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Her shoulders looked tight, her body language stressed.
He picked up his phone and texted her. Just finished a rough draft. Come celebrate with me? I’ll drive us to the south end for some time on the sand.
He hit send and then lifted his gaze to watch as she paused and removed her phone from her pocket to check it seconds later.
She stared at the screen a long moment, then lifted her head and looked toward his house as though sensing his gaze from his third-floor office.
Finally he watched as she tapped on her phone and waited for the three dots on the screen to appear in words.
Is that a good idea?
We’re friends, Devon. No matter what. Right?
…
The dots appeared and then disappeared, and he glanced up to find her staring at her screen. Debating?
We go as FRIENDS. Fifteen?
He posted a checkmark on her text but couldn’t stop his grin as he jumped up from the desk. He’d play the friend card for as long as needed, but they both knew the truth.
It took no time to change into swim trunks and a muscle shirt before he grabbed a towel and then a cooler.
He stared at the contents of his fridge before grabbing a couple of apples, grapes, cheese, then went to the cabinet for wine and crackers.
Finished, he locked up and jogged down the stairs to the open area below, where he loaded a couple of chairs and the cooler in the back of his truck.
He’d just finished when Devon appeared.
“Congratulations on finishing.”
“Thanks. Getting to the end always feels good.” He took in her tense form and wondered at the cause. Maybe the realization they’d never just be friends? “Is this all you need?”
“Yup,” she said, handing over her beach bag and a small cooler.
She was dressed in cutoff shorts he’d guess belonged to Dara and a tank top over her bathing suit.
“I like the hat,” he said, eyeing the fifties-style straw fedora.
“Thanks,” she said. “I borrowed some things from Dara,” she said, confirming his thoughts.
Silence followed and his suspicions rose even more. “What’s got you tied up in knots?”
“Nothing.”
“There’s obviously something. Did Rayna get news about the lawsuit?” he asked.
“No.”
“Hey… Dev?” he asked, stretching out a hand to touch her shoulder.
“What, Oz? What?”
He held up his hands, palms facing her, and whistled. “Whoa.”
She grimaced and turned, and Oz stared at her profile, noting the strong set of her chin, the way her nose arched up a bit at the tip. The rose pink of her lips.
“I’m sorry. Okay? I’m… You’re right. I’m in a mood. Sure you want to go anywhere with me?”
