Page 29 of Ten Rules for Faking It
Two words in her soft voice and his skin felt too tight. They’d arranged for her to come by, check out the software, and choose the first two candidates. Now the idea of having her in his home, hisspace,didn’t seem like the best way to keep his distance. He buzzed her in, waiting by the door.
“You need to set up a couple of dates of your own,” he mumbled to himself. With someone who didn’t work for him. Preferably in New York, where he’d actually live.
Pulling the door open, he watched her get off the elevator. Her hair was down, soft brown curls framing her face. She wore a pair of jeans, bright blue Converse, and a thin sweater. His heart bounced; the sensation surprising him.
Everly held up a brown paper bag. “I brought payback,” she said, coming into his apartment.
As she walked by him, he inhaled deeply, catching the sweet, flowery scent of her hair.Your whole place is going to smell like Everly.
He shut the door behind her. “You didn’t need to pay me back,” he said, his voice a bit gruff.Pull yourself together. You’ve never crossed a line or led a woman on. You haven’t even told her you’re moving across the country in six months. Stick to theplan. The ultimate goal. This contest is going to be the proof Dad needs that you’re ready to move forward.
All good reminders that shifted his focus, realigned his priorities. “What are you paying me back for, anyway?” He couldn’t think of anything he’d done for her.
“You brought me chocolate pie. That definitely deserves payback.” She stood by the door, glancing beyond the entryway. “Nice place.”
Maybe don’t stand here just staring at her?
Chris smiled. “Thanks. Come on in.”
He gestured toward the kitchen, and Everly set the bag on the counter before pulling out two take-out dessert containers.
“I brought two,” she said, smiling at him over her shoulder.
“Pies?”
Turning back to her task, her hair fell forward, and he got stuck staring at the graceful curve of her back and neck.
“Nope. You brought me your favorite. It’s your turn to taste mine.”
Swallowing down his groan was painful. She turned and handed over one of the containers. Their gazes held, and he forgot to move, to take the offering. To breathe.
“Your life is about to change irrevocably. Do you understand that?”
His throat went dry. “Pardon?”
Everly grinned, and his stomach twisted in the most delightful way. “Once you’ve had my friend Tara’s cannoli, you’ll never be the same. They are the best.”
Pulled back into the moment by his New York roots, he eyed the container skeptically. “You know I’m from New York, right?”
She nodded, her lips flattening. “I try not to hold it against you, though.”
A laugh burst from his chest, and he took the box and fork she handed him. “Let’s go sit in the living room.”
They sat down with almost a cushion between them, angled toward each other, and took the lid off their desserts. Before she could dig in, he plucked the fork from her fingers.
“Rookie,” he said, shaking his head as he set both of their forks on his coffee table.
Everly laughed, arched one brow in curiosity laced with challenge. Chris picked up the rolled dessert, the scent of lemon filling his nostrils and making his stomach growl.
“You have a lot to live up to, little cannoli,” he said, making her laugh like he’d hoped to. He could get high on Everly’s laugh. He bit in, enjoying the sugared crunch followed by the delicious mix of lemon and white chocolate flavors on his tongue.
Everly straightened her shoulders and sent him a smug look. “Well?”
All he could manage was, “Mmmm.” He finished it in three bites and wanted another. When he eyed hers, she laughed and pulled the box to her side.
“Not likely, pal,” she said through laughter.
Pal. Friends. They could be that. It was a hell of a lot better than nothing.Keep it light. Easy.As the youngest of four kids, he had an arsenal of puppy-dog expressions. Leaning forward, he gave Everly one that always worked on Ari.
