He understood her concerns regarding them working together, but it wasn’t as if they worked side by side day in and day out. More like in the same office complex and caught glimpses of each other from time to time with occasional prolonged interaction. With other women he might be concerned about a “work romance,” but not with McKenzie. She was too professional to ever let a relationship interfere with work.
Thinking back over the past few months, really from the time he’d first met her a couple years ago when she’d moved back to Coopersville after finishing her medical training, he’d been fascinated by McKenzie. But other than that he’d catch her watching him with a curious look in her eyes, she hadn’t seemed interested in anything more than friendship and was obviously not in a life phase where she wanted a serious relationship.
Not that he wanted that either, but he also didn’t want to become last month’s flavor within a few weeks. She didn’t seem interested in dating anyone longer than a month. It was almost as if she marked a calendar and when thirty days hit, she moved on to the next page of her dating life.
Although he had no plans of marriage ever, he did prefer committed relationships. Just not those where his partner expected him to march her down the aisle.
He owed Shelby that much. More. So much more. But anything beyond keeping his vow to her was beyond his reach.
Since his last breakup he definitely hadn’t been interested in dating anyone except McKenzie. If he was being completely honest, he hadn’t been interested in dating anyone else for quite some time.
Oddly enough, since she dated regularly and routinely, she’d repeatedly turned him down. Which, since she was obviously as attracted to him as he was her, made no sense. Unless she truly was more a stickler for not dating coworkers than he believed.
“Have you ever dated a coworker in the past?”
At his question, she turned to him. “What do you mean?”
“I was just curious as to why going on a date with me was such a big deal.”
“I didn’t say going on a date with you was a big deal,” she immediately countered.
“My references say that going on a date with me is a very big deal.”
“Yeah, well, you might need to update that reference because I’m telling you Mommy Dearest doesn’t count.”
He grinned at her quick comeback. He liked that about her, that she had an intelligence and wit that stimulated him. “Did you think about our kiss?”
“What?”
He grinned. He knew that one would throw her off balance. “I was just curious. Did you think about our kiss on your porch this weekend?”
“I’m not answering that.” She turned and stared out the window.
Lance laughed. “You don’t have to. I already know.”
“I don’t like how you think you know everything about me.”
“I wouldn’t presume to say I know everything about you by a long shot, but your face and eyes are very expressive so there’s some things you don’t hide well.”
“Such as?”
“Your feelings about me.”
“Sorry. Loathing tends to do that to a girl.”
There went that quick wit again. He grinned. “Keep telling yourself that and you might convince yourself, but you’re not going to convince me. I’ve kissed you, remember?”
“How could I forget when you keep reminding me?”
He laughed again. “I plan to keep reminding you.”
“I have a good memory. No reminders needed.”
“I’m sure you do, but I enjoy reminding you.”
“Because?”
“You normally don’t fluster easily, yet I manage to fluster you.”