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“I’d like to do that,” she agreed, not bothering to point out that if Stone didn’t want to eat alone, he’d never have to. Innumerous women would line up to keep him company. “I can pay half.”
She’d have to cut corners elsewhere, but doing something sweet for Joyce would be worth it.
His brow arched. “Do you think I’d let you pay when I’m the one who offered to bring dessert?”
“You didn’t offer to bring four desserts. I don’t mind helping cover the cost.”
“I’d mind if you did. Let me do this, Carly. It’s not much and I want to.” He waggled his brows. “We’ll call the extra three desserts an investment.”
Suspicion rallied in her belly. “An investment?”
“I want Joyce to like me.”
Taking air into her tight chest hurt. “Because?”
“You and I are going to be friends. I can’t have the person closest to you not liking me or she might not want me around.”
Her head spun a little. “You plan to be around?”
His gaze didn’t leave hers. “You said it yourself. Friends spend time together. I don’t expect our friendship to be otherwise.”
“I can’t ask Joyce to stay late so I can spend time with you. Please don’t think that’s what tonight is leading to.”
She sure couldn’t afford to hire Joyce for extra hours. Doing so just wasn’t in the budget. Not even if Carly forwent sleep and worked round the clock.
“Joyce doesn’t have to stay late.”
Carly stared, trying to figure out his game. “Then how?”
“Where there’s a will there’s a way.” He didn’t look concerned, just smiled that casual grin of his and motioned to their waitress so they could order four desserts to go.
* * *
Stone pulled into Carly’s gravel drive and turned off the engine. She sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with her seat belt.
“Thank you for tonight.”
“Even though I had to practically coerce you into going?” he teased, turning toward her.
“Hopefully you understand my reasons.”
He considered her comment, then, “Partially.”
“Well, it was a lovely evening, and I appreciate the opportunity to feel…somewhat normal, outside of work. Thank you.”
Stone wondered what she had been going to say and searched her face, trying to see deep inside her mind, to know everything she was thinking, feeling.
“Any time, Carly. Any time.”
She smiled, but it quickly disappeared.
“Shall I go in with you to give Joyce her desserts?”
She flinched. “You bought the desserts. Sending you away doesn’t seem quite fair.”
He’d hoped Carly would realize they could be friends, could make this work. Obviously, she wasn’t on the same page. Not yet.
His gaze not wavering from hers, knowing what her answer was going to be, he asked, “But you’d rather I not come in?”
* * *
Carly took a deep breath. Insurance claims. Her mother. Bills. Answering the questions Joyce was sure to have. Berating herself for going to dinner with Stone. She had a long, long night ahead of her.
“As I said, tonight has been lovely.” It truly had. A night she wasn’t likely to forget any time soon and would replay over and over in her mind. A night where she felt like a semi-normal twenty-seven-year-old female. “If it’s all the same, I’d like to say goodnight out here.”
“It’s not all the same, but I realize you worked a twelve-hour shift today and have to be exhausted.”
He had no idea.
“So when I say goodnight, do you mean as in verbally saying goodnight or can I kiss you?”
Carly’s heartbeat jumped into overdrive and she gripped the seat belt tighter to keep her hand from shaking. “How am I supposed to answer that without making things awkward between us?”
He considered her question a moment, then asked, “So I should have just leaned over and kissed you?”
His having done so would have been straight from a fantasy, but also a complication neither of them needed.
“Do friends kiss each other goodnight?”
“Good point.” He stuck out his hand. “Goodnight, Carly. Thank you for going to dinner.”
Carly’s gaze dropped to his hand. He meant for her to shake it? Fighting confusion, she glanced back up.
He was going to shake her hand, not kiss her goodnight. Okay. Made sense. Hadn’t she been preaching they couldn’t have a romantic relationship all evening?
She put her hand in his and shook it in the strangest handshake. His grip was firm and gentle at the same time.
Calming and disturbing.
Warm and hot.
