The Seduction

“Be careful, Chloe. Men don’t do surprise favors like that for women if they don’t want something in return.”

I lose all the moisture in my mouth. Staring at my hot guy across the table, listening to my old friend’s warning, I wonder if I’m letting my too-trusting nature lead me down a stupid path. Again.

“You hear me?” Sean asks.

“I do. And I appreciate the heads up. Thanks again, and I’m sorry for the hassle.”

He says something that sounds muffled to my ears, and a female voice speaks up in the background. “Is that Avery?” I ask.

“Yes. She also says watch out.”

“That’s not what I said!” she calls out. “I said it’s sweet that a guy would help you that way. Sean always thinks the worst.” She’s obviously grabbed the phone. “Be careful but enjoy life.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Sean mutters. “You think before you act. Call if you need to.” And then he disconnects the call.

I laugh at their byplay, place the phone on the table, and glance at my companion.

“Frie

nd of yours?” he asks, his voice a deep pitch I’ve never heard from him before. He almost sounds … angry.

I sit back in my seat, Sean’s alert sounding in my brain. “Old friend. Neighbor, actually.” I’m not giving him any information. Sean’s a private man, and I don’t know Zach or what he wants from me.

“Guy friend.” Zach pins me with an eerie glare.

“Old. Friend.” I’m not playing this weird game.

In a flash of insight — yes, I occasionally have them — I realize Sean’s right. I need to be careful. I barely know this mercurial man who inserted himself in my life, and his new mood scares me.

I wonder if there’s a way to extricate myself from this awkward situation when the waitress arrives and places our plates in front of us. “Can I get you anything else?” she asks.

So much for escaping before the food arrives. “No thank you.”

Ignoring Zach, I pick up my fork and dig into my breakfast. We eat in silence and I don’t look up.

“Sorry,” he mutters.

The one word takes me off guard. “What?”

“I realized you were on the phone with another guy and I acted like an ass.”

“Oh.” He was jealous?

My shoulders slump in relief. Stupid me, but his apology goes a long way toward repairing the damage. “Sean’s my neighbor. We go way back. I used to have a crush on him when I was a younger,” I admit with a lot of embarrassment, “but he was too old for me then and only ever thought of me like a sister. Now he’s like a brother to me. And I called him because I knew he’d help me without telling my parents anything.” At the thought of my parents finding out about me being attacked or having my tires slashed, I stab at my eggs.

“They’re already dead, Princess,” Zach says, his mood suddenly lighter.

“Yeah.” I laugh. “Can I ask you something?”

“As long as you’re still talking to me, you can do anything you want.” His heated eyes are back, but he visibly braces for my question.

I have two, actually. “Well, first, did you fix my tires?”

“Of course.” He says like it was an expected occurrence.

Which brings me to my second question. “Why?”

“Because they needed repair if you were going to be able to drive it again.”