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“Well, you’re young. You have plenty of time.” I hope that didn’t come out wrong, I’m trying not to sound bossy or superior.
I touch her shoulder as a sign of compassion.
Her eyes follow the same way they had when I touched her leg and I pull back, not wanting to overstep. What the hell has gotten into me? I’m not overly touchy, especially with people I’m not dating or romantically involved with let alone women.
What an odd predicament to be in, this weird buzzing with whatever this tension is….
Chapter Eight
MIRIAM
Is Ari flirting with me?
It’s so hard to tell.
How the hell is a person to supposed to know?
The leg touching. The lingering stares. The way her eyes track my movements—the same way my eyes track hers.
There’s a new static in the air that has nothing to do with my fabric softener, a tension that wasn’t there when we arrived. When she was here to meet a man and nothing more.
But my attempts to bring the conversation back to Decker seem to go rebuffed, Ari no longer having any interest in discussing him.
Shit.
How am I going to explain this turn of events to him?
Sending me tonight was his idea—he thought it was brilliant, and thoughtful and considerate. “She’s going through all that trouble to get dressed up and put on make-up, I don’t want it to go to waste.”
He’d wanted me to pick up a dozen roses on my way over but that’s where I drew the line.
I wasn’t her date, why the hell would I bring her flowers?! It was strange enough that I’m sitting here in his stead to begin with.
“What are your hobbies?” I ask her, though I know some of them already; riding bikes. Hiking. Walking along the lake.
“I love going to my parents cabin. It’s quiet there and the WiFi is terrible so it’s a great place to unwind and recharge.”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Haven’t been there in months—you know how busy the healthcare industry has been.” She shrugs. “I’ll have to take some time off.”
“Yeah, same. I knew starting a business would be hard but I didn’t think it would be this hard. Or that I’d have no free time because when someone calls, I go running.” I drink more of my wine. “My motto has become ‘Has laptop, will travel.’ Working anywhere has its perks—and it drawbacks.”
I’m never not working and I’m never not strategizing.
Exhausting.
“Clearly you have a high work ethic or you would have told Decker to fly a kite when he asked you to come here tonight.”
She’s not wrong.
“Guilty as charged.” Though not nearly as hard-core as he is, breaking a date for a meeting. I’m sure I would have done the same if I were in his position—the boss is the boss and his job is important. Still, the first impression he’s making is less than ideal.
How pissed would I be if some dude this to me?
Oh my god. So pissed.
I wouldn’t still be sitting here chatting with his lackey, that’s for damn sure.
