Page 239 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
Those things are all surface level.
To feel real, actual jealousy?
That feels deeper. More significant.
But the way that woman was talking to him—laughingwith him—all I want to do is storm back down the stairs and punch her right in her pretty-sounding throat.
A knock sounds on the door behind me, and panic spikes in my chest.
I can’t face Lennox.
Not now.
Not now that I’ve realized how I’m actually feeling.
I worried Imightlike him after the bear attack—bear encounter?—but now I’m certain of it. Why else would I feel so irrational?
I drop Lennox’s coffee mug onto the counter and back away from the door, putting as much space as possible between me and it.
“Come in!” I call, hating how shaky my voice sounds.
The door swings open, and Toby trots in, tongue lolling to the side, and jumps up on the couch. Lennox hovers in the doorway, his eyes going wide as soon as he takes in my expression.
“Whoa. You okay?”
I prop my hands on my hips, forgetting that they were the only thing shielding the very free and loose situation happening under my t-shirt.
Lennox’s eyes drop for the briefest moment, and I immediately regret my decision, but to his credit, he zeroes back in on my face lightning fast.
The fact that he was laughing with some other woman seconds before he’snoticingme only fuels the (admittedly irrational) fire coursing through my veins.
“Fine. I’m totally fine,” I say, trying—and failing—to sound casual. “Are you done with all the flirting that was happening?” I ask with a dramatic wave of my hand.
He frowns and glances down the stairs, then steps into my apartment and shuts the door behind him.
“I wasn’t flirting with anyone.”
“You were. I heard you. I heardher.”
“Tatum,” Lennox says calmly. “I don’t know what you think you heard, but I run my kitchen with professionalism, and I never cross lines with my staff. I had a two-minute conversation with Brittany—who is married with two kids, by the way—and then I came up here.”
“Then what did I hear? Why did she sound so . . . so breathy andtrembly?”
He shrugs, like he can’t even believe we’re having this conversation.
Honestly, I’m not even sure why we still are. It’s only my pride driving me forward now—pride I’d like to take downstairs and run through the trash compactor.
“She was probably nervous,” Lennox finally says. “She’s new. We don’t know each other all that well yet.”
“Nervous because you’re so intimidating?”Oh my gosh, WHO AM I? WHAT AM I SAYING?
“Yes,” he says firmly. “My family owns the whole farm. Sometimes people are intimidated by that.” It’s the first time he’s ever raised his voice, though he’s not even close to yelling. Still, the passion he’s feeling is evident. And alsosexy.
Lennox props his hands on his hips, his face turned away like he’s pondering the world’s problems and carrying the weight of them on his shoulders. His unbuttoned coat falls open to reveal a navy blue henley that looks soft enough to touch. I suddenly remember I’m still wearing his scarf, and I lift my hands to holdonto it. It’s a flimsy anchor, but I’ll take anything I can get. Because this conversation doesn’t feel like banter anymore.
It feels like . . . likefeelings.
“I realize you’re probably coming to this conversation with ideas about the kind of man I was when we were in school. And I get that. But that’s not who I am anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your wild accusations to yourself so you don’t give anyone else the wrong impression.”
