Page 61 of Tangled Up In You

"I know. I just can't deal with any more problems right now. I'm beginning to realize what a huge undertaking I've accepted. I don't want to blow it. Phoebe entrusted her baby to me. I can't let her down."

"I don't think you'll let her down."

"I hope not."

"I'm going to follow you home. I'll just make sure you get in safely."

"It's only eight-thirty, Adam. It's not late."

"It's dark, and these aren't ordinary circumstances."

"I'm sure you'd rather hang out here with your friends."

"I got what I came for," he said with a smile. "I was dreaming about one of Shannon's lemon bars."

"They are dream-worthy. I had one when I was sprinkling the sugar."

"You have a little sugar on your nose," he said.

She gave a self-conscious smile as she dabbed at the end of her nose. "Did I get it?"

"Yes," he said, wishing he'd been the one to kiss the sugar off. "Did you have fun tonight?"

"I did. It was so great to be with all the girls again. Lizzie and Chelsea are awesome, too. I don't know their men very well, but I've liked what I've seen so far."

"It's a good group."

"You're lucky to have so many friends."

"I am." He fell into step with her as she walked toward her car. "How is Drew doing, by the way? He seems to work far more than two hours a day, or else he's just staying away from my house."

"He's been at the store from morning until night. I owe him big time, Adam. He has put the entire software system together, all the inventory, the financials. He is amazing with numbers."

"I guess he just didn't care about his college courses."

"Well, I don't know how he does in school, but in the real-world, he's very focused and sharp. He's going to build me a website next. I don't think I could have opened the store without him."

"I had no idea he was doing so much. But then he barely grunts in my direction when I ask him a question. What about the girl? Does he talk about her?"

"No. But she took my yoga class this morning with a friend of hers, and she chatted up Drew before and after, so I think there's some interest both ways."

"I don't know if that's good or bad."

"Pick good. You want Drew to make friends and be happy, right?"

"Yeah, but a girl could complicate things."

She smiled. "You and your complications," she said, rolling her eyes. "And guys can be problematic, too. Maybe the risk has to equal the reward." She opened her car door. "You really don't have to follow me."

"It's not a problem."

He drew in a breath, fighting the urge to kiss her again. It wasn't easy, but somehow, he managed, mostly because she got in the car and shut the door.

He hurried over to his vehicle and slid behind the wheel, then followed her out of the parking lot. When they got to her shop, he parked and followed her up the stairs to her apartment, insisting on checking out her place before he left.

There was no one inside, and with the multitude of boxes in the living room, the apartment looked much more crowded than it had the last time he'd been in it. But it was also starting to feel more like Molly than Phoebe.

"Do you want something—to drink?" she asked, as they faced each other in the middle of the living room.

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