Manfax (Winter Brothers #2) - Jacob Chance Page 0,44

fantasizing about his touch and what it would feel like on my skin. Would his caresses be soft or hard, or a combination of both?

The fervor in which he enjoys the food on his plate calls up questions about his oral skills. Does he go downtown with such enthusiasm? Musing over it has my thighs squeezing together.

Adam’s head snaps toward me, catching my obvious ogling. “What are you thinking about?”

“Work.” I’m not admitting I was thinking about his tongue and what it could do to me.

“Bullshit. You were looking at me.”

“Yeah, I kind of zoned out worrying about something I forgot to double check.”

His left brow climbs skeptically. “If you say so.”

“I do.” I feel the need to confirm my lie; it must be my guilty conscience. Damn catholic guilt. It always gets the best of me.

The waitress comes by to take our orders, quickly slipping away again.

“Adam, how’s the Foxworth Building renovation going?” Rex asks.

“Good. I’ll be finishing up one of the bathrooms tomorrow and then I’ll start on the other next week.”

“We’re still on schedule at the Stuart’s, even though the electrical inspector held up the sheetrock guys for a day.”

“I bet that made you happy.” Adam grins mischievously.

“Oh, it did,” Danika jumps in. “I had to talk him off the ledge.”

“I wasn’t that mad,” Rex says.

“No, you weren’t. Those anger management skills really come in handy sometimes.” Dani winks at Rex.

“Who are you kidding? They help me on a daily basis.”

“I think it’s really admirable that you sought out counseling. So many are too proud to get help.”

“It’s not like he had a choice,” Adam retorts.

“He did have a choice, and he made the right one,” Danika strikes back.

“Come on. Don’t defend him so zealously. It takes the fun out of giving him shit.”

“Good.” Danika winks and pushes her chair back. “I need the ladies’ room.”

Rex stands, taking her arm. “I’ll walk you there.”

Once they’re gone, Adam tips his head toward me. “Rex can do no wrong in her eyes.”

“What do you expect? She loves him,” I justify.

“Is that what being in love means?”

I can’t quite tell if he’s being facetious or not. I decide to answer as if it’s a serious question. I mean, this is Adam here—he might not know the ins and outs of love and what loving someone means.

“Being in love means a lot of things. I’m hardly an expert on the subject, but I know how it’s supposed to be.”

“Have you ever been in love?” he questions.

I nod, drawing my lower lip between my teeth. Ugh. I should’ve known he’d ask me this and kept my mouth shut. No good deed goes unpunished. “I was engaged to get married.”

“What happened?” His attention is locked on me like a laser beam.

“He got cold feet, and I got my heart broken,” I say in my best carefree tone.

“Don’t do that.” He scowls.

“What?”

“Downplay your pain.”

How does he know to this day that it still stings to remember? “I’m not necessarily in pain. It’s been ten years, and I’m older and wiser.”

“The heart doesn’t seem to recognize the passage of time like we do,” he offers.

Coming from someone with his relationship history, his words are rather astute. “You know this from experience?” I ask.

“When we were in New Hampshire, I told you about my college girlfriend. I’m not still hung up on her, but there’s a part of me that’ll always want to remember the good times we shared, instead of the horrible way our relationship ended.”

“I get that. It’s better to focus on the positive and be grateful it’s over and done with. Is that why you’re such a manwhore now?”

A smile teases the edge of his lip. He shakes his head. “You and your labels.”

“If the shoe fits,” I quip.

“I never made a conscious decision to avoid relationships or marriage. I’m the way I am because it’s worked for me, and I’ve never met anyone who made me want more. If I meet someone who I’m crazy about, and I could see a future with them, then I’ll give it my all.”

“Your all? What’s that mean? No cheating for the first month?”

His gaze darkens and he leans closer. “I’ve never been unfaithful to a woman I was in a relationship with, and I never will be.”

“How are you going to make the transition from variety to only one person?”

“Did you listen to what I said? I’ve been faithful before.”

“I heard that, but it’s been years since you’ve had to be. How do you know