“Not particularly, although she did get a little misty when I told her my black pekoe was particularly strong the other day.” I was trying to cut back on the caffeine so I wouldn’t be up all night as often, but all I’d managed so far was to add tea to my daily coffee regimen.
I didn’t think caffeine had much to do with my wakefulness anyway. I tended to stay in my store working until a certain redhead went down to her car. Most of the time, I planned my exit just right so we could walk together.
Of course that had all changed since we’d kissed. We’d fucking kissed, and she’d acted as if I’d tripped and slid my tongue into her mouth.
Whoops, sorry, no big deal.
She’d moaned when I had her in my arms. Yet since then, she’d been as cool to me as a stranger. Sometimes the ice chipped and the real Kinleigh peeked out, but just as swiftly, she disappeared again behind careful politeness.
“Well, Macy takes her business very seriously. But that was probably hormones. I caught her sobbing over Garfield the other day.”
“The cartoon cat?”
“None other. She reads the strips online and something about Odie taking Garfield’s candy set her off. Beats me, man.” Gideon sighed. “We hugged it out and she didn’t offer to give me a vasectomy herself, so it was a good day.”
I didn’t even crack a smile. This was serious business and the clock was running down. It wasn’t as if he had time to counsel me on his damn wedding night.
At least the ceremony hadn’t occurred yet.
“So, c’mon, Gideon, tell me how you managed it.” I sounded more than a little desperate but it couldn’t be helped.
“Managed what?”
“Winning over Macy.” It sounded like a Lifetime movie of the week. “Surely you have some…tips.”
“Tips?”
“Is there a damn echo? Look, you’re getting married. She let you knock her up.”
His lips twisted. “She did. I don’t even think she regrets it most of the time.”
“She wasn’t the sort of woman who wanted any of that, at least on the surface, so how’d you break the ice?”
“Sex,” he said seriously.
It was my turn to be a parrot. “Sex? That’s it?”
“That’s everything. You have good chemistry in bed—or on the bar,” he didn’t even smirk when he said it, “and suddenly, a lot of objections fly out the window.” Before I could process that, he angled his head. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“No one.”
He shrugged. “I get it. Don’t show your cards too soon. But if it’s a certain redhead—”
I shook my head. “Absolutely not.”
This freaking town knew everything about everybody. Sometimes it was a comfort, sometimes it pissed me right off.
Damn, had someone seen us kiss at the hospital? Maybe even Gina. She’d been right there, and she was a notorious gossip.
If Jared knew, I’d never hear the end of it. Which actually gave me a measure of relief. If he knew already, he would’ve struck while the embarrassment was fresh.
So, Miss Scott turned you down, hmm? Pity. But that means she’s still on the market, right?
Not that he would’ve intended to do anything about it. He just liked to amuse himself at his friends’ expense when he wasn’t being Mr. Straight-Laced while on duty.
The guy needed a hobby, and for that matter, so did I. One that didn’t include obsessing about a woman I couldn’t have.
Gideon ignored my denial and continued on. “You’re probably thinking too hard. Just get in the same space with her and let it happen naturally.”