Page 18 of Love Unwrapped
Blake being in her apartment with her was never going to happen. Maybe he did speak the truth, maybe he wasn’t the awful man she’d thought him to be, but he also wasn’t boyfriend material. Andi scoffed at the idea and ran a hand through her hair.
Her heart sank as she realized she’d been the equivalent of a booty call. A few kind words and desirous glances and she’d dropped her pants for a man she had loathed for most of her life. Oh God, embarrassment bloomed as reality stared her down shaking its judgmental finger.
Maybe he’d been sincere, maybe hehadwanted her. Andi’s heart had connected to Blake, and at this moment, it desperately tried to intervene, but she couldn’t deny the truth in her head. Men like Blake, all hot and smoldering, knew how to play women, and Andi had just been played. The pain lancing her heart had nothing on the utter embarrassment she faced. Andi rose from bed, sitting on the side of the mattress, and reached for her phone. An unreasonable act of desperation had her texting her sister.
“I need you to tell me the truth. Did Blake have anything to do with robbing the store when you two were younger?” she texted Nat. It was early in the morning, maybe Nat was sleeping. Andi groaned out loud. She shouldn’t have bothered her. Nothing good could come from attempting a civilized discussion with her sister. But then her phone vibrated in her hand and she couldn’t resist knowing more about that time in their past.
“I’m so sick of you thinking the worst of me all the time. Why can’t you ever let anything go?” No part of her sister’s reply answered the question. Andi didn’t want Nat on the defensive. She would never answer truthfully that way.
Andi chose her next words carefully. “I’ve crossed his path again. Please answer my question honestly, Nat. I need the truth, for me, no other reason.”
“No, it’s you reminding me you’re better than me and I’m sick of it.” Nat shot back. If it were possible, Andi heart sank a little lower. She wondered, not for the first time, how they were even related.
“Please answer the question,” she replied, shaking her head.
“I don’t know why everyone thinks you’re so smart.” A second text from Nat immediately followed. “You can’t possibly be thinking about him.” Seconds later, another text followed. “Omg, you are thinking about dating him. Trust me, he’s not your type. You’re a princess. You need someone boring and always there to stroke your ego.”
Andi let out a heavy exhale and dropped the phone to her lap. The text messages kept coming, but Andi ignored them. More than anything, she hated to admit Nat was right. Andi tried not to date men with questionable pasts. She’d learned that lesson young, watching her sister. Then when her parent’s marriage had disintegrated after Nat’s brush with the legal system, she’d watched her mother date loser after loser. She’d sworn to never do that. And just because Blake said he didn’t do something, didn’t mean that was true.
“Oh God.”
What if this was a game? Her hand came to her forehead with force as the thought nearly bowled her over. Of course, this was some sort of a game to him. No one on the planet pined for her. Her parents barely had anything to do with her. Her sister— Well, those mean-spirited texts were still coming, weren’t they? Her sister didn’t tolerate her, not even when she demanded Andi send her money for whatever mess she’d gotten herself into. Even Andi’s cat didn’t like her. So with as mean as Andi had been to Blake—both when they were younger and over the last few days—why on earth would he ever want anything to do with her?
Andi flopped back against her mattress. To hurt her like she had hurt him?
Yes, Blake was playing her, and she’d fallen hard for his tactics. Of course, Blake had driven the car for Nat. Heck, he and her sister could still be friends today.Oh no. Had Blake had sex with both her and Nat? Andi shuddered at the thought. She felt dirty and wanted to cry. No, she wanted to throw up. Andi reached for her phone as Felix jumped up on the bed. He came for Andi, uncharacteristically running his body under her arm as she texted her grandmother.
“Grams, I need you to send a new volunteer to Blake’s shop this morning. I can’t be there.” She didn’t even try to come up with an excuse. “I’m sorry for adding more to your plate today. Have a good event.”
She used her thumb to turn off her cell before picking Felix up. Why he’d turned loving didn’t seem to matter as she clutched the cat to her and went for the kitchen. There was no hope for more sleep. Her feelings were too hurt. What had she let herself get involved in?
~~~
Blake glared at the clock again. Andi must have slept in this morning. She’d said she’d get there early to grab a croissant with him before the gang arrived. But he’d been up for hours, helping Wyatt get the day underway with no sign of her. He’d become so attuned to the door chime, eager to see her again, that he worried he’d develop a dick-related Pavlovian response to the sound. He grinned to himself at the thought.
He refused to worry though. It was his fault she deserved a little R&R, the way he’d tackled her to the couch for another make-out session before he’d let her go home. They’d exchanged numbers when he’d walked her to her car last night, but he didn’t want to bother her if she was getting some sleep.
Ryan had arrived about an hour ago and promptly set his ass in Blake’s recliner with a cup of coffee and a grunt. He must have enjoyed his night out.
Blake glanced up at the sound of the chime on the storefront’s door, then deflated slightly when it wasn’t Andi. Bree’s chipper morning gate as she made her way through the main room and the glowing smile she sent his way told him she wasn’t the reason for Ryan’s pre-work nap. Interesting.
“Morning, Bree.” He smiled her way and handed her an apron.
“Morning, boss. Did you get Ryan’s note?” She grinned at him sheepishly. “We figured that even if you guys didn’t work last night, we had more than enough time to finish up today. Hope you weren’t too upset. Ryan said you’d be fine with it.”
As far as Blake was concerned, their disappearance was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He finally whittled his way through Andi’s seemingly impermeable emotional defense system. He’d thought he’d need a scud missile to accomplish that, but it had only required sincerity and a willingness to be open about the past, something he typically avoided. But God…when they’d let down their walls, their chemistry had gone supernova, firing with the heat of a thousand suns.
“That was fine. Andi and I ate the pizza you two had us pick up.” He mock-scowled at Bree and she giggled in response. “Then I walked Andi to her car. We figured we’d pick up today and finish this up. I doubt we’ll be here long.”
Bree glanced around the room. “Where’s Ryan?”
Blake flicked his thumb over his shoulder to point toward his office. “He’ll be out in a minute. I’m sure he’s heard us talking. Nothing wake’s him when he sleeps, but he hears everything.” Blake laughed at the truth of that statement. The man could sleep anywhere, but whisper his name and he could pick up in the middle of a conversation he hadn’t even been part of.
“Yeah, yeah. Stop talking about me already. I’m here.”
Speak of the devil.
“Oh my. What did you get up to after I left you?” Bree’s brow furrowed as she took in Ryan’s recently-sober-and-hating-it look. “I swear I left him completely in charge of his own faculties at ten last night,” she said to Blake. Then looked at Ryan. “How much trouble can one man get into in less than twelve hours?”
