Page 30 of The Perfect Distraction

“Yes?”

“What are we doing?”

Good question! What were they doing? Glancing at his car clock, she saw that it was just past nine. It was still early for a Friday night. Some people would just be getting started about now.

“Would you like to come in for a few minutes?” she blurted out. “I mean, it’s kind of silly to sit in the car when we could sit inside, don’t you think?”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you up past your bedtime.”

“Very funny,” she said, shooting him a mock scowl. And then she opened her car door and stepped out before she could change her mind.

Colton was next to her in a flash as if he were afraid of the same thing.

He stood close by while she managed to find the key in her purse, insert it into the lock, and push open the door. When he shut it behind them, effectively shutting out the world, her nerves lit up. But it was too late to change her mind. It would be rude to uninvite him.

Placing her purse on the kitchen counter, she said, “Would you like some coffee? I have decaf.”

“Sure, if you want some,” he said.

She went about making coffee while he leaned against the counter and watched.

“You’re welcome to have a seat in the living room,” she suggested.

“I’m fine.”

But I’m not! It was disconcerting having him so close, his eyes tracking her every move.

“When will Joey be back?” she asked as she took two coffee mugs from the cupboard.

“Sunday by noon.”

“Cream or sugar?”

“No thanks.”

She poured their coffee, gave hers a splash of cream, and handed him a mug. “Let’s go into the living room.”

He nodded and followed her, and then came another awkward pause. The living room was small, with a stone fireplace taking up an entire wall. Because of the lack of space, there were two opposing loveseats instead of a long couch. Beth sat on one of them, expecting Colton to sit across from her. He took one look at the arrangement and sat right beside her.

“This okay?”

“Yes. Fine.”

Beth kicked off her wedges and tried to make herself at home because, hello, this was her home, for the next several weeks anyway.

Colton stretched out his left arm along the back of the loveseat to where his fingertips could brush her shoulder if he were so inclined.

They each took a drink of coffee, and Beth sighed. “What is it about that first sip of coffee? It’s delicious every time.”

“True,” he replied with a smile. “Thank you for making it.”

She’d taken a few more sips before she remembered something. “Since you’re here, let me show you the lesson plan I made for Joey.”

Setting her mug on the coffee table, she stood up to retrieve the printout she’d left in the kitchen. But as she started to walk past him, he placed his hand on her arm.

“Why don’t we wait on that?” he said, staring up at her.

Her throat went dry, and her skin sizzled where he’d touched it. She saw yearning in his eyes, and although she felt it too, she wasn’t exactly prepared for it. She’d wanted a distraction, but she hadn’t planned on this kind of distraction. Yet she was the one who’d invited him in, so what had she expected? If she were honest, she’d have to admit that she’d considered doing more than just talking—within reason.

“Sit back down,” he said.

Who knew that those three words would change the trajectory of the entire summer?