Free You've Got Tail by Renee George Page B

Haddock.”
    I got the distinct feeling she didn’t mean the diner. When I got back to Sunny’s Outlook, I allowed the tension to leave my body and breathed a sigh of relief.
    The light came on, and I saw Babel standing near the switch. “You okay?”
    To say I nearly jumped out of my skin was an understatement. “How did you get in here?” I’d locked the door when I left; at least, I was pretty certain.
    He held up a ring of keys. “I have an extra set.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Babel arched a brow. He took a step toward me, holding out the keys. He jangled them in the air like a dangling carrot. “Chavvie gave them to me.”
    â€œI don’t know that I like you having a copy.”
    â€œI just thought…”
    Before I knew what had happened, he was inches from me. I felt woozy and just a little breathless.
    â€œYou thought wrong.”
    His fingers laced with the metal keys traced a path down my bare arm. “I don’t think so.”
    Before turning to a complete pile of slush, I stepped back, just out of his reach. Babel made a lot of assumptions about our level of intimacy, and I planned to set him straight. “Hold up, fella. You’re definitely cute. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t find you attractive.” It’s hard to fake “no chemistry” when it’s thick in the air. “But not only are you a decade younger than me,” which I could get past under different circumstances, “but you’re also Chav’s brother.” Which I couldn’t get past. You just don’t do your friend’s exes or siblings. It’s like an unwritten code. “Beyond that, there is nothing between us.” My heart sank as I said it.
    Babel pulled on all my emotional and physical strings. Maybe because we both loved Chav and our mutual concern pushed all the right buttons in me. My reaction to Babel reminded me of the first time I met Chav, only without all the pining and puddling. After meeting the tall brunette, I’d instantly wanted to be her friend. To be close to her. Chav had told me once that our friendship was yin and yang. A perfect balance. I think the reason Babel freaked me out so much was that I felt the same intense connection to him that I did with Chav, only more pervy.
    â€œI think you know that’s not true, Sunny.”
    I was angry. More than maybe I should’ve been. Suddenly, I realized why. “Were you just over at the courthouse with Sheila?”
    He looked genuinely confused. “Sheila? When?”
    â€œNever mind.” It hadn’t been Babel with her out there in the darkness. Inside—and childishly, I might add—I did a happy dance.
    Babel leaned forward and breathed in deeply. His lip curled in a snarl. “Did she hurt you, Sunny?” He sniffed at my cheeks where she’d pinched me; then he inhaled the area on my arm that she’d grabbed. A rumble drew from his throat.
    â€œI…no.”
    Anger brimmed his words as he lifted my chin. “Your cheeks, they’re red and slightly bruised. I know Sheila had something to do with it. I can smell her on you. Tell me.”
    â€œIt’s nothing. Really.” Smell her? What the heck? “I think I just surprised her is all.”
    â€œI’ll talk to her.” His thumb brushed my cheek. A flash of vision haunted me. Babel and Sheila had bonded over the mutual loss of his brother. And even though nothing had gone on between Babel and me, inexplicably, I felt like the other woman. It made me ashamed.
    â€œShe’s not a bad person. I’m sure.” What a stupid thing to say! She was bad. Horrible even. But if Babel and I got involved there would be drama, drama, drama between me and the nut job long after he was gone. I didn’t want it or need it. “Stay out of it. I can handle myself.”
    His lips relaxed into a half smile, turning me back into slush. “Of