Ready For It (MacAteer Brothers #2) - M.L. Nystrom Page 0,52

no see. How are you?”

Jerry’s jovial mood dropped a bit, but he recovered quick, as a professional salesman should. “I’m good, thanks. Nice to see you, Melanie. I hope you’re well, too.”

“Fantastic. I need to come see you soon for a new car. Something more sedan-like and roomier than my Audi. Got time next week?”

“Sure, sure. I’m there every day. Just come in and ask for me. I’ll be glad to help you out. Are you two… uh… dating?”

Owen felt Melanie stiffen next to him, and she dropped her arm from his. “No, we’re just friends. That’s all. Just friends.”

The food debate got louder.

“I think broccoli tastes good, and it’s good for you.”

“Ewww. Broccoli is nasty.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I kinda like broccoli, but I hate brussels sprouts. My dad said they look like turtle heads. Who wants to eat those?”

“Blech. I don’t think I can ever eat a turtle’s head.”

“It’s not really a turtle’s head. It just looks like one.”

“That’s so gross.”

Owen pulled out his wallet, handed the kids five dollars each, and pointed at the concession line. “Go.”

“Yeah! I can get a hot dog and nachos!”

“What about the chemical cheese?”

“I’ll eat some broccoli tomorrow.”

Jerry grinned. “Perfect save, Owen. Absolutely perfect. Nice seeing you here, and I’ll catch you next week, Melanie.” He moved to take his kids to the line.

Owen stood alone with Melanie, his head and heart full of conflict. Her words firmly put him in the friend zone, and she’d sounded fearful that anyone would wonder about their relationship status. This bothered him. He wasn’t the most educated man in the world, but he still made a good living. He had difficulty talking to people, but it got easier the more he knew and trusted someone, as he was beginning to trust Melanie. Then there was the encounter after the party fiasco at her parents’ house. He had had his fingers and mouth on the woman now standing beside him. He knew her taste and the sounds she made when she came. Friend zone? That hurt. Maybe it shouldn’t, but it did.

“Well, O-man, that was interesting. You do a lot of work for Jerry?” Her nonchalant tone bugged him.

“Yeah.”

“We went to high school together. Did you know that?”

“No.”

“I remember he always worked at something. His family didn’t have money, and he had to get a job in high school just as soon as he turned sixteen. I think he swept floors at the dealership at night, and now he manages the place. I admire that.”

Owen grunted that he heard her but didn’t respond otherwise.

“I’m thinking about house hunting in the next few weeks. My condo is okay for now, but I know it’s not going to be big enough. Want to come with me? I could use your expertise on houses and construction and stuff like that.”

Several emotions flashed through Owen. Resentment topped them. Just moments ago, she’d held his arm like they were a couple. She’d fallen asleep on top of him several times during movie nights at Bevvie’s house. He’d come to her defense against her brother and family, risking the chance of assault charges. She intimately touched him more than once, and he had reciprocated. Yet he was just a friend who could be relied on for errands and house advice.

Guilt followed the resentment. He had no right to be angry, as he had yet to tell her directly how he felt about her.

“If the time comes when you invite me to your bed, I’ll be there not because you opened your legs to me. I’ll be there because you opened your heart to me.”

He’d dropped hints from time to time, but never come straight out and admitted his feelings. How he would trade the world for the chance to be at her side as her man and not as her convenient friend.

She poked at him with a finger and teased him without any clue of the conflict surging inside him. “Back to caveman style communication, eh? You okay?”

“Fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

Another grunt.

“Seriously, O-man, what’s wrong? Jerry say something bad?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

Owen lifted his eyes to hers and for a moment, he just stared, hoping she would get it. He didn’t have the words. Those blue orbs of hers held genuine question and then widened. Her lips parted and her jaw dropped.

Yeah, she got it.

“Look, Uncle Owen! I put my nachos on my hot dog. That way I can eat it all at once.”

Sarah opened her bag of pretzels and shook out a few.