Page 56 of Jerk Neighbor

“I noticed you ran the waiters off their feet.”

He said ruefully, “I don’t trust a venue to eliminate milk proteins unless they already offer vegan options. I’ve talked to the staff there. They showed me the separate prep areas. They tell me the safest thing is to order vegan, then a grill item separately.”

“You asked what I took in my coffee. That was right before you kissed me,” she said slowly.

“Some people react to trace amounts. It’s never happened to me before, but I like to know what I’m dealing with.” He shot her a wry look. “You were lucky. I’ve been known to demand my dates brush their teeth.”

Paula remembered Georgette saying something of the sort. “Without telling them why?”

“I’m in the habit of keeping it on the down low. My parents are all about appearances. Someone who looks like me is something they’re proud to show off. An allergic kid is not. You said that thing about babying children, and…that wasn’t ever us.”

With that kind of attitude, no wonder he was so focused on looking out for himself. Nobody else had picked up the ball. His controlling nature made more sense now.

“You need to stop that right now,” she said positively. “You need to tell everyone you’re allergic. People can’t help you if they don’t know what’s going on.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Yes, you do,” she insisted. “To keep you from being a rude control freak.”

He smiled reluctantly. “Better a control freak than have people use it against me.” The elevator stopped and the doors slowly opened. “It’s easier to trust a select few.”

“Wait, the guy who gave you that bag…..”

He held it up. “Caterer. He runs the kitchens at Emmender’s. I’m in there regularly,” he said sheepishly, taking her hand as they walked down the hallway. “He knows about my allergy. He takes pity on me.”

“He made up a dairy-free doggy bag just for you? That’s truly sweet. See, it pays to…oh, we’re here.”

They were outside his door. Not hers. His hand still held hers. Given the almost constant touching, and his earlier promises, she was fairly sure she knew what was on his mind. The serious turn their conversation had taken didn’t seem to have quelled his interest, either.

Nor had it succeeded in quelling hers.

She turned to face him in decision. This brought her up close to his body, but that didn’t feel like a bad thing. “I’m not going in there with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m still processing what we talked about in the car.”

“About my mother.”

She nodded.

“Give me a chance,” he said urgently. He touched foreheads and then moved to her speak in her ear. “I’ll get there. I want to go anywhere you are.”

Oh, shit. He brought outallthe big guns. “I really can’t be seduced, what happened earlier notwithstanding.”

“I can.” He nuzzled her earlobe. “Come inside, Paula. Have some food with me.”

“Food, huh?” She swallowed.

“To start. And then we’ll unwrap our presents.”

And they both knew what he meant bypresents.

“My earlobe is not that sensitive,” she lied, pulling away from his touch. Then she ruined it by raising a hand to adjust his bowtie. “Don’t think I don’t know these blatant moves are supposed to make me forget all the reasons you and me are a bad idea.”

“Why bad? The only downside I see,” he was a hair’s breath from her mouth, his breath sweet and warm, “is your immense stubbornness. We can work on that.”

“I see your lack of tact as a downside,” she teased.

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