Page 60 of Lemon Crush

She stuck out her tongue and then sighed. “Are you really upset about me selling Jiminy to the team?”

“Not anymore,” I said carefully. She didn’t need to know how much I dreaded tearing out the interior. “I have some good memories attached, that’s all.”

“I do too,” she admitted. “But a car that has driven from sea to shining sea multiple times now sits in my driveway collecting dust. I take him around the block occasionally, but Jiminy deserves better than that. A second life as an endurance race car sounds pretty good to me.”

“You make a decent point,” I conceded.

“I hope so. I’m also hoping this race and that car aren’t why we haven’t said more than two words to each other since the other night. Even though you said we needed to talk,” she added with a pointed look.

This was the conversation I’d been expecting since Bernie told me she was coming.

I sat back and pulled off my cap, scratching the back of my head with a sigh. “I had some considering to do,”

“I knew you’d have second thoughts after the pool?—”

“Nope. No second thoughts,” I corrected quickly.

She stared at me. “Then what? Do you think I’ll instantly expect a serious, committed relationship if we revisit that…conversation? Because I can tell you right now that I won’t.”

Her lack of expectations was not the selling point she thought it was, though I had no idea how to convey that without scaring her off. I didn’t want to trip over my tongue and say the wrong thing again.

“That’s not even on my radar,” she continued obliviously. “I don’t want or need romance. In fact, the only person I might demand a romantic proposal from is Professor Todd.”

What the hell? “Why would Phoebe’s boyfriend be getting romantic with you?”

She rolled her eyes. “I want Todd to propose toPhoebe, not me, you goofball. And not by mansplaining their financesor getting his judgmental grandmother to vouch for his better qualities. Both of which he’s already tried to do.”

I was aware of the man’s failings in that area—he was an art professor that had won her over with poetry, then lost his mind as soon as he learned about the baby—but something August said caught up with me. “You don’t want or need romance? Are you sure about that, Gus? Remember, I’ve read your books. The mate marks and the soul bonds. For fantasy, there’s a lot of romantic notions in there.”

“That’s fiction for entertainment purposes only,” she said, her cheeks going pink. “I’m too cynical for it now, but Phoebe isn’t, and she deserves it.”

She thought she was cynical. “The stray in our shed just had puppies. Maybe Todd could bring her one and soften her up. Phoebe loves puppies. Would that be romantic enough?”

“I suppose it would be a good start. But only a start. He’s going to have to up his game to make up for his previous failures. We’re talking Jumbotrons and Lucy-style flash mobs.”

“Maybe I can sway him in the right direction.” I grinned and picked up my bottle. “So, what do you deserve?”

She looked startled. “You might be the first man to ever ask me that question, if that helps answer yours. I guess at this point in my life, I don’t need flowers and puppies or soul mates and magic. I’d much rather have honesty pools, orgasms and comfortable shoes.”

I shouldn’t have taken a drink after asking that question, because her answer had me choking on it.

“Do you need the Heimlich now?” she asked solicitously, leaning closer to pat me on the back. “Sorry about that. Chick—did I mention he’s flying here in a few weeks for a visit? Anyway, he doesn’t have a filter or believe in TMI, and I think it’s rubbing off on me.”

I waved her off, my mind racing. Chick wascoming here? “I’m good. At this point inmylife, I like a woman who knows what she wants.”

She made a face. “Well then, you’re out of luck, buddy. Because other than you, I have no idea what I want. I only know what I need to do. Get the house ready. Finish my book. Join this race.”

“Other than you.”

I could see the moment she realized what she’d let slip. And when she decided not to take it back.

Maybe I hadn’t been looking at this from the right angle. She might not be ready to meet me where I was, but we did have something in common. We both desired each other. Denying it would be a waste of energy when it could be another link in the chain instead. The next part of my plan. Friendly neighbor with a bonus, if not full benefits.

“You want me, August?”

14

AUGUST

---