Page 88 of Yellow
“But a tipiisa tent,” I pointed out.
“Ehhm – all right, bad example.” He was in a good mood from all the wine and gave a hearty laugh that was infectious. “Adam.” He leaned closer. “Quick question: ye’re close to Cleo, right?”
“Sort of.”
“Any advice for me on how to impress her? Ah really fancy her.”
My laugh died out. “Sorry, champ, you’re on your own.”
“Faith says her sister is single and Ah reckon this is a prime opportunity for the man strong enough to claim her.” He straightened in his seat and squared his shoulders, and from somewhere deep inside me an ancient male instinct arose. Competition.
Andrew was a suitor for the woman I had spent more than a week with. A woman who drove me crazy but also enticed me.
He can’t have her.
I quickly came up with a number of reasons why he couldn’t have her.
“You know, Andrew…” I said and got his attention again.
“Cleo is in a difficult place in her life right now. It would be best if you didn’t pursue her. She really needs a break from men after what her ex did to her.”
“Aye, Ah heard about the stupid sod. But ye have nothing to fear, Ah’m a decent man and I’ll do right by her just like Logan will do right by Faith.”
“It’s just that she mostly dates celebrities; I don’t think that…”
He cut me off. “Och, ye shouldnae underestimate a strapping Scot set on a lass. I’ll swoon her with my sense of humor. Women love to laugh. Ye’ll see.”
I curled my hands into fists under the table as I watched him walk back to Chloe and turn on his charm. She had eyes only for him now and it took him mere seconds before she was laughing and smiling.
It doesn’t matter, she’s not for me anyway, I reminded myself and remembered how my friend Rick had laughed when I suggested she might fall in love with me.
My father’s letter, my vow to marry a Native American… it was all running through my mind when I saw Andrew and Chloe get up and walk outside together.
Suddenly I had tunnel vision. The two of them were all I could see, and Andrew’s hand on the small of Chloe’s back was like a flaming red warning sign making Andrew’s words from before loop in my mind. “A prime opportunity for the man strong enough to claim her.”
I couldn’t let that happen!
Resolutely I pushed my chair back and followed them outside.
“Chloe, may I have a word, please?” I asked and ignored the questioning look from Andrew.
Chloe’s hesitation killed me – for a moment I feared she would refuse me.
“What is it?” she asked and came closer. I took her hand and pulled her back inside and out of earshot from him.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a hint of irritation.
“Getting some fresh air.”
“You’re flirting with him.”
“So what if I am?” She leaned back and gave me a tipsy grin.
“Well, don’t,” I said firmly.
But it only made her lean in and place her fingertip on my nose. “Why do you care whom I flirt with? You don’t like me anyway.”
I brushed her finger away and grabbed her upper arm when she wavered a bit on her high stilettos. “I never said I didn’t like you.”
