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“Long time no see,” she says, that fake smile still on her face. “Haven’t seen you in years and now I’ve seen you three times in a week. You stalking me, Holt?”
“Nope. Not stalking. Promise.”
“Right…” Felicity says, looking me up and down. She takes a deep breath, then lets it out in a huff. “Okay, I’m tired of being Miss Polite. Did I do something to piss you off?”
I blink at her in surprise. What the hell would possibly give her that idea?
“Not at all,” I say.
“Then why are you so hot and cold with me?”
Jesus. Even when she’s upset, she’s gorgeous.
I exhale. Fine. Guess it’s finally time to fess up. I hate that we’re having this conversation in the middle of a grocery store, of all places, but whatever. It is what it is.
“I’m attracted to you, Felicity,” I say, my voice low and serious. “Always have been. But you’re my best friend’s little sister. You’re off-limits.”
Felicity raises an eyebrow. I can see the surprise in her eyes, but she’s trying to hide it. “Off-limits? What, did Cash tell you that?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s just something every guy knows. You don’t mess with your buddy’s little sister. It’s against the guy code.”
“Guy code? Really?” Felicity rolls her eyes. When she looks at me again, I can see the feistiness inside her.
“Sorry,” I say.
Felicity studies me for a few seconds, chewing on her bottom lip. Finally, she says, “Well, is there anything in your silly little guy code that says we can’t be friends?”
Friends? She really wants to befriends? Honestly, I’m not sure I can do that. On the other hand, maybe if we do spend some platonic time together, I’ll actually start thinking of her as a friend.
Hell, it’s worth a shot.
“There isn’t,” I say at last. “That’d be nice.”
“Cool.” Felicity smiles.
“How does dinner tomorrow night sound?” I ask.
Felicity’s eyes twinkle. “Sounds perfect.”
I’m about to tell her I’ll pick her up, but I catch myself.It’s not a date, remember? Not. A. Fucking. Date.
I suggest a steakhouse. Suggest a time. Felicity says that sounds great. Then, with a little wave, she walks off, leaving me standing in the middle of the grocery store, wondering what I just got myself into.
Felicity showsup at the restaurant a couple minutes after I do, wearing a tight pair of cream pants that hug her hips and a blue blouse that, while not low-cut or tight, doesn’t do much to hide her figure, either.
So much for keeping my thoughts chaste.
I’m determined to make this work, though. If I can tear apart a house and rebuild it with my own two hands, I can be friends with a woman I have a crush on. I have to.
Because it’s this or nothing.
Thankfully, once we start talking, itdoesbecome easier. I ask her about her job, and she tells me about being a textile designer; frankly, when she whips out her phone and shows me some of the rugs she recently designed, I’m completely in awe of her work.
“I’d love to use one of your pieces when I’m staging a house for sale,” I say.
“Oh, I—” Her eyes flick from her phone to me. “That’s really nice of you, Holt. Thanks.”
We talk a little more about her job, and then about Cash and Dani and Jasper for a while. By the end of the meal, we’re chatting and laughing like old friends.
