Page 101 of Romancing the Grump
“What?” I say, and then my eyes lift to the rest of my teammates, who are all wearing similar expressions.
“That was some kiss, man,” Alec says.
I run a hand across my beard. “I’ve kissed her before.”
“Not like that, you haven’t,” Van says.
So it wasn’t justmewho thought that kiss was different.
I have to wonder what Summer thought about it. What she’s thinkingnow.
For the briefest moment, hope glimmers in my mind. Maybe wecouldbe together. Maybe we could make this work. But then my waning adrenaline gives way to the full scope of emotions building in my chest, and I shake my head.
“It’s not real,” I say. “It was just because her old boss was there. Because we’re in public. All of this—it’s all been fake.”My words crack at the end of my sentence, and I drop my head, my chin falling to my chest.
Felix steps up beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Nathan, it’s never been fake,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what lie you’ve been telling yourself or telling her, that’s the truth. And you know it.”
I shrug out of his grip and stalk toward the door, suddenly frantic. I have to get away from him, from whatever is happening, but I stop in my tracks when Summer steps into the parking lot.
I freeze a few yards away from her, and she does the same. Her face is a study of emotion. There’s desire there, and my pulse immediately reacts, sending hot blood racing through my veins. But there’s something else, too. Something I can’t quite read.
It only now occurs to me that I spent the last fifteen minutesreacting,without actually asking Summer if she wanted my help. I kissed her. Called herbaby.
Then I dropped her in a chair and commanded her not to move like I’m some kind of Neanderthal who fights her battles for her.
It felt like the perfect choice at the time, and I can’t say I have regrets. But does Summer feel the same way?
Slowly, my friends file past me, offering me encouraging looks or pats on the back. Felix is last to go, and he looks me dead in the eye and says, “Don’t run, man. Don’t run from this.”
I want to believe I can do what he says.
I’m just not sure I know how.
CHAPTER 24
SUMMER
I standin the parking lot, March air biting the exposed skin on my arms, and wonder how I’m supposed to feel.
On the one hand, I did not like the way Nathan deposited me in a chair like a tiny delicate flower so he could…I don’t know. Rough Jason up a little bit?
Okay, maybe Idolike the idea of him roughing Jason up a little bit.
It was not fun to have my old boss looming over me, shifting his body to make it difficult for me to escape. But Iwouldhave escaped.
I…thinkI would have escaped?
The unfortunate truth is that Nathan is much more intimidating than I am. And while I likely would have weaseled my way out of Jason’s presence, I would not have convinced him to leave me alone. Not like Nathan did.
There is a streak of independence in me that wants to believe I can fight all my own battles. Trouble is, the playingfield isn’t always level. I used every tool at my disposal to get Jason fired, to get himoutof my life, and all I got were head pats and patronizing smiles.
Then there’s the fact that he showed up in Harvest Hollow. Apparently, he came to town to meet with a witness, so it was only coincidence he was at Mulligan’s. Silver Creek isn’t that far away, so I can believe the work story. But it was still unsettling to see him. He doesn’t belong in my new life.
At least I don’t have to worry about seeing him again. Jason is an opportunist, but he’s a coward at heart. He won’t bother me again—especially now that he knows I’m with Nathan.
Or…thinksI’m with Nathan, anyway.
I’m not going to stress about the technicalities.
