Hate to Love You (Strong Brothers 4)

She nodded, seemingly to agree with my assessment.

A part of me thought I should apologize again for being such a jerk, but worried it would ruin the camaraderie we had at the moment. It wasn’t the same interaction we’d had before. Not that I wanted us to snipe, but there was a playfulness to it that I missed.

“I was thinking I should take you up on your suggestion to travel more,” she said.

It was ridiculous how happy that made me that she was considering something that I’d told her. I wanted to offer to be her guide to the world, but knew I had to take things slow.

“Where do you want to go?” I asked.

“I’d like to see more of Asia. But Kellie and Natalie have wonderful things to say about Europe. Jess and Carter liked Mexico and that’s not far from San Diego.”

“Some parts are. I like the Yucatan myself.”

“Cancun with all the spring break bikini women?” she asked with her usual snark.

I looked down at my tea as my cheeks blushed. She wasn’t wrong. Then because I didn’t want her thinking like that, I said, “If you were there in that bikini that I saw the other night, I wouldn’t notice anyone but you.”

It was her turn to look down and blush. “In your dreams, Strong.”

I snorted. “Every night, Walker.”

After that, the tension between us seemed to lessen significantly. Even if I couldn’t convince her to give me a chance, I’d be happy to be back to our old friendship. Well, maybe not happy, but content.

After breakfast we walked out of the restaurant and I pulled out my phone to order a car to drive us to the office.

“I need to get work from my room,” she said.

So instead we went to the hotel. When we arrived back, I considered offering to wait in the lobby, but instead I went with her to her room. We were having such a good time that I didn’t want to give her a chance away from me to rethink our truce.

She opened her door and walked in, leaving it open for me to follow. Another good sign.

The room was a traditional hotel room with a bed, dresser, TV, small table and bath. The view wasn’t nearly as nice as the suite.

“You can come back up to the suite,” I said. “I know you enjoyed that view and you’d have more space.”

She turned to me, leaning against the little table. “We don’t get along as well in close quarters.”

I shook my head. “We’re getting along now.”

She simply stared at me.

“I’m doing all that I can to make sure we get along.”

“Why?”

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I sighed. “Because I want you to like me, Andi,” I said, wondering if I should be so vulnerable.

Her expression softened. “I do like you, Noah.”

I looked down, having a hard time looking at her as my guilt flared. Finally, I returned my gaze to her. “I want to see you.”

Her brows pulled together. “I’m right here.”

I scrapped my hands over my face because she was either fucking with me or I wasn’t being clear. “Like we did for breakfast. Date. Go out. You know…see you.”

She stared at me and I couldn’t read her expression. “What about it being a mistake—”