Flirt With Me (With Me in Seattle 17)

“You’re not fine.”

“I’m fine. I just need to be alone, that’s all. I have to go.”

“Maeve.” I can’t stand it. I turn her to me, pull her against me, and bury my lips in her hair, holding her gently. “Talk to me. If you don’t tell me what I did wrong, I can’t fix it.”

She clings to me for a moment, her hands fisting in my shirt near my waist. Her forehead rests on my chest.

But rather than lean into me, she pulls back.

“There’s nothing to fix. I’m being stupid, and I apologize for being emotional.”

“Do you really hate the house that much? I know you tried to talk me out of it when we were there, but—”

“It’s the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen in my life,” she interrupts, and her bottom lip wobbles. “I don’t hate it at all. I must just have something in my eye. It’s ridiculous.”

“Stop.” My voice is firm because this is one area I won’t ever budge on. “No lying, Maeve. It’s my number-one rule.”

“I really don’t hate it.”

“And you really don’t have anything in your eye.”

“I was going to buy it, okay?” she whispers, shocking the hell out of me. “The house. I’ve been saving up for it. But I’m still too far away from the down payment. It’s just not meant to be, and I know you and your daughter will be happy there.”

“Well, hell.” I shove my hands through my hair and feel like the biggest prick on earth. “Jesus, Maeve, I’ll give you the money to buy it.”

She stares at me, shocked. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’re miserable. I feel like I just kicked a puppy.”

Her spine straightens, all evidence of tears dries from her eyes, and she firms that gorgeous little chin.

“I’m no puppy. I’m perfectly fine, and it’s a beautiful home for you and your daughter. I’ll have the papers for you later today.”

She turns to leave, and before I can reach out to take her hand and keep her with me just a moment longer, she turns back to me.

“Are you still interested in dinner?”

My eyebrows climb in surprise. “Hell, yes. Don’t play with my emotions here, Maeve.”

A smile touches the edges of her lips. “I don’t have to work at the pub tonight.”

“Well, then, I’ll pick you up at six.”

She nods. “Okay. I’ll be ready. I’ll text you my address.”

“I can’t believe you brought me all the way over to Seattle just for dinner,” she says and takes a bite of her steak.

“There’s a method to my madness,” I admit as I watch her chew.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, she has the sexiest fucking lips I’ve ever seen. And she tastes like heaven.

“And what is that?” she asks.

“I get to be with you during the travel time, as well as dinner.”

She laughs and lifts her martini, those green eyes shining at me over the rim as she takes a sip.

“We talked about my family earlier today,” she says. “Tell me about your family.”

“There’s not much to tell. My parents live here in the Seattle area, and I see them often. And I have Rachel.”

“How long have you been divorced?”

“I was never married.” I narrow my eyes on her. “Don’t you already know all of this?”

“How would I?”

“I don’t know, Google?”

She shakes her head. “No. I avoid Google. I have several members of the family who are famous, and I know that the truth isn’t always portrayed online. I’d much rather get to know you from you directly. If you want to tell me about yourself, you will.”

“Besides Kane, who else is famous in your family?”

She grins. “Well, because Kane married Anastasia, we have Luke Williams, Leo Nash, and Will Montgomery. Not to mention Starla, the pop star, and Amelia Montgomery, the YouTube sensation who has a makeup line. It’s awesome, by the way. There may be more, but those are off the top of my head. Also, if I didn’t again mention Shawn and his wife, my brother would kill me.”

“Wait, you know Jules McKenna’s family?”

She tilts her head to the side. “Yes, they’re extended family now. Do you know them?”

“Hell, I practically grew up with Nate. He’s a bit older than me, but I pretty much lived in his dad’s gym as a teenager. Yeah, I know them well.”

“What a small world,” she says with a smile.

“That’s a lot of famous people,” I reply, thinking it over. “Holy shit, Maeve.”

“I know.” She finishes her steak and reaches for her martini glass again. “Trust me, it gets intimidating. And, sometimes, we need graphs and charts. Oh! And Izzy, Keegan’s wife, is a local celebrity. She reports the weather here in Seattle.”

“That’s where I know her from,” I say, thumping my fist on the table. “It’s been driving me nuts.”

Maeve laughs and nods. “Yep. She doesn’t have to work at the pub, but she enjoys it, so she helps out a couple of days a week. But now we’re just talking about my family again.”