Page 25 of The Dallas Dilemma

I smile at him softly, and he returns it. Clearing my throat at the suddenly charged moment, I turn to survey the marina again. Laughing, I point at a dark head poking out of the water near one of the docks. As we watch, the seal rockets itself out of the water to land on the wooden slats just as the sun breaks through the thinning clouds to shine down on it.

We spot a few more seals and watch their antics before turning to head back to the car. Our conversation is light and entertaining as we drive back to Grenville, but in the quiet moments, my mind returns to the questions Dallas asked on the beach.

Do you avoid social situations because you prefer to be alone? Or do you do it because you’re nervous or uncomfortable around other people?

As I think about it, I realize the answer isn’t what Ithought it would be. As much as I hide out in my apartment and call myself an introvert, I don’t actually love being alone. I don’t mind it, but I don’t love it, either. I stay there because when I’m around other people, I’m constantly worrying about their feelings. Do they like me? Am I annoying anyone? What if they don’t want to be around me and are just too polite to say it?

The only people I feel completely comfortable around are my parents, my sister, Twila, and Raven.

Well, that’s not exactly true anymore, is it?

I’m pretty comfortable right now, with Dallas. I mean, sure, he makes me nervous, but for completely different reasons that have nothing to do with my normal anxiety. This nervous is a good nervous. An excitement that makes my blood sing and my heart pound.

When we get back to our apartment building, we’re both silent as we ride the elevator up and walk down our hall. But it’s a good silence. A comfortable one that neither of us feels the need to fill. We stop in front of my door, and I pull my keys from my bag.

“Thank you for inviting me today. It was fun,” I say softly.

“Thank you for joining me. Itwasfun,” he replies.

I turn to unlock my door, then spin back around to see him turning back toward me. We open our mouths and start speaking at the same time, then we both cut off with a laugh.

“You go ahead,” I say.

“No. You. Please,” he says, and I take a deep breath.

“Would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Iwas just going to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. It’s nothing special. You know what? Never mind. Forget I asked.”

“I’d love to,” he says with a grin when my words finally peter out.

“You’d love to?”

“I would.”

“Okay,” I say, my smile growing wider. “How’s five o’clock? I know it’s early, but we only had ice cream for lunch and––”

“Five o’clock is perfect,” he cuts in, ending another bout of word vomit.

“Okay,” I say again. “See you then.”

“See you then,” he says, and starts to turn.

“Wait,” I say, and he turns back. “What were you going to say?”

“I was going to ask what you’re doing for dinner,” he says with a wink, then turns and unlocks his apartment, strolling inside.

I’m still watching as he turns back, melts my bones with a heated smile, then closes the door with a chuckle. Gathering my wits, I shuffle into my place and close the door before leaning back against it.

What a day. And it’s not even over yet.

Pushing off the door, I drop my bag and head straight to my room. I need to shower off the beach and find something to wear for my…date.

But it’s not really a date, is it? Dallas is just coming over for a sandwich and some soup. I shake my head andstrip off my clothes and the bathing suit I’m still wearing beneath them. Tonight doesn’t need a label.

I like being around Dallas, and by some miracle, he seems to like being around me. I don’t know if his interest is romantic or platonic, but I’ve got plenty of time to figure that out. I don’t need to stress over it today.

I can worry about it all some other time.

CHAPTER TEN

---