Page 65 of The Spark Between Us

I’d never been short on things to say. Teaching gave me the ability to think on my feet. But Alex’s question made me stammer. “Oh, we’re...it’s just...we’re friends.”

Alex huffed a laugh. “You sure you don’t want to phone a friend on that one? Final answer?”

“Yeah. I’m sure. We’re roommates.”

Alex shook his head. “Oh. Okay, well, good on you. That sounds like nice arrangement for you both.” He looked at me again with his head to the side, so I waited for the rest. “Just as long as you’re aware your roommate is completely in love with you, then great.”

“He’s not—”

“Are you harassing my dinner companion?” Braden clapped Alex on the shoulder and slipped back into his seat.

Alex shrugged. “Naw, just talking to your roommate about wine.”

I didn’t hear their small talk after that because my brain was still back on Alex’s assertion that Braden was in love with me. Which was not true. Alex had misinterpreted. Braden was no more in love with me than I was with him, and given my short stint in Carolwood and my career objectives back in Berkeley, Braden and I were a temporary amusement. No emotions allowed.

And yet … I couldn’t help trying the love concept on for size. Okay, not love, not yet. But maybe Braden did feel something for me. And maybe, if I was honest with myself, I felt more than something for him.

The idea both excited and terrified me. I did have a relationship plan, and it didn’t make sense to start something now. Or here.

“Well, thanks for keeping her company. Now go bother someone else so I can have her to myself.” He picked up my hand again, this time lacing our fingers together and resting them on the tablecloth. Leaning in, he fixed me with his eyes, burning and possessive, melding with mine like we shared a single thought.

I pushed my worrisome thoughts away for now. Braden reached for my chin with his other hand and kissed me softly. Then more deeply.

By the time our entrees came, I wasn’t sure if we were roommates or something else entirely. Maybe Alex was right. Or maybe I just wanted him to be.

Feeling something for a commitment-phobic man scared me more than the idea that aluminum might not be the optimal material for welding with lasers.

---