“An erotic romance by Lilah Alden,” he said, a smile slowly forming on his lips. “You know, I’m sure it’s purely coincidental, but Lilah Alden sounds a lot like Lily Adler.” He looked up at me triumphantly.
“Would you like me to autograph it for you?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant as I walked over and put the tea tray down on the coffee table, before it shook out of my hands.
“Will you write something dirty?” He laughed.
“I’m sure I could work in the word ‘fuck’,” I replied and he laughed even harder. I sat down and helped myself to my tea, pretending that I wasn’t freaking out.
“Touch, huh? And where can I purchase this great piece of literature?” He brought it with him as he came over and sat on the love seat across from me.
“Just take it. I know how much you’re dying to make fun of me.”
“That’s not why I want to read it,” he said very seriously.
“Then why are you so eager to read a romance novel?”
“Because it’s sexy and you wrote it,” he said. My stomach did a back flip. One thought and one thought only screamed in my brain; ‘Oh no, please God. A physical attraction is bad enough. Please don’t let me be falling for Adam’.
Not knowing how to respond, I looked away nervously, noticed that I had forgotten to close my curtains when I came in, and went over to do it. Because it was darker outside even with the streetlight, all I saw was my reflection in the glass until I got there, but I decided that I had better take a quick peek out the window to make sure nobody had stripped Adam’s car.
Cupping my hand above my eyes and peering through the glass, I saw that the Saab was still there and intact, and I was about to look away and step back when something in the building across the street caught my eye. The window directly across from me revealed a room in semi-darkness with a shadowy figure just standing there, completely still. It felt like someone watching me and it creeped me out, so I backed up and closed the curtains quickly. Adam must have noticed my reaction, because he got up and walked up behind me.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, making me jump.
“Nothing,” I said, feeling foolish. “I just thought maybe I saw someone watching me from the apartment across the street but it was probably a mistake.” He pulled the curtain back again and took a look himself.
“I don’t see anybody,” he said, peering out. I checked again too and the figure was gone. “You’re just getting all flighty because of that burglar we chased out in the woods. While I agree you should be careful around here, don’t let your imagination run away with you.”
“Yeah, okay. Well, stop telling me how I’m taking my life in my hands living here, then.”
“Speaking of the local crime rate, I guess I should get going before somebody really does boost my car. You going to your Girls’ Night thing tomorrow?” he said, walking over to the door and grabbing his coat off the peg.
“Gabrielle and I are just going to hang out with Jess. Beth is out of town.” I went over to let him out, and stood there, suddenly feeling amazingly awkward and almost shy. What did I want, a freaking goodnight kiss? Snap out of it, Lil!
“I’ll be at Braden’s. If you get a ride there, I’ll give you a ride home. Then maybe your car will last another ten miles.”
“Okay, thanks. It has been making some weirder noises than usual lately.”
“Give me your number so I can call you when I’m coming to pick you up.”
“Give me yours then too, in case my plans change.”
I wanted to keep everything with Adam on equal ground. I went over to my purse, grabbed my phone, and brought it over. I handed it to him so we could exchange information, and as I did, his hand brushed against mine. The fact that it made me want to knock him down and “go cowgirl” was more than just a little disturbing. When was this going to pass? He called my phone and typed in his info, while I tried not to look like I was picturing him naked.
“Try to stay alive, Adler,” he said with a sexy smile as he turned to go.
“Hope your car’s still there, Roth,” I called after him. I closed my door and leaned against it with a stupid grin on my face.
Chapter Five
“Fuckety-fuck! Get in here, honey and tell us what happened with Captain Ego!” Jess exclaimed excitedly the minute I walked through the door.
“How did you know?” I asked with surprise. I had only texted her a quick confirmation that I was coming. I was saving that bit until I got here. I was in such a good mood that I had splurged and taken a cab so that the bus wouldn’t ruin it.
“Mark told Braden,” Gab explained. “I overheard part of the conversation and I made Braden tell me everything.”
“You made him tell you?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow inquisitively.
“She has ways,” Jess chimed in. “And don’t think he didn’t enjoy the interrogation process, honey.” She smiled knowingly.
“I’ll bet.” I laughed. “The way Braden looks at Gab is enough to make me blush.”
“I’m going to work hard on finding out what Adam had to say about it tonight,” Gabrielle said with a look of happy anticipation. “It’s the least I can do.”
“She’ll go to the mattress for you, honey.” Jess laughed, taking a sip of wine.
“So, what inside information were you able to get me, Mata Hari?”
“Well,” she began, leaning forward conspiratorially, “last night, when Mark decided to have a little fun and flirt with you, Adam got really jealous, and neither Braden nor Mark can ever remember Adam getting seriously jealous over any woman before.”
“Braden said that Adam officially invoked the ‘Guy Code’,” Jess jumped in, reaching over and grabbing my upper arms like she was going to shake me senseless.
“The ‘Guy Code’?” I asked curiously, while gently extricating myself from Jess’s death grip and retreating out of range.
“Adam called Mark this morning and told him that he was finally thinking about possibly asking you out on a date,” Gab explained. “That’s an implicit directive not to flirt with you.”
“He was thinking about possibly asking me out? What is that, like calling dibs on me?”
“It’s better than peeing on you, honey,” Jess replied, smothering a Triscuit with Port Wine cheese.