Free Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) by Sonia Parin Page B

shoulders and flat stomach, or the sinewy muscles on his forearms...
    “Is there a problem, Lexie?” he asked when she didn’t move.
    How convincing had she sounded when she’d told him she wasn’t interested in a relationship? What if she told him she’d given serious consideration to the matter and had changed her mind? Would he send her on her way?
    “I… I didn’t bring anything.”
    “That’s okay. My place is well-stocked and if I’m missing something, I can always run out and get it.”
    She dug deeper for the excuses that had been dancing around the tip of her tongue but they’d scuttled away, probably because they knew they didn’t stand a chance of sounding half as convincing as she expected them to.
    “It’s really bad form to pay someone a visit and come empty-handed.” Her mother had taught her that.
    Jack looked at her both frowning and smiling at the same time.
    Lexie had no trouble imagining him seeing her standing right in the middle of one of her cartoon strips, a thought bubble hovering above her with way too many exclamation marks.
    When he spoke, he sounded cautious. “Lexie, I’m a guy and that sort of detail only occurs to women. But if it’s going to make you feel uncomfortable, how about you bring something next time you come over.”
    Next time? “You really don’t find this weird?”
    “You standing on my doorstep and refusing to come in?”
    “Me being here.”
    “I invited you and lured you with the promise of pizza, beer and popcorn. And let’s not forget the mutual benefit of getting people off our backs.” He closed his eyes briefly then opened them again. “Lexie. It’s a casual, stay at home movie night.”
    With no strings, no expectations and definitely no aspirations. But there would be plenty of regrets if she didn’t pull herself together.
    After spending a year with her nose pressed hard to the grindstone, she deserved some time out. Also, as difficult as it was to admit, she’d been living vicariously, enjoying Lulu McGee’s adventures, so her rusty dating skills could do with some practice. Sure, this wouldn’t lead to anything romantic, but she was at least spending time with someone of the opposite sex.
    “Lexie, I’m sure you can watch the movie from the doorway, but the couch will be more comfortable.”
    She tore her eyes away from him and surveyed the lay of the land. The lion’s lair, she thought, knowing this lion wouldn’t be purring or roaring tonight. Although, if she kept this up he might manage a big lion yawn.
    “Okay. Let’s do this.”
    “You’re making it sound like the ultimate challenge or sacrifice.”
    “Exactly how much experience do you have being a platonic friend?”
    “I have stepsisters. But they don’t really count, so you’re actually my first.”
    “So you’ve never hung out with someone you’re not the least bit interested in.”
    He nodded. Far too quickly, she couldn’t help noticing.
    Again, he could not have been clearer. He wasn’t interested.  “I suppose it shouldn’t be any different to getting together with one of my girlfriends.”
    The edge of his lip kicked up. “I’ll abstain from answering, at least until I know what you normally get up to or talk about with your girlfriends.” He chuckled. “Are you any closer to deciding if you’re going to come in?”
    “Nice apartment.” Before she could do a thorough job of looking and sounding like a half crazed woman, she took a decisive step inside. “Very brown and black. No mistaking the fact a man lives here.”
    “I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
    She turned and looked out the large floor to ceiling window. “Wow. As in… Wow. That is a serious view. An uninterrupted view.” He only needed to cross the street to be on the beach.
    “Thank you, but I had nothing to do with it. It was there when I moved in.”
    “Given our recent history, I think I’ll refrain from making further comments.”
    He handed her a take-out