Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

“I’m an architect. Same as Blake.”

Morgan nodded. “I see. Have you two known each other long?”

Rose chuckled. “We met when Blake moved back to Austin. A year and a half or so? We instantly hit it off when he started working at our office.”

I groaned inside. Rose was putting on a show, making it seem like we were an item. That would not sit well with Morgan. If she thought I had been seeing someone and slept with her, it would piss her off. Or hurt her. I didn’t want either to happen.

Before I could say we were just friends again, Charlie walked into the living room. “Dinner time, y’all.”

Scooping Charlotte out of Morgan’s arms, she smiled. “I’ll go put her down for the evening. Everyone, make your way into the dining room.”

Tucker followed Charlie as they disappeared to put their daughter down for the night.

When we walked into the dining room, I did a quick survey of the table. Place cards. Charlie would have place cards. Holding my breath, I watched where Morgan went. They’d seated her next to Kaelynn. Across from her, though, was Rose. I sat down next to Rose and across from Jim, another best friend of ours from college. His new wife, Terri, yet another college friend, sat next to him. They had only gotten married last fall, but they had been dating since our days at the University of Texas. It appeared all of my friends were settling down and getting ready to pop out a kid or two.

“Blake, how are things going at the firm?” Jim asked.

“Good. I’m up for partner, so things have been stressful. Beginning to wonder if I even want it.”

Rose squeezed my hand, and my gaze jerked to Morgan. She looked away.

“If they don’t give that promotion to Blake, then they don’t know who they have working for them,” Rose stated as if she were the proud girlfriend.

Gently pulling my hand from hers, I gave her a look that said to tone it down. I was hoping she would know that meant to lay off happy couple gig. Everyone here knew I wasn’t seeing anyone seriously.

Unfortunately, Rose didn’t get my hint. She shared tales of cocktail parties, dinners gone bad, and last year’s Christmas party, when we ended up locked in the elevator of the hotel.

“We were in that elevator forever. But we made good use of our time,” Rose said with a smile.

“I don’t know if playing games on our phones was good use of time,” I added, trying to save face. Truly, nothing had happened between us that night.

Morgan sat there the entire time, smiling and laughing at each story. It seemed like she didn’t care I was here with another woman. Was it possible she hadn’t felt the things I felt that night? Maybe it was time I realized this stupid fantasy of being with Morgan was simply that. A fantasy. She only wanted me for the one night. That was it. The thought made my stomach roll.

Rose put her hand on my thigh and started moving it up. Seems she wasn’t playing a role after all. For a moment I thought about letting her keep going, then I put my hand on hers and pushed it off. Maybe that would give her the hint. I picked up my drink and drank it all in one gulp.

THE FIRST HOUR, Blake had seemed uncomfortable. He would steal glances my way, then look away when our eyes met. I had to admit, the moment I had seen he had brought a date, I’d felt a pain in the middle of my gut. That night we had spent together had been beyond amazing, and I was hoping he had felt it too. When he never called or texted after the one time, I knew he must not have. I’d acted so casual the morning after, but I was confused and freaked out by the feelings I was having.

Then, seeing him here with Rose, I realized he couldn’t have sent a clearer signal.

Had that night really meant nothing to him? Sure, he put on a good show. Whispered sweet words into my ear, touched me like I was the first women he had ever made love to, and treated me like a princess when it was time to fall asleep.

In the end though, it was a night of pleasure shared by two friends who’d agreed that when it was over, they would go back to being friends. No strings attached. What I hadn’t bargained on, though, was that Blake was seeing someone. From the stories Rose told, they seemed to be an on-and-off couple.

I tried like hell to not let Rose bother me, the way she touched Blake or whispered in his ear. I attempted to ignore the way her hand moved under the table. At one point, though, I swore he had pushed her hand away. After that, Rose seemed to back off.

Taking a long drink of my wine, I stood to excuse myself from the table to help Charlie and Kaelynn clean up. I didn’t even bother to look at Blake. Somewhere around the midpoint of dinner, he had starting knocking back more alcohol and had withdrawn into himself. I needed distance too. I thought I would be okay seeing him, and I probably would have if he’d come alone. It was seeing him with another woman that had thrown me.

“Hey, are you okay? You seem like you’re a million miles away,” Kaelynn said, handing me a plate to dry.

“Sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind the last few weeks.”

She nodded but ga

ve me that same knowing look she always gave me. Kaelynn had a way of being able to read me when everyone else around me couldn’t.

We’d washed and dried a few more plates when I heard Rose laugh. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

“You don’t like Rose?” she asked.