Breaking Even (Sterling Shore 5)

“Didn’t come to impress,” I mutter dryly.

She wisely takes a step back as I open the door. It’s not easy to fold myself into Brin’s small car, and I curse it when my knees hit the steering wheel again. My damn Porsche has more room than this.

Marilyn waves at me, grinning as though she thinks I’m on the menu, but I shudder instead of giving her the reaction she expects. I back out and make the short drive to my very dark house.

I distinctly remember leaving at least three lights on. I know I didn’t turn all the lights off when I left this morning. There’s no way I’m walking into one of her traps without some sort of defense. Besides, I’m pissed at her right now for canceling on me without telling me.

A date. She shouldn’t be going on a fucking date.

***

BRIN

“I have to pay him back,” I groan. This hour-long argument is getting old. “Especially now. I didn’t know he was paying for it himself.”

“He wants to do this, and it’ll piss him off if you argue. Just let him. It’s not like you’re taking advantage. He’s trying to do something nice.”

Huffing, I consider my defeat. I really don’t know what to do. I can’t afford this if he did too much. It’s been in there for a while, and his shop is outrageously priced. I looked it up online.

“So you’re doing something together? Again?” Maggie asks with a smile that says too much.

Ash invited me over, and begged me to let her set me up on another date, but I told her no. I’ve been excited about seeing Rye all day. And he never canceled, so I’m really hoping that means he wants to see me, too.

I’m happy with my selection of a semi low-cut, white shirt and a very flattering pair of frayed, dark denim shorts—short shorts. My hair is actually down and fixed, and I even put on a little more makeup than usual.

“This might sound stupid, but I think he might sort of be interested?” I say, but it sounds more like a question.

Maggie chuckles lightly while giving me a look I can’t decipher.

“He might be interested? Brin, a guy might be interested if he buys you a drink. If he pays to have your car repaired—after you crashed it into his on purpose—then it’s obvious he’s interested. More than interested. The two of you have been spending more and more time together.”

I can’t help but grin, and hope I’m not reading all the signals wrong. He slept on the sofa with me, we cuddled during the movie, and his arms stayed around me long after he went to sleep. I almost didn’t go to sleep because I was savoring every second of it.

“What are you two doing tonight?” she asks, leaning back in her seat.

“We’re hanging out at his house because I told him I want to use his kitchen. Which is true—his kitchen is freaking amazing—but it’s better than going out into the real world where all the gorgeous women call his name. And I’m not exaggerating.”

“He’s not spending the night with all the gorgeous women. And in the two years I’ve lived across from him, I’ve never seen him have a girl over. And I’m nosy. I would have noticed.”

I’m envious that she’s lived across from him for that long. I should have moved in with her the second she offered, but instead, I stupidly tried to manage living in hell. Well, my parents’ house—same difference. I only moved in here a few months ago.

“Do you think you could—”

The door swings open, interrupting whatever Maggie was going to say, and Rye stalks toward me like a determined man on a mission. And holy shit, it’s sexy as hell.

But my excitement is cut short when he sweeps down and throws me over his shoulder, walking back toward the door with me dangling.

“What are you doing?” I ask through a laugh.

Maggie smiles as she watches us, acting as though we’re her favorite show.

“I left at least three lights on,” he says while carrying me across the yard.

Crap.

“I didn’t do anything. I swear. Your window is locked.”

“I locked it so you couldn’t get in anymore, but I left three lights on, and now they’re all off.”