Page 26 of Suddenly Dating
“What?” Lola asked, and tried to turn around.
“Are thosewet clothesjust sitting in the washer?”
That’s right, she’d started laundry earlier today. “Ah... probably,” she said.
He gaped at her. “Good God, Lola, don’t you know they will mildew?” He reached around her, forcing Lola up against the machine so that he could close the lid and start it again. When he did, he looked at her and frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” she asked, and bit her lip so she wouldn’t smile.
“What’s the matter, do I smell?” he asked gruffly.
“Sort of,” she admitted.
“Yeah, well, I work hard for a living. And you smell like chlorine.”
His arm, she noticed, was still on the washing machine, still blocking her in. “You’re kind of touchy,” she said, as if she found that curious. “Bad day?”
“I thought you were here to do important work,” he said.
“I am! Does that mean I can’t have a good time? Does that mean when someone offers me a wine cooler on a gorgeous day like this, I should say no?” She smiled.
“I don’t know,” Harry said, his brows dipping into a frown. He braced his other hand on the other side of her, so now she was trapped between him and the washing machine again. “Why don’t you call Sara and ask her how she feels about your little party at her lake house?”
“Ooh, you’re going to go there, huh?” Lola said. “For your information, I can’t call Sara. She happens to be in Thailand with some friends right now.”
Harry leaned closer, his brows dipping into a deeper frown. “Then I’ll tell you for her—no guests.”
Lola’s pulse was beginning to tick with one part thrill and two parts pure irritation. She jutted out her chin, staring him in the eye. They were so close they could have kissed if he wasn’t being such a jerk right now. “Who declared you king of the lake house, Horrible Harry? I can do what I want.”
“No, you can’t,” he said, and his gaze fell to her mouth.
“Who’s going to stop me?”
Harry’s frown turned into a devilish smile, and he said to her mouth, “You want to try me, you little lunatic? Go right ahead.”
“Lola? Are you in here?” Nolan called from the kitchen.
“That’s your swim buddy,” he said low, and Lola felt something very warm and very dangerous wiggling down her spine. She pushed away from Horrible Harry and ducked under his arm, slipping on the tile floor where she’d dripped and catching herself on the door frame. She shot Harry a look over her shoulder before she went out.
“There you are,” Nolan said. “I have to run and open the bar, because those rich bitches will be wanting their cocktails soon. Hey, you want to come to a party with me tonight? It’s on the south end of the lake, down by that big resort,” he said as he wiggled into some jeans that were too tight.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Lola said as Harry walked around her and down the hall.
Nolan watched him go. “He’s not very friendly.”
“He’s just... passing through,” she said, and waved a hand dismissively. “Thanks for the invitation, but I really should work.”
“Celebrities will be there, you know.”
“Like who?” Lola asked.
“Like... supposedly, Amy Schumer. Her folks have a house up here. She’s usually around in the summer.”
Amy Schumer?Lola’s skin began to tingle with excitement. She said, very calmly, “Well... okay.” She shrugged. But inside, she was shrieking with delight.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight.”
She walked Nolan out to his car, waved as he went around the drive.
