“Details, Darce. Come on. Tell me about thesparks.” Brendon gestured for her to keep talking with an impatient wave of his hand.
“She said I have pretty eyes.” Darcy hadn’t meant to whisper, but it wound up being a more honest confession than she’d intended.
Her eyes were brown. Nothing was wrong with them, but no one ever complimented her eyes. They went for the obvious attributes—her hair, her legs, her breasts if they were being bold. But her eyes?
Ridiculous. If anyone had nice eyes it was Elle. Big and blue,soblue it was like staring off into the Puget Sound at midnight on a full moon.
“You’re blushing.”
She wasnot. Except, when she brought her hands to her cheeks, her face was hot, feverish beneath her fingertips. She cleared her throat. No, there’d be no more getting lost in Elle’s eyes. Capsizing, more like.
“I don’t like to kiss and tell.”
Brendon’s eyes went huge and round, his jaw dropping and it was only then she realized what she’d said, how it could be construed,misconstrued. Only... wasn’t that the point? Make him believe there’d been sparks, enough chemistry to put him off her trail?
Therehadbeen sparks. Just none that she had any intention of acting on. Sparks either fizzled, or they caught fire and burned you. Badly. No, thank you.
Obfuscation wasn’tquitethe same as lying. Brendon could believe what he wanted.Technicallyshe’d only embellished.
“When are you seeing her again?”
“I’m really busy this week.” Brendon’s face fell, so she hurried to add, “But I’m going to text her. We’ll play it by ear.”
Not that she enjoyed stretching the truth, especially not to Brendon, but it was sort of brilliant. Play it by ear, text when she could. If he asked, she’d make up an excuse about being busy, push it off, buy herself a little more time. She might even text Elle for real, just a quick thank-you for picking up the tab. That would be the polite thing to do, especially since she hadn’t had the chance to thank her at the restaurant. By the time she’d made it back from the restroom, Elle had already left. A fact that should not have stung, and yet, for some inexplicable reason, had. Damp silk tickling the skin of her stomach, Darcy hadfrozen in front of the empty table. The sight of Elle’s pink lip print on her empty wineglass but no Elle had felt like pressing on a bruise Darcy hadn’t realized was there until she agitated it. Unsettled, Darcy had booked it out of the restaurant, wanting to put as much distance between herself and that feeling as possible.
The plan was perfect... as long as Brendon didn’t actuallysayanything to Elle.
“Look.” Darcy sat straighter, staring him down, orupas it was. He might’ve been taller, but she was his big sister and he’d be ill advised to forget. “No meddling, all right? Don’tsayanything to her. I don’t want you messing this up.”
“Me? Meddle?” Brendon held a hand up to his chest as if affronted.
“Brendon.”
He rolled his eyes. “Geez, Darce, chill. I’m not going to say anything. It was honestly a stroke of luck that I overheard her talking about how difficult dating is.Was, I guess.”
He shot her the world’s most god-awful wink, both eyes closing. He’d have her married off within the year if he had his way.
“I mean it.” She pinned him with a stare. “I’ve got this. Thank you, but you’ve done enough, okay?”
He shook his head. “You really like her, don’t you?”
It didn’t matter if she liked Elle. Chances were, they’d never see each other again. But if Darcy played her cards right, she could keep Brendon off her back—perhaps not indefinitely, but at least long enough to avoid several weeks of pointless speed dating.
Chapter Three
What Brunch Food Are You Based on Your Zodiac?
Aries—Spicy Chorizo Hash
Taurus—Monte Cristo Sandwich
Gemini—Chicken and Waffles
Cancer—Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal
Leo—Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast
Virgo—Spinach and Egg White Omelet with Whole Wheat Toast