest from grinding. Whatever I do, I cannot look over at her.
In my periphery, her red dress beckons. It’s made of a stretchy, swirly jersey fabric that drapes but doesn’t cling. Unlike the tight skirt she was wearing the first time I met her, this dress is made for easy access.
And she’s just standing over there, daring me with it.
She laughs at something Sam says.
I turn away to quell the desire to rip out Sam’s throat.
So this is jealousy.
It’s as irrational and ridiculous as I suspected it to be. I mean, sure, it’s not like I’ve never felt it. Once upon a time, I used to hook up with Sam’s sister Gracie, and when she’d fallen hard for her now-husband, I’d experienced a twinge.
Like the loss of what could have been if we’d been different people.
But it had been easy. We’d stopped having sex and slipped right into friendship. I’ve never had a single violent thought about James. I like the guy. We’re friends, even though I used to sleep with his wife.
The whole thing had been completely drama-free.
The exact opposite of this nightmare with Jessica.
I remind myself she was crystal clear about not wanting a relationship. That, in theory, I have nothing to worry about.
So we had sex. It’s not a big deal.
