In the Cards(57)

“If it’s any consolation, I haven’t noticed many surfers out lately. Hasn’t been great.”

Elena spends the following thirty minutes chattering on about our neighborhood, a party she attended, and her love life—or lack thereof. I smile, but my mind drifts in and out of the conversation. Each time I hear footsteps outside my door, I hope it’s Lindsey. My insides crumble as I realize she’s not going to surface. Fortunately, Elena’s so busy reciting her litany, she doesn’t notice. Guess she’s used to my quietude.

Then, at four thirty, Lindsey materializes. I inhale sharply when she enters the room. Reflexively, I reach for her, but then drop my hand to my side to conceal my reaction.

She greets Elena. Her eyes dart around the room without meeting mine. I guess she’s unwilling to trust me after yesterday’s discussion. I need to fix this situation because I dislike her distant conduct. Unfortunately, my mouth went dry the instant she appeared. Despite my every effort to remain detached, I’ve failed. Damn it to hell, I’m unable to manage my feelings.

“Hi, Levi. I brought you some dinner.” Lindsey sets a container of soup on my tray. Its sweet aroma reveals it to be my favorite, butternut squash soup. “Did everything go all right? No more setbacks?”

Her worry gives rise to hope that lifts my spirit. But like a soap bubble floating upward, it’s in constant jeopardy of bursting.

“No setbacks.” My eyes move from her to Elena and back before I shoot one brow upward.

Lindsey’s guarded, but addresses Elena. “Sorry to intrude on your visit.”

Since Elena’s occupying the only chair, Lindsey leans against the window ledge.

Thankfully, Elena isn’t one to share the spotlight and chooses to leave. After slobbering over me with a grand good-bye kiss on the forehead, she tosses us her signature mini-wave and struts from the room. Once she’s gone, Lindsey holds her finger to her lips to shush me while she closes the door.

Her odd behavior makes me smile. “Why’d you close my door?”

She frowns and sighs, tossing her hand to the side with her palm facing upward. “I’m preparing for you to unleash your wrath and prefer not to have everyone in the hall overhear us.” Her hand then finds its favorite resting spot—her hip.

“My wrath? Huh.” I grin. “About Elena’s surprise visit, you mean?”

“Yes.” She studies me. “Why don’t you like her, Levi? Did you two have a romantic falling-out or something?”

Possessive curiosity. That thrills me almost as much as her feigned indifference. “No. I like her fine, just not the way she wants. I try not to give her false hope, that’s all.”

“Oh. Well, that’s considerate.” Lindsey’s eyes register relief. “She ran into me when I was getting your mail early this morning—by the way, here it is.” She tosses it on the tray. “Anyway, she accused me of slinking away on a ‘walk of shame,’ so I had to tell her the truth. Sorry.”

“Okay.”

Her brows climb up her forehead. “Really? No lectures, no admonishments, no more ‘I just don’t like people’ speeches?”

Yep, my remarks yesterday upset her, as I’d guessed. Now she’s keeping her distance, doubting me. Strategically, I know the only way to win this hand is to swallow my pride. “You didn’t come back last night or this morning.” I edge toward the abyss of exposing vulnerability. “I worried you might not be back again.”

She presses her hand against her heart and bats her lashes with mock flirtation. “Did you miss me?”

“Yes.” I keep my eyes focused on reading her.

“Oh.” Her eyes widen. She stops playing and starts fidgeting. “Sorry. I thought you wanted some space.”

Her gaze flickers. The air between us grows thick with unspoken sentiment. I’m close to yanking her back, so I push it a step further.

“So did I.” I resolutely hold her stare. “But I was wrong.”

Jesus, the urge to spring from bed and kiss her overwhelms me. Damn it. Worse, my powers of observation fail me. I can’t tell if she’s feeling any of the same yearning. My weakness for her clouds my senses.

“Levi, I’m not your mother. I won’t turn and run when you least expect it.”

As soon as the words leave her mouth, her hand flies upward to cover it.

The priceless expression on her face makes me snort. “It’s okay. I’m not offended. In fact, I owe you an apology. Yesterday’s discussion unearthed a lot of issues I keep buried, for obvious reasons. I never meant to suggest I don’t consider you a friend, Lindsey.”