Page 14 of Harmless Scandals

He shook his head, but didn’t move his gaze away from the direction of Serenity’s house.

“What?”

“There’s a dude over there.”

“And?”

“Well, just, I didn’t think she was involved with anyone.”

“She never said that,” Adam said. “You assumed because you wanted her so badly.”

“Still, she went out with us.”

“She didn’t go out with us. She had dinner with a group.”

Wanting a look at the guy because Adam couldn’t help himself, he frowned when he saw the truck.

“There’s no guy.”

“I saw the back of him when he went into her house.”

“Don’t get like this. She can have friends. Hell, she can have lovers.”

Mick tossed him an angry look.

“Tell me you don’t want her.”

“For fuck’s sake, Mick, we just met her. She had a whole life before us. And again, you’re creeping me out, so I am sure you will creep her out by this behavior.”

Mick grunted, and returned his gaze back to the house.

This was a bad sign. Mick was already starting to obsess, and that could be a problem. He wasn’t a weirdo, but he tended to latch onto ideas. Once he did, he could never let them go. It usually ended with him being horribly disappointed and broody. And then Adam would have to kick his ass.

“Mick.” No response. “Vincent.”

He made a face, but finally turned his attention away from Serenity’s house. That was half the battle won.

“I know you’re attracted. I am too. But she’s our neighbor and she seems like a sweet woman. Let’s take it one day at a time. If she’s involved with someone, it isn’t any of our business.”

“But… Shit. You’re right.”

Adam watched Mick as he walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. He followed him and continued to study him.

“What’s up? There’s something else bothering you.”

He shrugged and tore at his beer label. “Nothing really.”

“Mick, you don’t go all depressed on me unless there’s something nagging at you.”

He sighed. “We’re good, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He wasn’t really, but he knew this would just fester if he let it go. Setting his beer on the counter, he stepped in front of Mick, and settled his arms over his shoulders.

“I know that, but there’s something else. Something that’s bugging you.”

“I don’t know, really. We got the house, now what?”

He should have known. Mick was a happy person. Constantly in a good mood, even at six in the morning. But, he leaned toward being goal oriented. His parents had raised him that way. It made him a kick ass security expert, but sometimes, it made it hard to live with him. He just didn’t always seem to understand goals are good, but they don’t always come to fruition.

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