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“Then make a point to talk to her.” Barbi flicks her lashes, exacerbated by my failure to act and rolls her eyes. “Better yet, go in there and kiss her already.” She makes a vague gesture with her hand. “I’m certainly not coming home tonight if things work out.” She flashes a mischievous grin. “You’ve got the room to yourselves.”
“I’m not going to go in there and molest her.”
“How do you know that’s not exactly what she wants? And I didn’t mean that you should molest her. I meant talk to her. Why are men such thick-headed idiots?”
“Has she specifically told you she’s not seeing him?”
“No.” Barbi curls her fingers and flips her hand around to admire her impeccable manicure. “Her nose is always in her books and she has zero time for me, let alone you. At night, she goes to bed early, says she’s too tired to stay up. Maybe you should give her some slack?”
A studious individual, Kaye is trying to get a head start on her first semester at UC Davis’s world-renowned veterinary school.
“You’re right; she’s probably stressed.” I don’t like how defensive I sound, but I’m in unknown territory.
How do I get myself out of the dreaded friend zone?
“Have you wondered whether she’s waiting for you to make the first move?”
“How is asking her to watch a movie in the dark not making a move?”
“Oh my God, you’re hopeless. That’s exactly what a friend would do. Maybe you should stop doing that kind of shit and march in there, shove her against the wall, kiss her until her toes curl, and rip her shirt off.”
“That’s a bit over the top. Are we talking about me and Kaye or what you want Alec to do to you?”
She and Alec had a bit of a fling the first week we started the protective detail at the townhome. Something happened because the two of them started out strong then crashed and burned. Neither one will say what happened.
“Alec is a total tool.” Barbi dismisses my comment. “I’m talking about you. Specifically about your problem.”
“I’m driving myself insane. That’s what I’m doing, and you know why I can’t do any of that alpha-male stuff. Not after Scott…”
“Please, that douchebag is a Dom-wannabe. He’s nothing more than an asshole pretending to be a man. You’ve got the dominant, alpha vibe down pat. Kaye obviously likes that. You just need to close the gap. Seriously, why am I even bothering?”
“She specifically told me she didn’t like the way Scott treated her.”
“Because he’s an ass.” Barbi stands and smooths out the wrinkles in her dress. “And you’re an idiot. I’m telling you, get yourself back in the game. How about increasing the time you’re here? One day a week is no good.”
“I try to volunteer for more shifts, but Rafe and Hayes always seem to block me.”
“Well, they’re just being overly protective cockblockers. They know what will happen if you and Kaye spend any quality time together.”
“You’re right. I need more time, and I’m counting on you to give me that time.”
“Me? How am I…” She stares at me, then backs away. “Oh, no way. I am not doing that.”
“I haven’t even asked you to do anything.”
“You’re going to ask me to do something with Alec so you can take his shifts.”
“The two of you seemed to be having fun. He’ll give me his shifts. Rafe and Hayes can’t do shit about that.”
“Alec and I were having fun, until we weren’t. If you want Alec’s shifts, talk to him. Hell, talk to Brady or Booker if you have to. Those two haven’t ham-stringed you like Rafe and Hayes.”
“Why don’t you talk to Kaye? Do some recon for me.”
“I am not playing matchmaker between you and Kaye.” Barbi wanders to the hall, heading out. “She’s here for two more weeks before moving to Davis. Whatever you’re going to do, you better do it before she leaves. After that…” Barbi shrugs. “Don’t let that door close on your ass. You’re a good guy. Not my type, but definitely Kaye’s. Personally, I like the idea of you hanging around, but you’re not doing yourself any favors sitting on the couch, pining away, when you should be in her bed.”
“I’m not pining.”
“No. You’re sitting on the goddamn couch while Kaye’s in her room—alone.”
