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“I’m totally crossing a line here, but tread carefully with her.” He shakes his head but then raises his eyes to mine and stares intently. “She has layers. Deep, delicate layers. The way she was looking at you yesterday, laughing with you, talking about her sketches, was real. She’s not like any other twenty-three year old. She doesn’t play games. She doesn’t even know how to play games.”
“I think we’ve established this is not a game.”
“Okay, one more piece of advice. She’s a call type of girl. Texts are fine for most everything except breaking plans.”
“Jesus Christ! We’re bringing that up again?”
“I’ll never mention it again if you tell me you understand what I’m saying.”
I hold his stare and nod.
Ember walks out of the fitting room followed by two men. “Thanks for everything, Ember. I’ll call you in a few days,” one of them says and bends down to kiss her cheek. His eyes roam up and down her body. My muscles tense and teeth clench.
I do not like seeing another man’s lips on her perfect porcelain skin, even if it is only her cheek.
“Don’t mention it. Anytime, Jonas. Tell your mom not to worry. You’re taken care of.” She smiles up at him.
“Sure you can’t come with me? It would be great for my image to have the prettiest date in the room.”
My chest tightens, waiting for her response. Who the fuck is this guy?
“You’re charming, but I told you, I have plans this Saturday night.” Her sparkling eyes meet mine, and her smile widens.
Jonas follows her line of sight, and he straightens, giving me a once over. “Remember, I’m an athlete. I thrive on competition.”
I’m a Marine and know how to kill people, comes to my mind.
I give him a sly grin, watching his face fall.
“Jonas! Stop it. Come back and see me Friday. I’ll have both your suits ready.”
“Deflect! She’s shutting you down, man,” the other guy says and winks at her. Both men give a half wave before walking out.
“What’s their deal?” Cruz asks.
“Some sort of formal dinner Saturday night. It’s taken care of.”
“Of course it is. Gotta run. See you later.” He gives me one last look and goes toward the back entrance.
As soon as he leaves, her nervousness returns. She runs her hands down her pants and looks anywhere but at me.
“Hey.” Her eyes finally land on mine.
My conversation with Cruz replays in my mind, but instead of getting aggravated, I understand where he’s coming from. Although it was unnecessary, he needed to know my intent was genuine.
“Hey yourself.” I walk over and scoop her into a hug, kissing her cheek lightly. “How’s your day?”
A blush creeps up her cheeks. “It was great. Busy. What about you?”
“Interesting to say the least. Who were those guys?”
“They play basketball for Vanderbilt. Today’s the first time I met them, but Jonas’s mom called yesterday in a panic about finding a suit for her seven-foot two son and his teammate. I assured her it was no problem, so they came in today.”
“Hmmm, Jonas was pretty smitten with you.”
“Smitten? Did you just use the word smitten?” She giggles, and her body vibrates against mine.
“What’s wrong with that? I was trying to be polite.”
