Page 48 of You Were Invited
Julian was determined to haul all the groceries in one trip, but Annie insisted he let her carry at least one bag. She was glad he’d asked her to stay at his place for lunch. Work was calling, but she wasn’t ready to end the day just yet.
Winking, he said, “I’ll cook.”
“But–”
“You can cook next time, sweetness. And I got you parts for your kitchen sink.” When they made it to his front door, he set the bags down and got his key out to unlock it.
This man… Spoiling me but doing everything to not be spoiled himself.“Okay, Mister Even-Stevens…. At this rate, maybe you have a four-course meal coming your way?”
Her threat made him laugh. “Now you’re just trying to out-nice me, aren’t you?”
The day really had felt like they were struggling not to owe each other– like neither of them could bear to be caught holding a hot potato that didn’t need to be in play to begin with. “A competition isn’t a competition unless there’s at least two people, wouldn’t you agree?” she said. “And should I remind you… that you started it?”
He blinked, then shook his head and chuckled. “You may have a point.” He sighed and held out his hand. “Truce?”
Smiling, she crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t agreeing to anything just yet. “What are the terms of this truce?”
He scratched the back of his head. “Er, this just got me wondering if in the spirit of not being tit-for-tat…”
“... That’s what ended up happening anyways?”
“Yeah. Sorry. So I call open season on treating each other. I think that will make us both… happier.”
Annie stuck out her hand and shook Julian’s. “Truce.” Inwardly she sighed with relief.Thank God, now we can just enjoy each other’s company.
While the TV dinners heated in the oven, Annie waited for him on the couch. Julian rinsed off in the shower and changed his clothes before rejoining her. She noticed that either his bath products were heavily scented… or he’d actually spritzed on a little cologne. It smelled peppery with a hint of bergamot.
He sat down next to her with his computer on his lap. After a minute, he narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
Annie raised a brow. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh... just checking messages quick. I’m waiting for someone to respond to the ISO ad I posted this morning.”
“ISO?”
“In search of.”
“Watchu in search of?”
“I want a pair of cross-country skis,” he said, then added that he’d had no luck finding a pair. “Maybe if not this winter, then next.”
“That sounds fun, though. The skiing is good up here.”
“Yeah?”
“Molly’s dad taught me. I fall down a lot, but that doesn’t bother me unless there’s people around.”
The timer dinged on the oven. Julian grabbed a black tray, served on a plate, and set it down before her on the coffee table with a fork and napkin.
He went back for his tray. “Would you ski in front of me?”
“Maybe. If you don’t laugh.”
“I promise I wouldn't. And if you did fall, I’d sweep you back up. Maybe with a kiss for good measure.”
She gazed down at her food, trying to suppress a blush. He really couldn’t help but flirt, and it did something to her stomach.
“Did I make you blush?” he asked, leaning over her to get a better look at her face before he sat down on the coffee table.
