Page 63 of It Could Happen
“Oh, no?” I ask.
“We have some important things to address.”
I laugh. “Are you referring to naming my car? I think you should give that up and move on.”
“Never.”
“Are you always like this?” I ask.
“Like what? Determined? Motivated? Really attractive?”
“Relentless,” I add.
“Yes, that too,” he says. “Are you disagreeing with any of my other qualities?”
Hmm … is he trying to get me to admit that I find him attractive?
“I’m just curious as to why my opinion is so important to you.”
He sighs. “I’ve asked myself that same question.”
We both grow quiet for a few seconds. There’s definitely an indisputable energy building between us.
“Leslie is going to be furious if she finds out we met up,” I tell him.
I might as well just put it out there because I have nothing to lose. I’m certainly not going to let her intimidate me.
“Why does that matter?” he asks.
Either he didn’t pick up on Leslie’s obvious disdain for me, or he doesn’t care.
“It matters because she dislikes me very much and she basically told me to stay away from you.”
He furrows his eyebrows. “Are you serious? When?”
“On the cruise. Obviously, I didn’t listen because I’m here.”
“She had no right to say that to you. I’m sorry.”
I wave my hand. “It’s fine. She can’t control what I do or who I can speak to.”
He smiles. “There you go, showing your feisty side again. It reminds me of our first encounter.”
I pretend to glare at him. “You made me so mad that night.”
He smiles, and his whole face lights up. “That was fun.”
“Anyway, I’m not trying to cause problems for you and Leslie. And I especially don’t want Caroline to have any more issues with her wedding party. She already has a lot to deal with.”
“First of all, there’s no me and Leslie,” he says, placing his hand on my arm.
His touch causes a shiver to run up and down my spine.
“And that’s fine. Your personal life isn’t my business,” I add, my voice cracking.
“I know, but I want to be honest with you.”
“You don’t have to give me an explanation,” I remind him. “Anyway, my main focus right now is to be there for Caroline.”
