Page 36 of Single-Minded
“Sleeping together?” Chloe added.
“No,” I said. “And there was no tension. Really.”
Rowan and Chloe exchanged a look. Then Rowan asked her, “Did you see the way he looked at her?”
“Then he talked to her with that growly, quiet voice,” Chloe said. “Not an ‘I’m here on official business’ voice. More like an ‘I’m imagining you naked’ voice.”
I felt suddenly overheated. “He did not look at me in any way,” I attempted to argue, “nor did he use a voice.”
Rowan laughed. “But he was definitely imagining you naked.”
“God, you guys,” I said on a flustered exhale. I popped back up off my chair and wandered to the window, hoping for one last glimpse of West. “The chemistry is insane. I’ve never reacted to a guy like this.”
“It’s those skinny city guys you were drawn to,” Chloe said, making a face. “Of course you didn’t react like you do to West, who earns a living with his body.”
“Truth. I see the light now.” I couldn’t remember a single one of the skinny city guys at the moment, mainly because there hadn’t been many and none of them had been important in my life.
Rowan made a sound of approval. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Unfortunately we’re not,” I said. “I’ve made it clear to him I’m interested, but he shut me down.”
“That didn’t look like a shutdown,” Chloe said.
“He couldn’t hide his interest if he tried,” Rowan added.
“He told me in no uncertain terms that we will not be happening,” I said. “He doesn’t do his clients.”
“Pity,” Rowan said.
“Poor decision, at least for this client,” Chloe said. “But I suppose it’s a good policy in general.”
“You won’t be the client forever,” Rowan pointed out. “You live here now. You can hook up once your remodel is done.”
I waved off the idea. “It’s more of a proximity thing. Like, he’s in my house, in my face, so I’m interested in a fling. I don’t want any kind of relationship.”
“Of course you don’t,” Chloe said.
“I’m fixing my life,” I reminded her. “Focusing on me instead of my job for once.” I glanced around. “Well, trying.”
We all laughed, because obviously I loved to work.
“And I haven’t forgotten you’re antimarriage,” Chloe said.
“Only for myself. I’m happy for you two.”
“You never want to get married?” Rowan asked.
I shook my head. “I’m too independent and not willing to give that up.”
“Not all marriages are like your parents’ or your sister’s,” Chloe said. “Two of us in this room are proof.”
“You guys are so cute but not typical,” I said. “I’m thinking about getting a dog.”
“Are you being serious?” Chloe asked, looking stunned.
“They had all these photos of dogs who need homes at the Honeysuckle Festival,” I said.
“A dog’s a great idea,” Rowan said. “Another living soul in that big house of yours. He’ll keep you company. Maybe two dogs.”
