Page 87 of Conflict
A blush creeps over my cheeks.
He grins and leans forward. “Ireallyhope that blush is all over.”
I place my napkin in my lap. “Well, if it wasn’t before, it certainly is now. And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to see for yourself later.”
Shane nearly chokes on his water. I love that, after almost a year apart, I still have an effect on him.
After the most delicious five-course meal, I can’t help but laugh when Shane takes me to the Georgia Aquarium.
“Hey, considering this is only the second date I’ve ever planned and how well it went the first time around with dolphins, I figured I couldn’t lose. Plus, they’re having a special event that I was able to score tickets to.”
He holds one out to me and I read it. “Sips under the sea?” I ask, cocking my head in question.
“The best time to visit the aquarium,” he informs me. “No kids, and all the booze you can ask for.”
“Well, then by all means, lead the way.”
It’s as if we haven’t been apart, and the time passes way too quickly as we walk through the various galleries at the aquarium. The entire night, Shane’s close. If he’s not holding my hand, he has his arm around my shoulders, his hand on the small of my back, or his fingers splayed across my thigh when we sit to watch the special dolphin exhibition. The man may have never planned a date before, but he’s two for two with me.
Unlike last time, however, I’m not sure what’s supposed to happen afterward. I’m a bundle of nerves by the time Shane pulls into the parking lot adjacent to my condo building.
“You don’t have to walk me up, Shane. I’ll be fine,” I tell him, an internal war waging inside me on whether or not I should invite him to stay.
“Sunshine, what kinda man wouldn’t walk his woman safely to her door after a date?”
I raise an eyebrow. “His woman?”
His lips quirk up into a cocky grin. “Oh, yeah. You’re all mine now.”
As Shane’s lips descend, my heartbeat quickens. They barely have time to graze mine before the door opens and I fall backwards into my condo. His head jerks up, his eyes darkening at something behind me.
“Oh, fuck. Uh. My bad,” Bryan says, running a hand through his hair.
He’s in a pair of running shorts, shirtless, and sweaty likely from taking out his aggression with his punching bag—something he seems to do quite often these days. Shane’s eyes narrow at the sight. Bryan stares for another moment then promptly closes the door with me still outside of it.
This isn’t awkward at all.
“Not sure how I feel about this roommate situation,” Shane mumbles.
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face at the memory of Shane’s reaction to my telling him that Bryan wasn’t just boss and friend, but also roommate. We’d been in the car on the way back from the wedding and I’d already been kicking myself for not telling him, so I spilled as soon as I found the chance. Not gonna lie, it was incredibly sexy watching his fingers grip the steering wheel, his jaw tighten, and his eyes set straight on the road ahead of him. The moment was so brief that if I hadn’t been looking at him, I’d have missed it. He immediately relaxed, shot me a killer smile, and told me he may not like it, but he’d come to terms with it. That was sufficient enough for me.
I place my hands on his chest, slide them up, and wrap them around his neck. “You just said I’m your woman. That makes you my man. Myonlyman.”
The door opens and Bryan’s head pops out. We both turn to look at him.
“Alyssa’s like my little sister. I’m not attracted to her in the slightest. Even if I was, I wouldn’t ever go there. A wise man once told me not to get the honey where I make my money.”
“Thanks a lot, Bryan.”
He nods then closes the door again.
She’s grinning. “It’s good advice,” he says, and I roll my eyes.
“You’re only saying that because it benefits you.”
“And?”
I playfully slap his shoulder and he sobers.
