He drops his gaze to my lips. God, the way he says my name and looks at me has my panties in a twist.
“I have to wake up at five,” I repeat. “Not even your smolder is a match for my alarm clock.”
“I guess I have to work on it, then.”
“I guess so.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to your beauty sleep. But I’d like to see you again. I had a lot of fun tonight.”
My heart beats faster, and a thin sheet of sweat covers my palms. Did he just friend zone me? But he looked at my lips before.... Why am I so bad at reading signals even after a decade of dating?
Despite the confusing signals, I do want to see him again. He seems like a nice guy. A nice, incredibly handsome man. Deadly combo, really. “You have my number. Use it.”
“I will.”
He leans into me, kissing my cheek. His lips are soft on my skin, his breath hot. His cologne is so deliciously manly, it sends my senses into a tailspin. I nearly melt from the sheer masculinity pouring off him.
With one last smile and smoldering look, he climbs out of my car, walking off into the night.
Chapter Four
Alex
“You’re a grill master.” Sophie leans back in her seat, chewing on the steak.
“That’s pretty much the only thing I’ve mastered in the kitchen.”
I take another steak off the grill, placing it on her husband, Neil’s plate.
“Drew, dinner’s ready,” Sophie calls out to her son. He’s too focused on the fish swimming around in my koi pond for dinner.
“Let’s just save him something for later,” Neil comments after several more futile attempts to convince Drew to join us at the table. That little guy is one hell of a stubborn seven-year-old. When the last steak is done, I join my sister and her husband at the table, raising my glass of wine.
“To Sophie, who found me the best house in San Francisco.”
She really outdid herself. We’re sitting on the deck, surrounded by a landscaped garden. The wall of evergreens protects us from any curious eyes. It also obscures the view, but from the second floor of the house I can look out onto the ocean. I have a view of Alcatraz on one side of the house, and the Oakland Bay Bridge and Coit Tower on another side.
They clink their glasses to mine.
“To you, brother, for finally getting rid of Amy.”
Neil shoots her a warning look, but Sophie shrugs. “What? Drew’s out of earshot, and someone has to say it.”
My sister gives me a sympathetic smile. She never liked Amy much and had no qualms saying so.
“To a fresh start,” I say, before taking a sip of wine. Drew and I had a blast today, fishing. At the end of our trip, I invited my sister and her husband over for dinner.
“What’s the plan right now?” Sophie asks.
“I don’t have any filming scheduled. I’m reading scripts for some indie movies in the downtime until the promo tours begin.”
I have two premieres coming up. First, Bree Shannon Finds Love #2, a romantic comedy, and then the last installment in the superhero franchise. The promo for that one starts earlier though.
“Any idea when the spin-off will be green-lighted?” Neil asks.
“We’re close to signing the deal.”
“Hats off for wanting to do another franchise,” he continues.