Because gradually a shadow, almost a frown, appeared between his eyes.
“Funny. That’s why my mama planted blue-eyed Mary’s around our house when we were growing up. My dad used to call her his blue-eyed Mary.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “Haven’t thought about that in... oh, years, probably.”
Her breath snagged. She realized she was frowning. A casual-enough sentence. Every word in that sentence had its own subtle character, from the faint bitterness of “dad” to the echo of an ache in “used to.”
She could build a whole story around them and it wasn’t a pretty one, and she realized her heart was aching as surely as if he’d told it all to her.
These were the kinds of things that lived between the lines of his Wikipedia entry.
He must have seen something in her expression because he added lightly. “This place makes the place I grew up in look like a palace.”
“And I bet your current house makes this place look like a tool shed.”
“Mmm. It might. Can’t really recall.”
“You can’t recall your house?” She instantly regretted her astonishment. But still.
But he just shrugged. “I travel a lot. I rented a house in the Hollywood Hills and that’s where my most of my clothes and stuff is right now. I travel pretty light these days.”
“Do you miss Tennessee?”
“When I was eighteen it seemed pretty important to get out of there. Not sure it would still feel like home. I do...” He turned around to check out that view again, and his voice went kind of drifty. “Turns out I do miss trees and hills.”
She took a deep breath. “You’ll never have to stop looking at trees and hills when you rent this house.”
Good God. The things she did for a paycheck.
He didn’t turn around to look at her. J. T. just shook his head to and fro, slowly and a dimple appeared in his three-quarter profile. He clearly still found her entertaining.
A moment later he did turn around with an air of resolve.
“So how about it, Britt? I’d love to spend the evening in the company of a real-life angel instead of one staring at me from a frame. We’ll go check out some live music, have a few drinks. You drink beer? I bet you drink beer.”
Of all the things she’d thought he’d say, this had to be among the last. As shocked as if she’d fallen through a trapdoor.
She was afraid she was gaping.
“Did you... did you really just call me an angel?”
“I think I did.” He was amused. “I don’t know if you’re incredulous or commenting on how cheesy that was.”
“Kind of both, to tell you the truth,” she said quite honestly. Still reeling.
She had to force herself not to take a step backward.
He just grinned again. The man was scrappy, she had to hand it to him. “Excellent news, as to the first. As to the second, I’ll have to work on my patter. I might be a little rusty when it comes to asking women out.”
Hoooolly. Crap.
CHAPTER5
Her heart felt like a roulette wheel given a good brisk swipe.
“Oh.” She drew in a long breath. “I... um. You were serious about that. Earlier.”
That had emerged a lot more astonished and a lot less gracious than she’d hoped.
“Yeah. I was serious.” It was his turn to be a bit incredulous.