Page 52 of The Hometown Legend

He looked at her. “You could do that.”

That felt like a swift punch in the stomach, and it shouldn’t. He had notably not offered to kiss her. He was offering to take her out for another man to kiss her.

For some reason, it made her heart feel just slightly dented. Just slightly.

“So I’m...your flirting coach,” she said.

“I didn’t say anything about flirting,” he said.

“Oh. You said you wanted to be charming, so I just assumed.”

“Are you offering to be my wingman, Rory?”

“Well. I could be. I mean, you’re kind of being mine.”

“I haven’t dated for a while. But my ex-wife is getting remarried, so maybe that’s my sign.”

“Oh. I’m sorry I...” She suddenly felt a little bit ashamed. Like she had stepped into territory where she wasn’t invited. Because, of course, he’d been married. And, of course, it hadn’t ended well. Or rather, it hadended, which she knew was counter to what people wanted when it came to marriage.

“Don’t be. I’m not. I’m glad she’s moving on with her life. She should. There was no fixing us, and she wants a husband, so she should have one.” He cleared his throat. “Not sure I’m headed that direction, myself.”

That struck her as being desperately sad. He was too good of a man to be alone forever.

“I could be yourfriendcoach.”

“My friend coach,” he repeated.

“Yes. If you need help making friends.”

“I thought you also had issues with that.”

“I do.” She frowned. “But I have had a friendship with your sister for a whole lot of years. I know what I want in a friend. Either way, the rule applies. I can be your scowl monitor.”

“My scowl monitor.”

“Yes. I can let you know if you’re being too scowly.”

“How? A birdcall?”

“No,”she said, feeling annoyed. “Not with a birdcall. But maybe like that... What do they call it? A safe word.”

“That isn’t what a safe word is for, baby.”

She looked up at him, and for a moment, the world slowed down. His blue eyes were intent on hers.

Baby.

Safe word.

Lord.

She shook her head too vigorously, trying to do something to disrupt the tension that had gripped her by the throat. “No. You know what I mean. I mean a code word.”

“Well, now I like safe word.”

The way his voice skated over that word, rough and deep. She did not know this version of Gideon. Not back then and not now. Of course, he’d never once said anything sexual around her when she was younger, and even though she’d heard that he was amazing in bed, she’d never been able to put too much graphic thought into it then because she’d been too innocent.

She might be untouched, but she knew things.

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