Page 14 of Love Out Loud

Chapter Six

Fiona knew the moment the situation became too much for Jacob. The muscles in his jaw tensed visibly, he stilled, his respiration increased, and he blinked several times in succession as he stared at Lucy. He was very adept at masking his fear, but as someone with a lifetime of experience, she recognized it.

Leaning close to him, she whispered, “This is how I felt when I walked into that room full of people, thinking I would have to speak. I was not happy or grateful. Are you happy and grateful?”

“Not even a little bit,” he said. “Point made. You win.”

She grinned. “No more group sessions?”

“None.”

“And…”

“And you were right. I was wrong. I apologize. Can we go now?”

She smiled. “An apology wasn’t part of the bet.”

“Consider it a bonus prize.”

For a moment, she flicked her gaze to his face, and heat ran through her. He was a really handsome man. She’d thought she’d memorized him from watching him in the lobby over the months, but up close, he looked entirely different. Even better. There was a gold rim around his gray irises she’d not known was there, and a little freckle just under his lower lip. She stared at his mouth for a moment, imagining licking that little freckle, but then looked away when she felt his attention shift to her.

Crap! He’d totally caught her checking out his mouth. She struck out toward the exit, and he fell in beside her. Jacob Ward was way out of her comfort zone. She shouldn’t be looking at him at all, much less imagining those lips on hers—or licking that freckle, for Pete’s sake.

She cleared her throat. “Apology accepted.”

When they got out of the building and into the sunlight, she slowed to a casual pace. Glancing over, she could tell he had recovered a bit. His steps were looser, and his drawn expression had relaxed.

“Wanna tell me about your fear of dogs?” she asked as they waited for the walk light.

“Nope.”

She wasn’t surprised, but she was disappointed. She also assumed he was angry like she had been when he’d tricked her into a group session. Fair enough. “I’m sorry you were uncomfortable, Jake.”

“I imagine I deserved it.”

“You did.”

The light changed, and they walked across the street, stopping where he had been dropped off by the cab. For what felt like forever, they simply stood in silence.

Well, this was awkward. She couldn’t bring herself to look at his face when she was this uncomfortable, and she wished she had her dogs with her. What on earth was she supposed to say?Thanks for playing along and letting me scare the crap out of you to prove a point. I hate that it made you uncomfortable.

She moved her focus from the people walking on the sidewalk to the trees growing in a cluster to her left. What was wrong with her? She felt like a teenager on a first date, not knowing how to say goodnight. She hated this feeling and hoped he was equally uncomfortable. Finally, she chanced a glance at him.

Darn it. The guy looked totally composed and irritatingly amused.

“What?” she asked, frustrated far more with herself than him.

“You’re not gloating,” he answered.

“Should I be?”

He nodded once. “I would be.”

“Making someone uncomfortable isn’t something to gloat over.”

“Winning a bet is.”

She supposed he was right. Still, gloating wasn’t her thing. “I only wanted to illustrate how being in a forced social situation makes me feel. I imagine it’s the same as you feel when in forced proximity with dogs.”

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