“I dropped by your house this morning and saw Barrett was there awful early.” She wiggles her eyebrows before picking up a fork and taking a bite of her orange chicken.
“Why did you drive by my house? Pretty sure that’s out of your way.” I pick up a fork, too, and steal some of her chicken.
She ignores my question and asks one of her own. “Did he stay the night?”
I wish. But I keep that thought to myself. I have a feeling he’d make a hell of a cuddle buddy. “No, he came over early to work.”
“He’s not wasting any time on your place. You know his company has a wait list.”
“Don’t get any ideas. I’m pretty sure he just really likes the house.” I did a little digging on his company and they are known for amazing remodels. He’s even been in a few magazines about it. I find it super hot. A man who knows what to do with his hands is a major turn on.
“Ginny, I mean really? The man tracked you down to a restaurant to break up a date.”
“You and I know why he did that.”
I’m not going to let my mind play any more games with me. I did that enough last night in my head. I tried to break down every comment he’d said to me and every look he’d shot my way. I don’t need to set myself up for heartbreak.
“All I’m saying is I think he’s into you. With everything you told me that went down and how he was there at the ass crack of dawn this morning…” She shrugs.
“I no longer trust your judgment of people. You didn’t even notice how hot he was to begin with. You’re always trying to set me up, but you never once mentioned him.”
“I only have eyes for one man.” She smiles happily, and I can’t help but do the same. I want what she and Neal have. To have a man who only has eyes for me. I know I could easily feel that way about Barrett, but I’m not sure that would be a two-way street.
“I heard he’s a ladies’ man.” I finally blurt out what I’ve wanted to say to my sister since yesterday. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say on the topic. Maybe that’s why she never tried her match-making skills with him. I need a dose of reality with Barrett, and this might help.
“I’ve never heard that, but I can ask around.” She takes another bite of her food and I do the same. “But he’s so freaking nice. Just a good guy. I don’t see him playing around like that.”
“But do we really know him?” I’m clearly not the best at reading men. Mark is a perfect example of that.
“Neal likes him, and Neal doesn’t like a lot of people.” I fight a laugh. “And I did try and set you guys up. He shot me down.”
Ouch. That hurts. “Did he know I was your twin?” She nods. Damn. Maybe I was right that I was dreaming up the way his eyes roamed over me.
We finish lunch and she leaves me with a pile of Chinese food to take home. I promise to text her when I get home safely. After Gabi is gone, I try and get back to work.
I know I still need to talk to the mayor about Mark. I check her schedule and see she’s out of town until tomorrow, so I shoot her an email that I need a quick word with her when she gets a chance.
I spend the rest of the day getting a speech ready for her on the opening of a new wing in the children’s hospital. I pull the history of the building and gather up as much information as I can until I see it’s time for me to go home.
I pack up my stuff then pick up my cell phone. I have a text from Barrett. My heart flutters and I curse myself for my inability to control my emotions.
Barrett: Got everyone cleared out for the day. You can come home and stop avoiding me now.
I glance at the clock and see it’s late. I wonder how late he stayed—and if he did it to see me. My heart flutters again and I push the idea away. Stop working yourself up, Ginny.
Me: I wasn’t. Got lost in my work.
It’s not a total lie. I did have to make up for lost time when I was daydreaming too much today. This being away from him thing is definitely not working. It doesn’t help that I now feel sad that he shot down going out with me before. He clearly doesn’t think I’m pretty if he was going off what Gabi looks like. We’re identical.