Page 22 of Meeting Mr. Adorkable
“Shit!” Arlo reared back. His hand flew to his face and cupped his throbbing nose, which was deflating the much more pleasurable throbbing that had been taking place in another part of his anatomy.
“It’s not broken, just a bit bashed in.” Lucian winced as he prodded his nose. “Like my glasses,” he added, showing the ugly frames that the impact had knocked off his face.
“Jeez, I’m really sorry.” Arlo’s voice was thick and nasal. “I didn’t mean—”
“To kiss me, batter my nose, or bash my specs? I rather like the first choice best because the others are a bit crap.” Lucian bent them back into shape, or almost, and jammed them on his face.
“Your nose got in the way. It’s big, and as for your glasses, they’re still wearable, so no way am I going to cough up compensation. You want that, mister, talk to my lawyer.”
“What? I’m not looking for compo, and my nose isn’t—”
Arlo’s lips twitched, making Lucian tut and roll his eyes before his face lit up in a smile.
Yet, the nearly kiss… Arlo’s stomach clenched. What the hell had he been thinking? Involvement, beyond friendship, was the last thing he wanted, with anybody, but getting involved with Lucian Arbuthnot Blaxston felt like it’d be too damn easy.
“Maybe it’s for the best,” Lucian said, his smile fading as he pushed his fingers through his hair. “Not kissing, that is. Could make things a little awkward. With us becoming friends, I mean. Especially as neither of us is looking for, well, anything more. Are we?” Lucian’s unsure words cut through Arlo’s troubling thoughts.
Are we…? No. No, they weren’t. “We’re not. Looking for anything, I mean.” Lucian was right, about not kissing, about not looking for more. But why did right not feel… right?
Lucian was looking at him through worried, anxious eyes. Arlo plastered a bright smile on his face to cover the cracks. The kiss that couldn’t and wouldn’t happen. Lucian returned his smile, but it was unsure and tentative.
Way up in the mountains, a distant roll of thunder broke the charged silence that had settled upon them. Arlo looked up into gray sky. When had the sun gone in?
“Come on, let me get you back before the storm comes.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“Hey, how was your weekend?” Bibi asked as she breezed into the flower store.
Lucian glared at her. She’d left a message for him to open up on his own again. And, she’d be leaving early, leaving him to close up. Again. Perhaps he should ask for a raise.
“You should know, as I spent a big chunk of it with you,” he snapped.
Bibi stopped in her tracks and frowned. “Excuse me?”
Lucian’s anger deflated. He was too tired to keep his temper stoked, and he rubbed his brow to ease away the niggling headache that’d been with him from the moment he woke up.
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “Just a little out of sorts.”
“I’ll say you are. And please remember, I’m your employer.” She exhaled, long and deep, and leaned on the counter. “And your friend,” she said, her voice softening. “Or at least I hope I am. Come on, what’s wrong?”
Lucian pushed his glasses, still slightly bent, on top of his head and closed his eyes. Bibi rested a hand on his arm, the flame to the touch paper, and Lucian couldn’t help it, he just couldn’t, as it all tumbled out. Meeting up with Arlo, the almost kiss, the squirming embarrassment even though they’d both done their best to laugh it off. Bibi, her face thoughtful, said nothing, and for that he was grateful.
“You’re probably wondering what kind of sad loser you’ve got working for you.” He attempted a smile, but his lips weren’t playing.
“I’m doing nothing of the sort. But Arlo wanted to kiss you?” The surprise in her voice was unmistakable, and Lucian’s spirits sank further.
“Yes, unlikely though it sounds.”
Her gentle touch turned to a sharp slap.
“Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed a palm over the sting.
“For being an ass. Why wouldn’t he? Luci, you’re super cute. If a little dorkish, but that’s kind of like a part of your appeal. And that exotic accent you have.”
Lucian gawped at her. A dork, with a funny accent…
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m not a dork. And my accent is hardly exotic.”
