Page 34 of Summer Ever After
Do you know what else is lame? How stupid-hot Walker looks in his golf clothes: fitted bright-blue golf pants, white belt, white shirt with bright-blue, orange, and pink stripes, and matching white hat with his sponsor logo. It’s golf-cool, and no golfer looks cooler than Walker Collins. He brings his fashion A-game every time he’s on the course. It’s just another reason why the public loves him. And now his fashion A-game is in my kitchen.
He glances over his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to mess up your doorstep scene with Beau. Feel free to go outside and let the evening play out how it was going to.”
“How do you even know there would’ve been a doorstep scene?”
“Did I ruin your first kiss, Jane?” His eyes say he’s teasing, but the joke is not funny.
Is this what Walker thinks of me—a twenty-eight-year-old maiden who’s never been kissed or had a guy interested in her?
“My kissing résumé is none of your business.” Then why do I want nothing more than to defend myself? “But I’ll have you know, I’ve kissedlotsof guys. Like tons and tons.” You think I would’ve stopped attons and tons,but I don’t. “I’m actually an excellent kisser. Like one hundred percent satisfaction guaranteed.”
“Is that so?” The corner of his mouth lifts in his teasing way. “I’d love to see for myself.”
My eyes narrow into tiny little daggers. “Your head seems fine. I think you can leave now.” Actually, there’s bloodsoaking through his paper towel, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“I can’t.” His grimace is fake. “I have to wait for the tow cart to come and get my golf cart.”
“Bad news.” Beau comes through the kitchen side door, saving the day with his impeccable timing. “I just got off the phone with Dax, and he can’t come pick up your golf cart until tomorrow. I’d take you home, but I got a call that Patrice Billigan’s boy fell off the trampoline and cut his leg. They want me to come see if it’s bad enough that he needs stitches.”
Walker whistles. “It’s a hoppin’ night in Sunset Harbor.”
“I can take Walker home,” I reluctantly say at the same time my stomach fills with butterflies.
“Are you sure? I feel bad that I’m leaving you hanging again. He can come with me to Patrice’s house, and then I can take him home after.”
“No, that’s silly. I can take him.” I smile back at Beau, feeling Walker’s overly amused smile beaming back and forth between the two of us.
“I’ll walk you out.” I grab Beau’s arm, dragging him to the door.
He stops and glances back at Walker. “Try to stay out of trouble, would you? I don’t want to have to lock you up.”
“I’ll do my best, Officer.” Walker uses two fingers to give a half-hearted salute, which is a surprisingly attractive gesture when done by him.
I tug Beau out the door and shut it behind us.
“Listen, after tonight, I think I finally get the hint that we’re better off as friends than anything else.”
It’s not that there was anything wrong with my date with Beau. It was a normal evening. I didn’t try to push any ridiculoustrope or anything like that, but even that didn’t help with our chemistry. It’s just non-existent.
“I think we’re better off as friends too.” He nudges my shoulder like any close pal would. “It was a good effort, though.”
We both laugh, and for the first time all night, I breathe easier now that I’m not forcing something that’s not there.
“Well, I better get going.” Beau gives me a side hug, and then he’s gone.
I open the door, stepping back inside the kitchen.
Walker is waiting with a smile. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out between you two. You would’ve had some cute kids.”
“How do you know it didn’t work out?”
“Jane, come on.” He tilts his head. “There’s zero chemistry between the two of you.”
I bite back my smile, trying hard to feign irritation. “You’re the worst. Do you know that?”
“Surely there’s someoneworsethan me out there.” Despite the bloody paper towel and ruffled hair from wearing a hat all day, Walker manages to look absolutely handsome as he smiles back at me.
I steel my heart, switching my gaze to his forehead. “That’s quite the gash.”
