Page 34 of Deception and New Direction

“I happen to think your body looks great and definitely think you should eat out more if it’s going to make your backside look even better,” he said with a lascivious smile.

Why didIeven bring that up?Quick, change the subject.

“I feel weird just staying here and not helping,”Itried to explain to him. “I’mgood at cooking.Mymom taught me whenIwas young, andIkept learning after she died because my dad and brother were terrible at it.Itwas just easier ifImade all the meals.”

He didn’t say anything to that, but he made a face that looked agitated.Iturned back to dry off the casserole dish in my hand and move on to the last item in the sink.

Not that we were having companionable conversation to begin with, but it all went downhill whenJackbrought upEllieandWade’swedding.

“Will you go with me to their wedding?” he asked, andIwas confused.

“Of courseI’mgoing.Yoursister already asked me to be her maid of honor.Aren’tyouWade’sbest man?”

“Yes, butImeantIwant you to go with me.”

“I won’t be in a cast anymore by then,Jack.Idon’t need you to drive me.”

“Damnit,Ruthie.ImeanIwant you to be my date,” he said, his face full of exasperation.

He wanted me to be hisdate?

My confusion must have been written all over my face because he stared at me and smiled.

“You’re adorable.”

“You take that back!”Idemanded asIset the final dish over to the side to dry.

His small smile grew bigger, and that just pissed me off even more that he was enjoying this.

“Gah!You’reimpossible,”Ihuffed.

“I am.ButIbalance it out by being ridiculously handsome,” he said with a cocky smirk.

“You’re not that handsome,”Ireplied, hoping my poker face was good enough to hide that lie.

He was definitely handsome.

That was the problem.Menwho were good-looking were all trouble.Malwas good-looking, but he was a super creep.Mydad, at least in his younger years, had been attractive, and he was an asshole.

Sure,Archerand the other guys from the security firm were nice men, and they were also easy on the eyes, but not likeJack.

His sex appeal was on a whole other level.OnethatIwas not equipped to deal with.Iknew from the first momentIlaid eyes on him he would be trouble.He’dlure me in with his ruggedly tempting looks, seduce me, and then drop me like a hot pocket.

“You know whatIthink?” he asked, but it was a rhetorical question since he didn’t give me any time to answer. “Ithink you feel the same attraction to me asIdo to you, and it scares you.Youwant to explore this just as much as me, but you are terrified you might enjoy it and then it will all crumble.You’veconvinced yourself this will all go to hell before you’ve ever even given it a chance.”

He walked closer into my space.

“Your dad made you believe that having people help you made you weak.He’sconvinced you that if you rely on someone, whether physical, emotional, or mental support, that you are draining them and being a leech.Neitherof those things are true,Ruthie.Friendshelp each other out.Partnershelp each other out.Notout of any sense of obligation, but because wewantto.”

I knew that was the truth becauseIwas always willing to do those things for my friends.Ijust didn’t like it when they returned the favor.

“Your comment the other day about owingCata favor because she did something nice for you...That’snot how it worksRuthie.Friendscan do nice things for each other and not expect something in return.You’reletting your dad win if you feel the need to repay every nice thing someone does for you.”

“I’m not letting my dad win anything.Hedoesn’t control me!”

“Then why won’t you let your friends do nice things for you?Whywon’t you go with me to the wedding?Whywon’t you say yes whenIask you out to dinner?Whydon’t you want to give in to the sexual tension that you andIboth know is there?”

I huffed and rolled my eyes. “You’reawfully full of yourself.”

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