Page 5 of Objection to Love

“Well, welcome then. When did you move in?”

“Today.” He smiled over at her. It was brief, and the expression was barely visible in the dim light. But the effect was strong. This man was attractive. Like, movie star attractive.

Surreptitiously—she hoped—she glanced at his left hand. Not married.

Why did that make her feel happy? That shouldn’t make her happy.Shewas happily married to her job. He could be happily married to a woman of equal attractiveness for all she cared.

But he wasn’t.

Stop smiling.She needed to get a hold of herself. He might be one of those guys who just didn’t wear his wedding ring. But he’d flirted with her—that said something. Not that she should care. She was too focused on her job to allow any distractions in the form of a male. She had a ten-year plan, and no part of that plan involved a man—she’d made that choice in law school and was still going strong five years later.

Plus, she wouldn’t see him after tonight anyway.

“I’m sorry about your tire. That’s bad luck.” He took another curve slowly.

Her brows rose at the sincerity in his voice, even though he still had his eyes on the road. “Oh… thanks. That kind of stuff just happens sometimes.”

“Yeah. But in the middle of a thunderstorm with no cell service?” He shook his head, but then his voice dropped to a more conspiratorial tone. “You didn’t happen to cross any black cats or walk under any ladders today, did you?”

“I would think you’re more likely to walk under ladders in your line of work.”

“True.” Garrett shrugged. “But I’m not feeling particularly unlucky right now.”

The radio sputtered back to life just then, indicating they were coming back into an area with service. He handed her his phone.

Habitually, she took it, but then just stared at it as if it were some type of alien lifeform.

“Put your address in, will you?” He pointed at the phone, still watching the road. “So I know where to take you.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sure.” She was not at all upset that he wasn’t asking for her number. Totally fine. Great even.

She entered the address to her small two-bedroom house and handed the phone back, then asked if he minded if she called a tow. He said he didn’t, turning down the radio and humming along quietly as he followed the directions on his phone to her house.

By the time she got off the phone with the tow company, they were pulling onto her street. He hadn’t killed her. He hadn’t even tried to get her number.

“I really appreciate the ride. I’m not sure what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.”

He grinned at her. “It was no problem at all. It was great to meet you, September.”

“Em.”

He just winked at her as he pulled into the driveway.

She glanced out the window. It was the wrong driveway, but her house was right next door, so she didn’t say anything.

The rain had slowed and was now more of a pathetic drizzle. He cut the engine.

“Thanks again.” She smiled politely at him, then opened her door.

He opened his as well.

Em felt a flash of panic. “Oh, you don’t need to walk me in. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” But still, he stepped out of the car.

“Okay…” She turned toward her house, clutching her purse and briefcase in one hand and wrinkling that spot between her eyebrows. Was he secretly a weirdo? She didn’t know weirdos could be so attractive. Weren’t they supposed to have greasy hair and bad teeth? Like that stalker her sister had gotten herself a few years ago.

When she reached the porch, she turned, hoping he hadn’t followed her to her door.

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