the place. She knew it was as much the private location as it was the nearness to work. Hope liked people, dealt well with pet owners, but she didn’t socialize and preferred not to run into locals after work.
Just as they were heading out, Ivey’s phone started ringing. She saw it was Geoff and rejected the call. Before she could get it back in her purse, it rang again. Locking her jaw, she silenced the phone.
When she looked up, she found Corbin watching her. The man had the most compelling brown eyes. His irises were caramel, circled by a darker brown. Thick black lashes, too. Kind eyes, she thought. But also...bedroom eyes.
When his mouth quirked, she realized she’d just been standing there staring at him. Heat flooded her face. “Sorry about that. I was just...taking in the view.”
“The view?”
She gestured lamely at him, up and down his body, then she realized what she was doing and dropped her hand. “I’m sure you’re used to it.”
Clearly holding back a grin, he nodded at her purse where she’d stuffed the phone. “Everything okay?”
“Just dandy.”
Her tone sent one of his thick eyebrows up but he looked more amused than offended.
“Sorry.” It wasn’t Corbin’s fault that Geoff was a pain in her backside. “Just a pesky ex.” Oh my God, just shut up, Ivey.
“Not taking no for an answer?”
Appalled at herself, she pressed her lips together. This was why she needed to go it alone for a while. It seemed when it came to men, she had no filter. Geoff claimed that was one of the things that had annoyed him most. The ass had rattled off a list once she told him she was done. As if by naming all her faults, she’d suddenly...what? Realize she was to blame for their failed relationship and be thrilled to have him after all?
Corbin was still watching her, so she said, “Conversation is only important if he’s talking. Otherwise, he doesn’t listen.”
“Then I imagine he misses a lot.”
Why the hell was she detailing her breakup to a perfect stranger? “Ignore me. Sometimes I speak without thinking.”
“Or with sarcasm.” He grinned.
Ivey did a double take. “I wasn’t being sarcastic when I said you’re hot.”
He actually laughed. “Somehow I missed you saying that.”
“But you knew what I meant. Why else would I stare?” Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. Growling, she turned it completely off.
“I meant,” Corbin said carefully, “you were a little sarcastic about your caller. But I’d say you’re allowed, especially when provoked.”
Doing her utmost to rally, Ivey hitched her purse strap over her shoulder. “I promise, I’m better with animals.”
“And rescuing bugs. Two admirable traits.”
Admirable? She realized Hope was heading back down the stairs, Justin following her, so she felt safe whispering, “If you do decide you’d like a pet, let me know. I can point you in the right direction.”
His gaze warmed even more. “Thank you, Ivey.”
The way he said her name, all deep and husky while looking into her eyes, started a slow burn. My, oh my.
Was he flirting? Or was she just desperate for an ego boost?
And seriously, did she want a single dad flirting? At the moment, she didn’t understand his and Justin’s dynamic at all. He seemed like a terrific, very attentive father, and then suddenly he and his son were like visitors instead of family. Very odd.
Before she got ahead of herself, she should find out more about him, and with that decision in mind, she headed down the stairs.
Aware of Corbin right behind her, she carefully descended then stepped out of the garage. An early evening sun broke through, turning the wet surfaces into a sauna and making her hair frizz even more. If she were flirting with Corbin, that would bother her.
But she wasn’t. No, definitely not. Her rioting hair didn’t matter and was an inescapable fact, anyway.
Oblivious to the weather, Justin hunkered down on the lawn to look for more bugs. He was a cute kid, with his innocent blue eyes and loads of curiosity.
“If you find any that are dead,” Ivey suggested, “put them aside and you can feed them to the fish later.”
“Found one,” he said immediately, and to everyone’s consternation, he stuffed it into his pocket.
Corbin winced. “Guess I better go find him a container. Thank you both for coming out. I’ll see you Wednesday, Hope.” His gaze shifted to Ivey, lingering a moment. “And maybe we’ll see you around town.”
Despite everything she’d just told herself, she sort of hoped he did.
*