Page 29 of V is for Valentine
“Do you simply not talk in detail about your life? Or is it me?” she asked.
“Hard to talk when we’re working on opposite ends of the building or on different floors.”
“Do you think I’m purposely keeping you at arm’s length?” Her voice held a note of incredulity. “Because I’m not.”
He gave her a look that said he thought she was.
“If I am, it’s in the name of efficiency.” She flicked a crumb of joint compound that had dried on her hand toward him and it bounced off the lid of the bucket, hitting his sleeve. “Imagine working in close proximity with wet mud at the ready.”
He stood, brushing his hands down the side of his pants while holding her gaze. “Temptation can be a problem.”
Felicity cocked her head at him, as if uncertain as to whether she’d read his tone correctly.
He gave the bucket lid one last tap with the rubber mallet. “I have to go.”
“I’ll be here when you get back.”
*
Once again, theold high school felt oddly empty after Danny left. Felicity, who valued her solitude, reveled in alone time, felt…lonely.
Ridiculous.
Was it?
Or was she getting used to having him around?
It was rather freeing to be around someone with whom she could be herself. Her close friends from college were busy with lives of their own, raising children and/or chasing careers. Her closest friend from work had recently taken a job on the other side of the country, leaving her with no one with whom she could be her unfettered, occasionally snarkilicious self.
She could be herself with Danny.
That was why she missed him. She needed to bank these precious moments of being genuine before heading back to the city and her job. Back to being herself, but not.
Back to biting her tongue.
Of course, working in different parts of the building wasn’t using this resource to the fullest, but it was efficient, because it was tempting to spend the day verbally sparring. To return to the default of constantly trying to get the other’s goat.
That was what she’d meant by temptation.
But it hadn’t sounded like that was what he’d meant.
A low, slow warmth flowed through her as she recalled his words, his tone, which had been borderline provocative. But not in the usual way?
Had she been hallucinating due to lack of caffeine?
That didn’t seem possible, since she’d finished off her thermos of coffee before heading upstairs to see him.
He’s playing you. As always.
Right.
Despite her assertion to herself, she didn’t fully buy it. But…she didn’t know what else to think.
Danny was back in forty-five minutes instead of an hour.
“Everything go okay?”
“It did. The windows are being replaced as we speak.”
