“Sex?”I hiss.
She barks out a laugh.“I was thinking of a home-cooked meal, but that could work too.”
I giggle and lean back in my chair.“Okay, so I cook for him, bring it up there, and then what?Shrug out of my trench coat to reveal some sexy lingerie?”
“Depends on if you want a date or for him to drop to his knees and beg you to marry him.”
I burst out laughing.“I might have to try your idea.”
“Do it!”she encourages.“A few home-cooked meals might be a good trade-off, plus you two can talk more and get to know each other.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“It’s just… Do you really want this to be fake?”she asks carefully.
I hesitate.“It’s better this way,” I tell her quietly.“He clearly wasn’t interested in me, or he would have agreed last night.”
Rowan hums.
I drag a hand through my hair.“Ugh, maybe I should forget about him and find someone else.”
“You could,” she says right away.“Why don’t you take some time and think about it?I’m here if you need to brainstorm ideas.”
“Thanks, Rowan.”
“What are best friends for?”she asks with a laugh.“I’ve got to go, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay, see you.”
We hang up, and I debate what to do.Should I start an online dating profile?Should I try to let my friends set me up on a blind date?Neither option sounds appealing.I’ve had friends offer to set me up before, but it’s always the same problem.I’m just not attracted to the guys; there’s no spark there.
I take a deep breath and get back to work.When my phone rings a minute later, I frown at the unknown number and wonder who’s calling me now.
FOUR
Rune
I can’t stop thinkingabout my curvy little strawberry shortcake.I’ve been staring at the same documents for half an hour, but I’m not really focusing on them.My thoughts are completely on Jem and her offer.
“Fuck,” I groan, leaning back in my chair.
I can’t seem to escape my thoughts of her.I tried working out in the yard this morning, but I was so distracted that I almost lost a finger on my axe and decided it was safer in my office.Now I’ve wasted an hour in here with nothing to show for it.
I should probably just call it a day, but it’s barely noon, and I know things won’t be better if I go home.I’ll be consumed with thoughts of Jem there, too.
My phone rings, and I lunge to answer it, grateful for the distraction.
“Hey, man,” I answer when I see Camden’s name on the screen.
“Rune!How’s my old Marine buddy doing?”
I can tell he’s grinning, and I’m guessing he’s at work too.I can picture him leaning back in his chair at Semper Fly, careless and relaxed.
He’s always been like that.A lot of guys in the Marines were intense or aggressive, but not Camden.He was great in a fight, always had your back, but as soon as the danger was over, he was the first to smile and crack a joke.He helped to keep things light.It wasn’t the same in the Marines after he left.That’s part of the reason I got out.
It was a shock when I moved to Wolf Valley to discover that he’d moved here, too.He was working with some other military buddies I’d met over the years, and he’d offered me a job, but working at a helicopter tourism place isn’t for me.
“I’m good.What have you been up to?”