Luckily, nobody in here right now seems to be paying attention to us. If Troy’s heard anything, he hasn’t mentioned it. Maybe town gossip won’t be much of a factor in this. I’d be relieved, except my family knowing is complication enough to match a whole metropolis full of busybodies. My phone hasn’t stopped vibrating with messages. Mostly of the “I can’t believe this is happening” genre.
“Did you have a good night?” She aims a finger gun at me.
Please tell me this isn’t how she flirts.
“Rose.” It’s a plea as much as a warning. She doesn’t need to play up the romance angle between us while we’re in the coffee shop.
Although, if that was her version of “romance,” we have a lot to work on.
“Reed,” she scolds back. Of course, with her, there’s no threat to it. Just my name on her lips. That alone is enough to unravel knots of tension that were pulled tight inside my chest. She gazes up at me expectantly.
If she thinks it’s my turn to flash finger guns or recite a cheesy pick-up line, she’ll go on waiting. Cheese isn’t my style. I prefer being direct about what I want. It just so happens I’ve spent over a year telling myself I can’t have what I want.
And if I got it, soon enough, I’d find a way to lose it again.
Naturally, Rose doesn’t mind our staring contest. She thinks my glowers are funny. The longer our gazes stay locked, the more her expression brightens, until finally her mouth tips up, revealing her dimple.
That intriguing little divot calls to me in the worst way. What would it feel like beneath my fingertips? Beneath my lips?
“Reed said the coffee cart was a big success.” Troy interrupts my dimple-admiration, moving over to form a triangle with Rose and me.
“Big success, huh?” Her smile takes on a hint of smug satisfaction.
It looks good on her. Anything would.
“I said it wasasuccess.” And obviously, that was too much to reveal to Mr. Chatty over here.
“Biggest success ever, and you’re grateful for the visionary who encouraged you to do it?” she prompts.
“You’re pushing it.” But there’s no bite to my words. Probably why she grins as if I really did praise her the way she deserves.
“I won’t be able to make it until the end of the summer.” Troy rakes a hand through his bleached platinum hair and adjusts theblack Perk Me Up baseball cap he wears every day. “Hopefully they save the best bands for last.”
“That would explain a lot if they are,” I grumble.
“Don’t pay attention to him,” Rose tells Troy. “I had the best time last night.”
She must remember what else she’s calling “the best time” because her smile falters and winks out, depriving me of her dimple.
“I mean, it was surprising. Unexpected but…nice.” Her lips twist like she’s taste-testing various sour candies. “It was good. And fun. I had a nice time.”
Good and fun and nice. Exactly how I want her to describe agreeing to date me.
Pretendto date me. Can’t forget that key word.
“I’m going to put in the orders for next week.” I stalk into the back before she can find more bland descriptors to slap over last night’s events.
Because she has no idea I’m trying to escape her, Rose follows me. I turn around, and she’s so close she could be standing on my toes. The shot of adrenaline that races through my system at her nearness is supremely unhelpful.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she whispers. “Should we pretend to be more…you know?”
I do know. I’ve contemplatedyou knowwith Rose approximately eleven of the last twelve hours. I have no problem imagining us being moreyou know. It’s the littlepretendtag that’s tripped me up every time.
“We don’t need to do anything.” I don’t want this to turn into any kind of obligation for her, even if she technically instigated it. Having her feel she has to do anything affectionate with me would be worse than finding out she named her grouchy cat after me.
“I know, but if we were dating, wouldn’t we…” Her gaze dips to my mouth, making my stomach drop like the ground fell out from beneath my feet. “Be obvious about it?”
Yes. If I were really dating Rose, everyone in town would get sick of just how obvious I would be. Given the green light, I would never stop touching her. I would hold her so much, I’d have to hire two baristas to replace her because she wouldn’t be able to get any work done. Nobody would question if we were together because they’d all be too busy telling us to get a room.
