Page 34 of Forever Fickle

“I love it…” she admitted, falling under the spell he was weaving around her. He put a hand on the cabinets behind her, his arm right by her head, and took a step towards her, causing her to lay a hand on his chest in reaction, trying to keep them separate.

“Then don’t say ‘no’…” he whispered, his eyes dropping to her lips, and a part of her wished he would actually kiss her just so she could say ‘ah ha!’ and exclaim that he’d lied to her.

Instead, he stood there, waiting, and she was melting slowly under his very eyes.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to…”

“No funny business?” she breathed, almost wishing he would.

“None,” Jace mumbled and then hesitated, “… unless you start it. Funny business, as you said, doesn’t begin until you kiss me, Miss Marks.”

“I won’t.”

“I already know,” Jace sighed heavily.

Just as Karen was about to say something else, the front door opened in the distance and the two of them hopped apart like they’d been caught doing something wrong.

Both of them glanced at the other, surprised, and then smiled in silent understanding as Alpo appeared in the doorway, frowning.

“Y’all are both here early.”

“We open in…” Karen looked at her watch, “ten minutes. You are just in time for coffee – Jace made it.”

“Cool.”

“Karen, I think there are donuts in the microwave again,” Jace said easily, moving to open the cabinet and get out a third coffee cup before pouring all three of them a cup of the exceedingly strong brew.

“I’ll need to get some new ones for tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” Jace grinned, glancing at her sideways, as if he was thinking of them going shopping this evening too.

Karen felt herself blushing slightly as Alpo looked between the two of them. She avoided his eyes, reaching for the sugar as Jace handed her a coffee mug.

“There you go…” Jace said softly, setting it down – and she heard Alpo’s chair scrape back immediately as he grabbed Jace by the arm. All three of them froze as the man glared at Jace.

“Tell me you aren’t even trying to do what I think you are…” Alpo said between gritted teeth. “You didn’t touch her, did you?”

“Nothing’s happened,” Jace said, jerking his arm away. “I’m notthatbad you know.”

“Women fall all over you. I’ve seen it! Karen isn’t one of them you can dabble with, Hot Cakes. We like her and you can’t play with this particular woman…”

“I’m not.”

“He’s not,” Karen interjected at the same time Jace spoke, causing Alpo to look at her. “We are just friends and…”

Alpo dove for the other man, causing her to yelp in alarm as Jace stood completely still, allowing the other man to reach for his throat.

“ALPO! NO!” Karen hollered angrily, grabbing his arm, and yanking him away from Jace, who wasn’t bothering to defend himself. “Sit boy! SIT!”

The two men looked almost as shocked as she was at her outburst – before laughing at what she’d said.

“Did you just tell me to sit… like a dog?” Alpo grinned.

“Yes,” she snapped. “I can be friends with someone without there being intimacy or anything likethat, you know…”

“I’ve met his ‘friends’ and you aren’t anything like them…” Alpo bit out and Jace actually looked horribly embarrassed, turning away.

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