“I thought about trying to hire somebody. But that feels wrong. And then I thought that I might be able to do you a favor in return.” He was so sweetly awkward, it was killing her.
“What kind of favor?” She lifted a brow.
“Nothing sinister. I just saw how your dad treated you last week and wondered if pretending we’re dating would also help with that. Maybe he’d back off a bit if he thought you had a boyfriend. Somebody who was taking care of you here in Angel Sands. And though I hate how damn conceited it sounds, most parents love doctors. For some damn reason they think we’re some kind of prize.”
She knew exactly what he meant. Her dad hadn’t hidden his approval of her living next door to a doctor.
Meghan pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to work out how to reply.
“This was a stupid thing to ask. I’m sorry. Forget I even came over.” He grimaced.
“No, it’s not stupid.” She put her hand on his forearm, feeling the warmth of his skin and the tickle of hair against her palm. He smelled good, like he’d just taken a shower. “I’m just a little shocked, that’s all.”
“I wouldn’t ask if I could think of another way. It’s just my sister has worked so damn hard for this show. It’s important to her. And me, too, I guess. She’s my only family, and I want her to be happy.”
Her stomach clenched. “There’s one small problem,” she said. Was she still holding his arm? Embarrassed, she pulled her hand back.
“What’s that?”
“Isla. If I pretended to be your girlfriend she’d know. And then either we’d have to let her into the secret and make her lie, or I’d have to lie to her face, which I’d never do.” And it was weird, because part of her wanted to agree to his proposition. She felt a little deflated at having to say no.
“I thought maybe we could tell her we’re just good friends. Isn’t that what you tell kids at first when you’re dating? That way it wouldn’t be a lie.”
“Is that what we are?” she asked, her voice low. “Friends?”
“I think we are. Or we could be.” His eyes dipped to hers. She inhaled sharply, and that warm, woody scent of his shower gel invaded her senses. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like if he really was her boyfriend.
If he was the one that she could talk to at the end of a long, hard day. The one she could laugh about her parents’ overprotectiveness with, whenever they drove her crazy. The one she could hold when he lost a patient and he didn’t know how to deal with it.
She could feel her chest rising and falling as she breathed. Her pulse was thudding in her ears. Rich’s eyes dipped to her lips, and she felt a strange fluttering in her stomach.
“Mommy, I got water on the floor,” Isla called out.
With a single sentence, she managed to break the spell between them. Meghan stepped back, looking over her shoulder. “I’ll be right there, sweetie. Just throw some towels down to soak it up.”
“Maybe you can think about it,” Rich urged. “Let me know tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I’d need you on Saturday morning. To come to the gallery with me.”
“That soon?” She could hear Isla splashing around. “I’m taking Isla to a friend’s house for a playdate on Saturday.”
He ran his finger along his jaw. “Will you be staying there?”
“No. Isla’s staying for the day. I’ll pick her up after I’ve finished at the shop. I’m working in the afternoon.”
“Then that’s perfect.” Relief flashed in his eyes. “If you agree to it, that is.”
“Mommy!?
??
“I have to go.” She felt breathless and weird.
“Sure. I’ll wait out here for the inspection.”
“Inspection?” Meghan frowned.