Page 6 of Love Around the Corner

Alfie smirked. “Dude, is that a bowtie?”

Novak twitched, one hand going to his throat. “Do you think it’s too much? I wasn’t sure.”

“Uh…” Thrown by the honest question, Alfie didn’t know what to say. “Depends where you’re going, I guess.”

Fidgeting some more, fussing with folding his coat, Novak said, “A date, as it happens.”

“Really?” He couldn’t imagine Novak on a date, or the type of person who’d want to date a guy so damn prickly. Still, maybe he was great in the sack. He ran his eyes over Novak’s slender body and thought, yeah, a bossy bottom probably. Not really Alfie’s thing. Well, not often. He looked away, made uncomfortable by his turn of thoughts and the unwelcome frisson of heat beneath his skin. Hell, he didn’t evenlikethe guy—he certainly wasn’t hot for him.

He was wired, that was all, high on anticipation of his upcoming liaison.

“No need to sound so surprised,” Novak said, tugging at his tie as if it might be strangling him.

“Just wondering what kind of guy you’d date, is all,” Alfie said. “Do you check their grammar first? Make them sit a test on the first date?”

Novak flushed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ah. On the second date, then.”

One corner of Novak’s mouth twitched up. “Not that I’d expect you to understand, but I happen to enjoy the company of erudite men.” He glanced at Alfie. “That means—”

“I know what it means, thanks.” Arrogant prick.

Novak opened his mouth as if to say more, but perhaps he saw something in Alfie’s expression that warned him off because he shut up and turned to look out the dark window instead.

Irritated, Alfie decided to disappear into the last few chapters ofEmma, so pulled out his phone and earbuds and settled down, eyes closed. For about five minutes, he listened in peace. And then Novak started fidgeting again, his shoulder bumping Alfie’s arm, his knee pressing against Alfie’s thigh. Alfie opened one eye and watched Novak bend over, trying to get something out of his bag while struggling to keep his coat off the floor.

“Need a hand?” Alfie asked, dry as sand.

Novak flashed him a hot look. “No thanks, I’m fine.” He sat up, a water bottle in hand, and turned back to the window. Alfie closed his eyes and returned toEmma, trying to ignore the press of Novak’s shoulder against his bicep and the subtle tang of his aftershave. What was that scent? Cedar?

Breathing deep, he managed to slip back into the story, smiling as Emma’s machinations unspooled—until Novak jabbed him in the ribs with one bony elbow. Alfie startled upright. “Christ’s sake!” He yanked his earbuds out. “Can’t you sit still for five seconds?”

Novak stared in wide-eyed affront. “Well, not with Paul Bunyan taking up half my seat, no!”

Paul Bunyan? Alfie hid a smile. “The seats are small,” he protested. “What do you want me to do? Cut off an arm?”

“It couldn’t hurt.” Novak reached down to his bag again, shoving his coat to one side and half over Alfie’s lap.

“For the love of—Okay.” Alfie stood up, grabbed Novak’s coat, rolled it up and shoved it in the overhead rack with his own. “There. Out of the way.”

“Hey!” Novak half rose, as if he thought Alfie was going to throw the damned thing out the window.

Alfie sat back down. “It’s fine. I’ll get it down for you when we arrive.”

Still half standing, Novak glared at him. “If that’s meant to be a comment on my height—”

“I didn’t say anything about your height.”

“You implied it.”

Alfie lifted an eyebrow. “No, youinferredit.”

“I—” Novak blinked, clearly startled, and Alfie felt an absurd thrill of victory. “I don’t need you to get it down for me.”

“Fine. Then quit whining and sit down.”

He sat, lips pressed into a disgruntled pout. “My phone is in the pocket.”

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