Opposites Attract - Jessica Prince Page 0,17

me, leaving me feeling even more ridiculous than before. “Well… great. Okay then.”

Once he finished cleaning his foot, he dropped the towel onto the small puddle Shady had left on the floor and took a couple steps in my direction. “Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

I couldn’t help it, I really couldn’t. I snorted again. It was just a reflex I had whenever I was in awkward situations. “I’d say that’s a bit of an understatement.” He chuckled again and that warm, melty feeling hit me in the chest again.

“What do you say we start over, huh?” He closed the distance between us and extended his hand. “Hi. I’m Richard Locklaine. Not to be confused with my brother, Rowan. It’s nice to meet you.”

I stared at his outstretched palm and fought the smile that was tugging at my lips. His hand was warm against mine as his long fingers wrapped around my smaller ones. “Hi, Richard. I’m Delilah Northcutt.” One side of my mouth tilted up in a little smirk as I looked into those glacier blue eyes of his. “I believe I’m doing the flowers for your brother’s wedding.”

He grinned in return, and I felt that smile all the way too my bones. “What a coincidence!” he continued with a teasing tone. God, why did he have to be so good looking? And, for the love of baby kittens, why couldn’t he have remembered our night together?!

Silence stretched between us for several seconds before the heat of his hand and the intensity in his eyes became too much. I eventually pulled my hand from his, wrapping my fingers tightly together in front of me as I struggled to look anywhere but directly at him.

“Are you sure I don’t know you?” he asked, startling me. “I could’ve sworn I’ve met you before.”

My eyes went wide as I wrung my hands together. “Oh… uh… nope, never met before. I’m sure I would have remembered.” I let out a nervous laugh, followed by… you guessed it, another snort. Buddha kill me, please.

A loud choking cough sounded from the hallway, alerting us both to the fact that Devon had been eavesdropping on the whole conversation. I was going to murder her in her sleep. Or better yet, shave off her eyebrows.

“She okay?” Richard asked, humor laced through his words.

“Yep. She just never learned to chew her food properly. Been a choking hazard her whole life. It’s embarrassing to go to restaurants with her, really.”

Devon faked sneezed from the hallway, and I could have sworn I heard the word bitch in there.

“Well.” I clapped. Why, sweet mother of sugar, did I just clap? “Sorry for the… disruption.” I pointed in the direction of my bedroom. “I should… um… let you get back to your… screaming lady friend.”

Lord, if you’re listening, please open the ground beneath me and let it swallow me whole. Sincerely, Delilah Northcutt. Amen.

He cleared his throat as his cheeks tinged a deep pink color. “Oh, uh, that…” He rubbed the back of his neck in discomfort. “We weren’t… I mean, we hadn’t… she’s gone.”

“Oh. Oh! Was it because of the music? I’m really sorry about that.” I really wasn’t.

“No, actually…” He turned the full charm of his grin on me and my blood heated in my veins at the beauty of it. Stupid blood. Stupid veins. “I should probably thank you for that. The impromptu concert actually did me a favor.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… we hadn’t really been doing more than kissing when she…”

“Started shrieking like a howler monkey?” I politely offered when he trailed off.

“That’s what she sounded like!” Devon shouted from the hall. “I’ve been trying to put my finger on it this whole time! Thanks, Del.”

Richard burst into laughter, and I had to tell my lady parts to calm the hell down at the sound of it. Stupid lady parts.

“Anyway,” he said with a smirk. “I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Delilah. You too, Devon,” he shouted down the hall.

“Back atcha, bud!” she replied. Worst. Eavesdropper. Ever.

“Have a good night,” I offered as I followed him to the door.

Just as I pulled it open and moved to let him step through, he stopped and turned back to face me. “Oh, uh, just a word to the wise. I don’t think your dog’s as housebroken as you think he is.”

My head cocked to the side in confusion. “What makes you say that?”

“Being pissed on twice in one day. Good night, Delilah.” With