Page 51 of Trouble Walked In

Lizzie shrugged. “It was an itch I scratched. That’s it.”

Carrie studied her. “That’s it? You had amazing sex with a man who looks like a rock god and you don’t want to do it again?”

Lizzie hesitated. “It’s not that. Exactly.”

“What is it, exactly?”

She tried to focus her thoughts, but the wine and the day she’d just had made them fuzzy and hard to catch. “What would be the point?”

Carrie blinked. “Having fantastic sex would be the point.”

“I mean after that. It’s not like there’s any chance of anything more than that. His life is out there, and mine’s here. There’s no future. It’s a few days, and then he’s gone. Back to the bright lights.”

Carrie leaned back, looking thoughtful. “Oh, God. I hadn’t even thought about that. You fall for him, where would that leave us? I mean, as your friend I’m thrilled for you if you find love, but what would that mean for us? For the inn? This place needs you here.”

Lizzie slapped the arm of the chair. “Exactly. You need me here. I need me here. This place is my home. I can’t leave. I don’twantto leave.”

Carrie’s look of understanding almost brought tears to her eyes. “You like him.”

She shook her head vehemently. “No.”

Carrie scoffed. “Yes, you do.”

She flashed her friend a frustrated glare. “Do not.”

“You don’t have to admit it. It’s written all over your face every time you mention his name. Ignoring it won’t help the situation, because I bet the next time he gets you alone you’ll end up with a repeat of what happened tonight. I mean, I would if I were you. You don’t need to have a future with a guy to enjoy a little sack time is all I’m saying.”

If it were anybody else, Carrie would be right. A casual fling had never been out of the realm of possibility. She just hadn’t met anyone since the divorce she’d even been interested in having dinner with, let alone anything else.

“This is different.”

“Really?” Carrie asked.

“He’s not just some random guy I picked up in a bar.” Why was it so hot in here? “I’m not like you.”

“Hey, I only did that one time,” Carrie protested. “And what does that have to do with anything?”

“He’s a friend.Wasa friend.” Lizzie pushed forward with the point she was sure she had, if only her fuzzy brain would let her make it. “He’s not a stranger.”

“You’re saying you’d rather have sex with random strangers than with a man you like?”

“What? No. That’s not what I’m saying.” She frowned. “I think I had too much wine.”

Carrie grinned. “I think you had just the right amount, because now we’re getting somewhere.”

“Where?” The room was soft and squishy around the edges. She should lie down.

“You. Like. Him.” Carrie tapped her glass for emphasis after each word.

“No.” Her protest sounded a little hollow, even to herself. So she repeated it for emphasis. “No.”

“Yes, you do.” Carrie leaned forward. “Youreallylike him. You care about what he thinks. You care what sex would mean. It’s the natural way to up the relationship game to the next level. After sex comes more sex, which leads to more time together which leads to…” Carrie paused. “Do youmorethan like him? Are you falling for him?”

“Definitely not.” It came out a little more garbled than she’d meant it to. “I hate him. You can’t fall for somebody you hate.”

“Uh-huh,” Carrie said. “It would be impossible to love someone you hate. Definitely.”

“That’s right,” Lizzie nodded, then stopped when it made the room spin. “The thing is…he’s just so damn…likable.”

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