Saying his name rattles her right back to fidgety. Her gaze darts to the door. She bites her lip and furrows her brow. Sitting back, she tucks her hair behind her ear and takes a deep breath. This guy makes her nervous and I don’t know why.
Though actually, I do.
The crush that inspired that stupid group text.
For some reason that annoys me. Probably because it will be harder to sell our relationship when she’s got the hots for another man. Or maybe I want them focused on my build, not each other.
Definitely not each other.
“Easy now, Hot Mess. Don’t hurt yourself trying to impress the guy.”
Mina rolls her eyes and settles back in her chair, looking poised, polished, and astonishingly beautiful. Benjamin Bancroft enters the office, freezing when he sees me already seated at the desk.
“Am I late?” he asks, adjusting his messenger bag to check his watch.
When we met at the build site, I instantly liked the guy. He’s friendly without being cloying. Professional without being stuck up or rude. You’d have no idea he was at the top of his field. Today, watching Mina’s cheeks blush when she shakes his hand, I like him a little less. It’s not so much her reaction as it is his. His eyes shouldn’t linger on her lips. His handshake shouldn’t be so…touchy.
I offer him my hand. Linger on that, asshole. “Mina and I had some personal things to discuss before you arrived.”
“Oh. Right. The butt biting text. Should I leave?” Benjamin jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I can sit out there until you’re ready.”
“There’s no need,” Mina says. “I think we’ve just about gotten everything we needed to talk about out in the open.”
I should just agree and leave it at that. Move on. Talk about the house. The build. But I don’t like the way Benjamin looks at Mina. If anyone else sees him looking at her like that while she blushes like a schoolgirl, it will be really fucking hard to make people believe we’re together.
That’s gotta be it.
“There’s something else we need to get out in the open,” I begin with a glance toward Mina. Her face transforms into a minefield of dismay but she catches herself before giving into another fidget outburst.
Benjamin pulls out a chair and sits beside me, slightly concerned and entirely interested. “Is there a problem?”
“I should hope not.” I reach across the desk to take Mina’s hand. “Though a lot of that rests on your level of professionalism. Mina and I are in a relationship. A pretty serious one. And I know I should apologize but I’m not sorry, because I’m starting to think she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I beam sappily into her face and a genuine smile morphs her pretty features into something beautiful. Fuck. I wasn’t prepared for that.
And apparently, neither was Benjamin Bancroft.
“Oh. Wow. Yeah. Okay then. That’s wonderful. I guess I assumed, you know, your text made it sound like you guys weren’t all…” He points back and forth between Mina and me, then tugs at the strap on his messenger bag like it’s strangling him.
“Nathan has that way about him,” Mina replies. “He can be hard to read until you get to know him, and then he’s just…well…we’re very happy together, aren’t we Sweet Prince?”
“You better believe it…” I almost call her Hot Mess but catch myself just in time. “…HM.”
“HM?” Benjamin cocks his head.
“Her nickname isn’t exactly work appropriate, if you get my drift.”
He nods. “Oh. Right. Yeah. That’s funny,” he says even though it’s clear he’s clueless. His gaze turns upward as he mouths “HM” like he’s trying to decipher a code.
SIXTEEN
Mina
I always enjoy being at work after hours. The hum of activity dissipates, leaving the cubicles and desks in shadows. My office becomes a haven—an island of light in a hibernating atmosphere. Which is a good thing, given that I’ve taken on so many new clients, I’d be smart to turn my sitting area into a sleeping area. The bill for Shady Cove is due. Technically, it’s past due, though Glenda in the financial office is an angel and gave me some leeway on the stipulation that I didn’t tell anyone. I almost had everything under control money-wise until one of my clients, a happily married couple looking to spice up their living space, decided to get divorced instead. How’s that for spice?
I’m going to have to figure out something, because as sweet as Glenda is, that leeway will have a limit and I can’t risk Mom losing her place at Shady Cove. Maybe I should ask Nathan for the advance Fallon suggested when this whole thing started. I cringe, then question the reaction. Maybe going to him for help wouldn’t be as bad as I fear.
After weeks of feigning a relationship with Nathan, we have settled into a strangely pleasant rhythm. We go on three dates a week instead of the two we agreed on and I’m not even sure how that happened. I think it just feels nice, pretending to be falling in love. Mostly, we have dinner and drinks at The Pact, a bar and grill owned by his aunt and uncle. Nathan likes being there because we’re most likely to be seen together and inspire family gossip. I’m a fan because I love everything about the place. The ambiance captures the essence of island living with its laid-back charm. There’s a pool table and a dart board. A jukebox adorned with colorful neon lights that perpetually plays good music. The décor reflects the coastal vibe, with nautical accents, wooden furnishings, and walls adorned with local artwork as well as the pact the owners wrote when they first became roommates, swearing they’d never fall in love. Funny how that turned out.
Everything on the menu is mouthwatering, inspired by local flavors and seafood. From conch fritters to grilled mahi-mahi tacos, I’ve yet to find something I don’t like. The bar serves an array of tropical cocktails, craft beers, and signature drinks. I leave slightly tipsy and totally full most nights.
Our time together has been spirited, to say the least. Nathan and I pretend to flirt while actually picking fights in round after round of one-upmanship. Though lately, we’ve been running out of things to argue about and have stumbled into actual conversations that give me glimpses of the man his cousins know. The man his students know. Kind. Caring. Giving. But say the wrong thing or make the wrong move and Nathan shuts that down. Hard. He’s trying to draw boundaries. Or recreate himself. Or something. Whatever it is, he’s going about it all wrong. Maybe someday we’ll talk about it.
Even though we promised we wouldn’t go farther than arms around shoulders and hands on waists, the moment we get together, that all goes out the window. He’ll touch my cheek and electricity courses through my body, so I return the favor by rubbing my thigh against his. My libido riots when his eyes go hot, heavy, and hooded, then obviously, he lets his hand linger on my hip until one of us says something to irritate the other and then we’re rat-a-tat-tatting to see who gets the last word.
Bicker. Flirt. Bicker. Flirt. Everything between us is fire and flash.
I sit back in my office chair and stretch. My aching muscles thank me for the movement. According to the tension in my neck and shoulders, I’ve been hunched over my desk longer than I thought. I have a meeting with Benjamin in the morning to discuss our preliminary plans for Nathan’s build and I stayed late so I could be prepared, not exhausted.
My phone lights up with a call as I check the time.
I huff in surprise when Benjamin Bancroft’s name fills the screen. Did I summon him with my thoughts? Might be a beneficial skill, seeing as I’ve loved every minute of working with him so far. He’s talented. Driven. The design in my mind blends perfectly with the structure in his. At least that’s the way I see it. Maybe to him, I’m the young pup biting at the ankles of a titan.
I accept the call and put the phone to my ear.
“Speak of the devil,” I say, then grimace. Weird much, Mina?
“I hope we’re speaking good things.” Benjamin sounds like he’s smiling. Or flirting. No…that’s ridiculous. He wouldn’t be flirting. He thinks I’m dating Nathan. I must be getting my signals crossed.
