attitude. “You can’t see him being interested in me?”
With his smile going cocky, Sullivan shook his head. “Not really, no.”
Why that disgruntled her, Lexie wasn’t sure. “Why ever not?”
He pinched her chin. “Let’s just say she’s better suited to Jason.”
“No, let’s don’t.” Lexie made a “bring it” gesture in the air. “Let’s hear it. Why am I so unsuitable?”
“Unsuitable for Jason,” he clarified, still all cocky and amused. “See, he’s the home-and-hearth type and I figure you for a one-and-done kind of girl. You party, you have fun, you get what you need and then you move on.”
Her jaw loosened. Wow. “You nailed me.”
“Not yet.” That hot blue gaze turned seductive. “But I’m not opposed to the idea.”
Lexie started to speak, realized she had no idea what to say and sighed instead. “We need to table this discussion for now, at least until I get my bearings.”
“All right. How about we get into it more next week? I can get out early one day.”
“Early from what?”
She could tell he thought twice about sharing, then gave a mental shrug.
“I have a studio where I teach martial arts.”
“That’s pretty cool.” And explained his shredded physique. Her thoughts jumped ahead and she asked, “Who can sign up? I mean, do you need previous training?”
“I do the training, so no. I have beginner classes up to pros.”
Yeah, she was starting to like this idea. “You could teach me to kick butt?”
More serious than her, he gave one nod. “Sure. But I also teach how to avoid being in situations where you need to physically engage. My school is as much about motivation and quiet confidence as it is life skills.”
Lexie daringly looked him over. “Bet you have a lot of ladies in your classes.”
He deliberately misunderstood that. “I train plenty of adults, but what I really enjoy is working with kids.” Changing the subject, Sullivan glanced back at the house. “I know Jason’s glad the place was bought, but your friend has a hell of a job ahead of her.”
“Honor is strong.” Too strong, in Lexie’s opinion, because she’d always had to be. “She’ll figure it out.”
“She looked a little overwhelmed to me.”
Lexie popped the trunk. “I think that was because of Jason. Honor’s not really shy, but around him...well, it’s like seeing her in high school again.”
“You’ve known each other that long?”
She lifted out the big bag of mixed munchies and left the cooler for Sullivan. “Since middle school. She was always superconscientious about things, but these days she spends all her time working and sorting out problems for her family. She never has time to date.” Thinking he’d appreciate her cleverness, Lexie leaned closer to him. “I’m trying to lend a hand.”
He lifted out the heavy cooler one-handed, then closed her trunk. “How’s that?”
“The plant I brought over? I deliberately got one big enough that we’d need to ask for Jason’s help.”
Wearing a slight frown, his midnight eyes unreadable, Sullivan looked down at her. “So you manipulated things, but then I stepped in and ruined your plans?”
She didn’t like the way he worded that. “It’s okay. I think this will work out even better.”
“How so?” He made no move to leave the curb.
The evening sun cast long shadows in the yard. Birds sang overhead. A fly buzzed near her ear.
And Sullivan stood there—more or less calling her manipulative.
Which, okay, was mostly true.
A little bemused, Lexie readjusted the bag in her arms. “A small group is less intimate, and that takes the pressure off her.”
Still watching her, he said, “So we’re avoiding intimacy?”
Lexie opened her mouth, closed it, then laughed. “You keep beating me at my own game.”
“Flirting?”
“I was,” she admitted. “Are you?” Something about Sullivan made it difficult to tell.
“I haven’t quite decided yet.” With his hand returned to the small of her back, he got her walking again.
Now, wait a minute! She stopped, but he didn’t, so she had to hustle to catch up. She wanted to finish this discussion before they got inside with the other two.
“What is that supposed to mean?” If he thought she’d hang around, waiting and hopeful, he could think again.
“You like games,” he stated, as if he knew her. “Me, not so much.”
Lexie caught his arm to slow him down. “You were playing along with me,” she reminded him, and then wondered if he’d admit it.
“I was.” They reached the door.
“Well, then?”
He shocked her by cupping one hand to her face. “I think you’re dangerous.”
Dangerous? Her heart tripped as she stared up at him. “To a big, strong guy like you?”
“To a serious guy like me.” His thumb brushed the corner of her mouth. “But hey. I did ask you about getting together next week. You never answered.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, we should get together.”
The small smile turned into a grin of satisfaction. “Let’s exchange numbers, then, and we’ll work it out.”
* * *
Lexie’s matchmaking efforts were like getting run over by a bus. If Honor could get her alone, she’d give her a cease-and-desist order. But so far, Lexie had stuck close to Sullivan.
At first, when she found herself alone with Jason, Honor had made the quick excuse of needing to change clothes. She had dye on her fingertips, and she knew she smelled like perm solution thanks to one of her older clients.
But while out of the room, she’d also brushed her hair and cleaned her teeth and freshened up the best she could without a shower. Then she’d lingered, but so had Lexie and Sullivan.
Finally she’d had no option but to reemerge.
In her absence, Jason had looked around her kitchen, pantry and living room. She’d found him examining the leaky sink, and when he came out from under the cabinet, the leak was gone.
Honor had stammered her gratitude.
Taking pity on her, Jason had mostly talked about the house. In fact, other than a few too many, too-long glances, she’d enjoyed chatting with him.
She was lucky that the furnace and air, the electrical and the plumping were all in decent working order. He’d checked the warped back door and told her what needed to be done so that it would open and close properly. He’d even offered to do the work.
She’d politely declined.
And finally Lexie and Sullivan had rejoined them. Together they chatted about the renovation of the neighborhood, local venues of interest and the endless rain.
There was a slight lull when Jason told her, “You look tired.”
Conversation died around them and Honor quickly swallowed her drink of cola, then choked.
Patiently