The inside of her throat tightened. The cocksure, race car driving, innuendo-talking bad boy facade was gone and in its place was someone who was infinitely more dangerous. Maybe she wasn’t the only one wearing a mask.
“I’m sorry,” he said, without looking at her. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’ve spent too much time in my own company, I guess.”
No. No. Carrie squeezed her eyes shut momentarily. This made it so much worse.
“It’s me. This thing has been stressing me out and I haven’t been sleeping and I babble when I’m nervous.” She paused, wanting to kick herself. “Not that you make me nervous, of course.”
“Case in point?” he said with a smile.
At least, she thought, any sex appeal she might have held for him would be ground to dust now. As it should be.
“You don’t have a time machine with a rewind button handy, do you?”
“If I did,” he answered, “I’d have worn it out a long time ago. Listen, Carrie, I apologize for my inappropriate comments. It was wrong of me to try and coerce you to spend time with me. My reputation is my own problem and the last thing you need is to jeopardize your own by hanging around with someone like me.”
Is that what he thought? Well, of course it was. She’d told him as much, hadn’t she?
But for some reason, her worry seemed shallow now. She thought it was about keeping her family blissfully ignorant and unembarrassed by her, but really, it was about fear.
“Don’t be silly. I’m a grown woman, not some teary teenager.”
“Forget it.” He glanced at the computer. “I should get back to work. That is, if you still want me here.”
“I still can’t afford you. And the dating thing, well, it’s just not a good idea. Nothing personal, of course. You’re very… attractive. It’s just, you know. This is a bad time for me.”
Someone stuff a sock in her mouth. This was beyond absurd. She hadn’t been this tongue-tied since… well, since talking with Mrs. Terlecki.
But how long had it been since she’d sparred with a man like this? Ages. Years.
“It’s not me, it’s you?” said Ethan, smiling again.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself back to reality.
“What I’m attempting to say is, I’ll be your Cherry Lake ambassador.”
The look on his face was priceless.
“You’ll… what?”
“You know. I’ll show you around. Like a tame tiger. So people can see you’re not dangerous.” She clasped her hands together, tapping her index fingers against her mouth. “So, where should we start? Someplace ordinary, where everyone goes, so it’ll seem natural. Grocery store? No, too domestic. I know, I could take pictures of you and your dogs at the park.”
“Seriously? I’d love that.” Then his expression changed. “But I better not bring my dogs anywhere public at the moment.”
“Why?”
He made a face. “I need to work Gun a little more before I inflict him on the world. Other ideas?”
“I’ve got it.” She poked an index finger at him. “Hardware store. It’s a manly sort of place, guys respect that. And we’ll have you helping me with something. That’ll make you look like a gentleman. Even though,” she arched a brow at him, “I probably know my way around a tool box better than you do.”
“I doubt that,” said Ethan. “But on that note, what am I supposed to be helping you with? Since you’re so self-sufficient, and all?”
The careless confidence was back, she saw with relief. This was much better. Arrogance, she could withstand. Vulnerability though, that would be a problem. This was definitely better. Safer. That was the main thing.
She thought for a moment.
“You’re a security guy. You could help me buy a security system. My dad’s been pestering me to install one, anyway.”
“Cyber-security,” said Ethan. “Not home security. It’s like comparing brain surgery to wart removal.”
“So you’re a big deal, I get it. Perhaps this is part of your problem, ever think of that? Come on, it’s a good plan.”