Page 71 of The Baby Bargain
My blush deepens. "I did not."
"You did." His lips curl into a smile. "You'd crouch next to me. Try to make eye contact. Stare at the ground." His eyes meet mine. "Your cheeks would turn bright red." His fingers brush the strap of my dress. "This red."
I shake my headno way.
"You'd rest your hand on my sketchbook. Ask if you could see what I was drawing."
"Maybe I was interested in art."
"Maybe." He laughs.
"It's possible."
"Don't tell me if it's true. It would bruise my ego too much," he teases.
"And you'd rather I stroke it?" The words fall off my lips without passing through my brain. "Oh, I mean—"
"I know." His smile widens. "Yeah. I'm a bitter asshole who can't get over his ex or forgive his brother—"
"You're not—"
"You gotta give me something."
"I'm sure a lot of women want to… stroke it."
"Yeah."
My cheeks flare, but not with desire. With something else. That same uneasy feeling I got when Phillip talked about his boss. About how smart and competent and stylish she was. "So…" I'm not jealous. That would be stupid. "Why don't you?"
"Act on it?" he offers.
"Yeah."
"You ever have casual sex?"
"Well… there was this guy in college. I thought it was serious, but he didn't. I, uh, when I look back, it was obvious. He was dropping a lot of hints. But I missed them." Deep breath. Slow exhale. Steady steps. "I guess that's a no."
"I used to. Before Grace. It was exciting while it happened. But, after, I'd feel worse. Empty."
"Empty like you… ahem." I motion to his crotch, which really doesn't get the point across in a graceful way.
But he must get it, because he laughs. It's that sameAriel, you're so ridiculouslaugh.
My stomach flutters.
My heart thuds.
My veins buzz.
Not because I like him.
Because… uh…
"No." His laugh gets deeper. "In my head. And my heart. I thought maybe that was sex. Until Grace. We waited a while. It was her first time. She was scared. By the time we finally—"
"Had sex?"
"Yeah. I was already in love with her. It was so different. Like I could feel her soul connecting with mine." He breaks our touch to run his hand through his hair. "Fuck, it sounds so cheesy like that."
