Page 51 of How to Deal

“I work there.” Tathan laughs. “It’s pretty easy to find it.”

“What do you want?” Even I’m surprised by my tone, and I feel the need to apologize. “I’m sorry, was that harsh?”

“I’m sorta terrified.”

“I haven’t had my coffee yet,” I apologize, and then wonder why I do.

“Look up,” he orders, amusement evident in his tone now.

I look up to see Zane standing there just a foot from me with an iced mocha in his hand, chocolate croissant in the other, with a big fucking grin. I didn’t even notice he left, let alone he reappeared with coffee and food. Two coffees.

I hold my hand over the phone. “Where did that come from?” I ask Zane.

I can hear Tathan chuckling in the background.

“I wouldn’t want you to terrify any more people this morning,” Tathan adds with a laugh. “I’m only looking out for their safety.”

“What do youwant?”

He takes a deep breath, and then he hits me with it. “I want you to meet me for lunch.”

“I don’t have time,” I lie. I do have time, but I’m afraid if I do go to lunch with him, it will end in my attacking his beautiful face again and succumbing myself to a life in the bucket. “And I told you, no date until after the wedding. Stop pushing your luck.”

“I think you have time. Paul told me you have nothing planned this afternoon.”

Why, that backstabbing asshole.

“I’m going to file a restraining order against you.”

“That sounds like fun.” His raspy tone makes me weak, and I giggle before I can stop myself.

Breathing heavy, I cover my mouth. “Will you stop it?”

“It’s technically not a date,” he defends. “It’s lunch.”

“That’s a date. My answer is still no.”

I hang up on him because he’s persuasive and the longer I talk to him, the more I want to give in.

As soon as I slam the phone down, Zane rambles about how dreamy Tathan is, and I don’t know whether to gag or agree, especially when he starts talking about doing a reverse cowgirl on him. Not an image I wanted to think about, unless I’m doing the reverse cowgirl with Tathan. Why do I even know the names of these positions?

Oh yeah, your neighbor is a stripper.

I think about the reverse cowgirl and the deep-sea diver position with Tathan and me for a good hour.

Zane has actual work to do today, so he stands, taking his coffee with him. “He’s such a nice guy.”

“Yeah, sure he is.”

The problem is, he is a nice guy.

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