Page 44 of Mess With Me
“Nope.”
“Get used to it.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’d like that a lot.”
Her heart clutched. The unexpected tenderness cracked through the haze of lust, making her think of the possibility of more. Her mind raced forward in time; could they have something lasting?
Stop it. Ethan is not your fantasy prince bringing you a happy-ever-after.She was so mad at herself for backsliding. She’d deliberately chosen a new direction for her life. And she was making great progress too, learning to enjoy singlehood, trying new things, searching for what would bring her happiness. The sologamy ceremony had cemented everything, transforming her from a hopeless romantic to a practical, self-respecting single woman. She’d become the butterfly she was always meant to be. Now she had a great job opportunity on the horizon with Claire, possibly taking her far from home. She couldn’t start something with Ethan and then leave. That wasn’t fair to either of them.
She was quiet on the short drive over to his place in Eastman, her thoughts jumbled, not at all sure what to do with this intense chemistry between her and Ethan. Could she enjoy something casual with him? If they talked about it, sort of set some boundaries to keep it light, maybe it would be okay. Nobody would get hurt.
She followed him to the door of his two-story townhouse, curious about his place. Probably it would have a lot of wood furniture, maybe even a trophy on the wall, like a deer head or a giant fish.
She stepped inside to a sparsely furnished living room with only three things—cushy chocolate brown leather sofa, wood coffee table, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. No end tables. Nothing hung on the walls. It looked like he’d moved in to the standard white walls, beige carpeting that the townhouse came with and left it. She peeked into the kitchen, separated by a half wall on two sides, to find a round gray steel bistro table with two matching chairs. An adjacent dining room was nearly empty except for some barbells on the side. The place was Spartan and she decided it fit the outdoorsy tough Ethan. Though the sofa did look soft and inviting.
“Just you here?” she asked, crossing to the sofa to put some distance between them. Lust addled her brain.
“Yeah. Logan Campbell used to live here too. It’s a two bedroom, but ever since he’s become a hotshot entrepreneur, he went and bought a house.”
“What does a hotshot do?”
He lifted one bulky shoulder up and down. “He runs an online service that does background checks for short-term contractors and personal caregivers. Ben Wright works with him.” He jutted out his chin. “I could’ve got in on it too, it was my work that inspired the idea, but I told them a desk job wasn’t for me.”
“Ouch.”
He stepped closer. “What do you mean ouch?”
“Well, it’s just that he and Ben must be doing really well. You could’ve bought a house too if you were in on it.”
He crossed his arms, his tone hard. “I’m a simple man with simple needs. Happy to work my shift, do a good job, relax with a beer, or go fishing on the lake. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
He was so defensive she should’ve let it drop. It wasn’t like she cared about money, but she’d seen through Claire the fabulous options money could give someone. “What about travel? Have you ever left Connecticut?”
“Sure, I visited Jake out in California before. I’m happy.” Jake Campbell had a billion-dollar tech company in California. Now he was only part-time and moved with his wife, Claire, to her movie locations.
“So you’re completely one hundred percent content?” It was hard for her to comprehend coming so close to a fabulous opportunity and turning it down.
He frowned. “Not one hundred percent content. Mostly.”
She stepped close enough to touch, drawn to his open honesty. “What would make it one hundred percent?”
His expression softened before he lifted his chin in challenge. “What would make it one hundred percent content for you?”
She thought for a moment. “That’s what I’m trying to find out. Maybe finding my life’s purpose. You found yours though. And you’re still not content?”
He was quiet before finally saying, “There’re other factors.”
She nodded, figuring he meant something really deep. “Like enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment, huh?”
She waved a hand airily. “Enlightenment, peacefulness, satisfaction—whatever word you use, it means the same thing.”
He smirked.
“Not that!”
He gave her a slow sexy smile that made her insides flip. “You were thinking it too.”
