I feel my heartbeat pick up speed. Am I actuallyright?
Thatneverhappens!
“What?” I ask breathily.
He snorts. “You’re an absolutely terrible guesser.”
“Hey!” I protest, offended. “It’s not like I didn’t warn you.”
“It’s all right, I won’t hold it against you.”
“How benevolent of you,” I mutter sarcastically. “I bet you can’t do better.”
His eyes gleam. “You’re an artist.”
“That’s cheating!” I protest. “You overheard Ralph trashing my paintings at the game.”
A dark look moves over his face when I mention this. “True enough, but I would’ve known you were an artist anyway.”
“How?”
“You’ve got paint splatters on your shoes and there’s a smear of green by your left elbow.”
Oh, great. That’s not embarrassing, or anything.
“Damn.”
He laughs. “Do you do that around everyone, or just me?”
“Do what?”
“Blush like that.”
My cheeks get even redder. “Oh, around everyone,” I lie shamelessly.
His grin gets bigger, like he knows I’m full of shit. “Uh huh.”
“You know, I think I’m feeling better,” I say decidedly, folding my arms across my chest. “You can take me to Chrissy’s, now.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s cute as hell.” He leans closer and my stomach clenches in response. “Most women I meet are so busy being sophisticated, they forget to be real.”
I stare at him. “Maybe you’ve been hanging around with the wrong women.”
“Maybe,” he agrees softly, reaching out to brush a wet strand of hair off my cheek. As soon as his fingers make contact with my skin, my mouth parts as a breath of air slips out. I’m nearly in a daze when he adds, “But I’d be no good for you, Gemma.”
Pulling back, I stare at him. I’m so startled by his words, I forget to be embarrassed. “And why is that?”
“You’re much too sweet for me.”
“I’m not sweet. I’m tough.”
“Said the girl who doesn’t like contact sports and, last time she went to the gym, sprained her va—”
“Ah!” I yell, cutting him off. “Okay. No need to go into details.”
He grins again and my stomach squirms at the sight.
“You’re cocky. And gloating. Some might even sayannoying,” I tell him, my eyes narrowed on his smiling face. “I’ve decided I don’t like you.”