Cole(14)

I hit the seventh-floor button, holding a bottle of wine. “Yeah.”

Jake had been true to his word. I’d found an invite in my mail, and we’d chatted more over the last month. Either his swimming time matched when I went through my mail, or he’d rearranged his schedule. Either way, it had become almost a regular thing to meet up in the pool area three times a week. Dawn had sat with us two of those times—in silence the first and grunting a few words the second. Jake assured me she was warming up and my presence at his dinner wouldn’t be an issue, but we both knew Sia would be. The last we talked, the plan had been to wait and see, so that was what I was going to do.

“I need a problem about knitting.”

“You knit?”

“No.” She pulled out her phone. “But she won’t know that.”

“What?”

Sia was busy looking at her phone and waved a hand at me. “Don’t worry. This is what I do. You said Dawn is the building shut-in, right?”

I nodded.

“I’m new. She just started saying hello to you, so she’s going to bolt at the sight of a stranger. That puts pressure on you. I’m your friend, you’re the new resident, and the other people are going to blame you. I don’t want that to happen, so therefore, the shut-in needs to stay put. She knits. She must have a love for it, and little does she know—” Sia flicked her wrist, showcasing her face in a Vanna White wave. “She’s about to meet her knitting soulmate. By the time that elevator door opens, I’ll have enough in my head to bullshit my way through a problem only she can help me with.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice. “Because, you know, us knitters need to stick together. No one else gets the frustration of a—” She checked her phone. “—dropped knot.”

I could only stare at her. “Your powers cannot be challenged by mere mortals.”

“Darn tootin.’ I’m the Athena of networking. A shut-in is a snack before lunch for me. Give me a room of shut-ins, and I’ve got my dinner entree.”

“I have no idea how you do it, but thank you.” My voice softened. “I know you’re doing this for me.”

Her smile softened as well. “I know.” She nudged me with her arm. “Love you, girl.”

“Love you back.”

“Now, shut up. I have to get more info in my head before those doors open.”

But we were already there, and the door opened with Jake standing on the other side, two glasses in his hands. He raised them. “Champagne for my new guests.”

“Well…” Sia stopped, still in the elevator, and looked him up and down. She wasn’t subtle. Tucking her phone away, she exited, keeping her eyes on him the whole time. “You’re a nice surprise. I’m Sia, Addison’s best friend.”

“Jake.” He handed us each a glass and held out his hand.

“Hello.” Sia shook it and moved closer, giving him a good view down her dress.

His eyes widened a bit, and the corner of his mouth lifted. He glanced to me, a question on his face. I lifted a shoulder. I should’ve thought about this. Sia had been searching for Mr. Gorgeous from the restaurant, but she’d come up with nothing. Her frustrations had been expressed over and over…and over again.

Whoever the guy was, he’d escaped certain heartbreak. Sia would’ve run through him like a snowplow and spit him out at the end. That was her way. Always looking for The One, she got a whole lot of hot sex instead, and the guys never lasted long. She had that look right now, still grasping Jake’s hand. Her eyes narrowed like a predator who’d found the prey to beat all other prey. I was surprised she didn’t lick her lips and stalk around him, giving him a good onceover.

“Hello back to you.” Jake said to Sia, but he cast me a look, surprise in his depths.

I pretended to be ignorant. Sia was my best friend, after all. Their hands finally parted, and I handed over the bottle of wine. “I brought this with. I hope it works for dinner.”

Sia continued looking him up and down.

I was a barrier between them, and Jake ducked his head, speaking so only I could hear. “Should I be scared?”

“Oh, yeah.” I grinned. “Be very scared.”

He laughed and squeezed my shoulder before gesturing toward the dining room. “Come on in. Make yourselves at home. I’m—” His eyes found Sia’s again, and he faltered, running into his counter. “Uh, I have to check on some of the food real quick.”

He moved away, and Sia closed in. “You didn’t tell me he was gorgeous.”

Jake? He opened the oven and bent over to pull out a pan. I looked at him thoughtfully. His ass was firm and tight. His pants showed it off perfectly, so why hadn’t I… I shrugged. “Yeah. He’s pretty, but I thought you were obsessed with the other guy. The restaurant guy.”