“Tell Beth I appreciate it, but no thanks.”
“Uh-huh.” He grins before turning back to his work.
Jerry has mentioned his wife setting me up with her best friend before, and I’ve never said no, but I’ve never said yes either. However, sitting here now, thinking about it, I can truly say I’m not interested. I don’t know why this time is different. It just is.
Pushing thoughts of dating out of my mind, we get back to work.
I rush out of the stadium at four o’clock on the dot as if my ass is on fire. I don’t want Amanda and Mia to be sitting around waiting for me. Not even fifteen minutes later, I’m home. I pull my truck into the garage and then take a seat on the front step, waiting for them. I scroll through media coverage of the draft on my phone, but when my SUV pulls into the driveway, I’m on my feet, shoving my phone into my pocket, and rushing to greet them.
Pulling open the back door, I lean in and say hi to Mia. “Hey, sweet Mia.”
She gives me a big smile and a squeal of delight. Bending down, I kiss her nose, and she grips my hair.
“No, Mia, we don’t pull hair,” Amanda says gently from the spot behind the wheel.
“She’s fine, Momma. She’s just saying hello,” I tell her. I look up to find her turned in her seat, as much as the seat belt will allow, watching me. “How was your day?” I ask, still leaning in the back door.
“Good. Yours?”
“Good.” I nod. Something tells me the ending is going to outshine the beginning. I tickle Mia, making her giggle, before closing the door and climbing into the passenger seat.
“Oh, um, you can drive,” Amanda says, a soft blush coating her cheeks.
“Do you feel uncomfortable driving?” I ask her.
“No, I… it’s your car.”
I shrug. “And I lent it to you. I’ll drive if you want me to, but you can drive us to the garage.”
“Are you sure? This feels weird.” She laughs.
“You don’t like being my personal chauffeur?”
“It’s not that. I just—I don’t know.” She laughs.
Reaching over the console, I softly rest my hand on her arm. “Do you want me to drive?”
She nods, biting down on her bottom lip. Have her lips always been so… plump? Clearing my throat, I turn my head and drop my hand from her arm. I need to shut down those thoughts.
“I can drive,” I tell her. Pushing open the door, I climb out, rush to the driver’s side, and offer her my hand when she steps out.
“Thank you,” she says, her face once again turning a light shade of red.
I don’t know why I do it, but I reach out and rest my palm against her cheek. Her breath hitches as she peers up at me under long lashes. Those big green eyes could bring a man to his knees. I open my mouth to speak, but for the life of me, I can’t remember why I stopped her or what I was going to say. Her skin is soft beneath my palm, and my brain is suddenly a scrambled mess.
“Your eyes are beautiful,” I husk.
More blushing, and I remember. I had to touch her. There was no other option, and I know that’s a road I can’t travel, but I did it anyway. With a quick swipe of my thumb across the apple of her cheek, I drop my hand and step out of her way. She scurries around me to the passenger side, sliding in and quietly shutting the door. It’s not until we’re on the road that I bring up my completely inappropriate moment.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”
Silence strings between us, causing a heaviness to settle on my chest.
“I wasn’t uncomfortable,” she answers.
Her voice is so low, I almost didn’t hear her. Glancing over, I find her watching me, and she offers me a shy smile.
“Thank you for the compliment. My eyes, I mean,” she says.