at her shop.
I glance around, looking for Adam. He’s crouched next to Tank under the shade of the green canopy. He’s avoiding me. Guess he doesn’t want to tangle with me in front of everyone. I sense a fight coming. I’m just so agitated, and he’s so, so frustrating.
Wyatt returns with Snowball and Rexie on leashes, and they bark up a storm, racing toward Tank.
And that big tough-looking bulldog looks alarmed. He makes a growling sound to warn them off. Adam takes over, stroking a hand over his head. “Sit.” Tank sits, his big eyes still glued to the strange dogs.
Wyatt guides his dogs over and hands a small biscuit to Tank and then to Snowball and Rexie. He starts talking to Adam, and the dogs sniff each other, making a funny, twisty circle as they sniff each other’s butts.
Adam’s gaze meets mine and holds for an intense moment.
What does that mean? Does he want me to go to him? Is he still mad? I can’t tell. The man is a frigging mystery. It must be all my emotions getting in the way of translating Adam speak like I used to.
Wyatt’s gaze follows Adam’s, and he jerks his chin at me in acknowledgment. They can have their manly conversation without me. I’m just fine with Sydney, Jenna, and Audrey.
I do my best to focus on the conversation, but my eyes trail to Adam over and over. He’s mostly hanging with Wyatt, the two of them talking with a beer in hand. Adam smiles, and I realize he must really like my brother. Adam doesn’t smile all that much. Except with me.
A short while later, we all help ourselves to lunch. Adam sits across from me at a long glass patio table, his gaze heated. I instantly flush. That’s all it takes between us—one hot look.
I avoid his eyes as I eat my lunch, a grilled chicken sandwich and salad. I do my best to talk to Audrey by my side, but I can feel his eyes on me.
When I finish eating, I look up.
Adam gestures with his head toward the house, his kissable lips curving up slightly. I read that signal loud and clear. Nope. We’re not going to fool around now. First of all, we’re at a party. Second, Wyatt’s not supposed to know about us for some insane reason. Like it’s horrible that I have fun with a man. Third, I’m mad at Adam for…I don’t know. Everything! Not letting me get close physically, being casual now when we’ve been spending so much time together. I can’t be the only one with feelings in this thing, can I?
“I thought you were mad at me,” I whisper to Adam.
Conversation quiets around us as ears perk up.
He stands, clearing his plate and plastic flatware. “I was never mad at you,” he mutters before heading toward the house.
I do the same, following him. I hear Wyatt ask, “Why would Adam be mad at her?”
Sydney’s reply is quiet, but she must’ve said something that sounded reasonable to Wyatt’s ears because he doesn’t follow me.
I catch up with Adam in the kitchen, which is a bright modern space with white cabinets, a huge granite-topped island, and stainless steel appliances. Adam looks out of place in his black T-shirt and jeans. I can almost see the tool belt normally hanging low on his hips. He belongs in a workshop space or standing in sawdust. My whole life I’ve been drawn to intellectual types, yet only Adam sparks passion in me. And so much more.
His back is to me as he closes the under-cabinet trash bin. I join him, and he slides it open for me and closes it again.
He slants a sideways look at me. “You were mad at me, not the other way round.”
I keep my voice low. “You said our friendship was abnormal.”
“You said the way we fool around was abnormal.”
Audrey wanders in. “Great weather we’re having, huh?” Her voice sounds high and overly cheerful. She must’ve overheard and is trying to cover up the awkward. She tosses her plate in the bin and helps herself to a spiked seltzer from the refrigerator.
“Sure is,” I say to Audrey, playing along. Audrey and I are beyond talking about the weather between us.
I gesture for Adam to follow me to the library in the next room. It’s where our friendship began. Adam built most of it, from the bookshelves to the cabinetry, crown molding, wall trim, and a ladder that rolls on wheels. He