“I love it,” she said wistfully. “But there’s no way I can afford it.”
“How do you know? We haven’t talked numbers yet.”
“Because this is nicer than any apartment I’ve ever lived in, and I couldn’t even afford those places.”
“Mark’s pretty eager to get someone in here. And this place wouldn’t work for just anyone.”
“Who wouldn’t love it?”
“People who don’t like stairs. People who want a lot more privacy than all these windows would allow.”
“I think it’s perfect.”
“Then we’ll figure something out.”
“What does that mean?” Lucy asked, instantly wary.
“It means I’ll make sure the rent is a number you can live with.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to be obligated to you.”
“You wouldn’t be.”
“Of course I would, if I let you start doing favors for me. Especially financial favors.”
Sam’s brows lowered. “You think I would try to take advantage of you?” He approached her, and Lucy backed away reflexively until she felt the edge of the granite countertop against her back. “You expect me to show up someday twirling a mustache and wearing a black top hat, demanding sex instead of rent money?”
“Of course I don’t expect that.” Lucy fidgeted as he put his hands on either side of her, his palms braced on the counter. “It’s just … this isn’t a situation I feel comfortable with.”
Sam leaned over her without quite touching her. He was close enough that she found herself staring at his smooth tanned throat.
“Lucy,” he said, “you’re acting like I’m trying to push you into something. I’m not. If it turns out you’re interested in something more than friendship, I’ll be as happy as a damn bird with a French fry. But in the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t put me in the same category as assholes like Kevin Pearson.”
Lucy blinked in astonishment. Each breath started knocking into the next, like a line of dominoes. “H-how did you know his name?”
“He came to the vineyard yesterday and said he had a favor to ask me. It was about you.”
“He … about … you know Kevin?”
“Of course I know him. I did his science homework all through seventh grade to keep him from beating the crap out of me in the school parking lot.”
“I … what did he tell you? What did he want?”
“He said he’s marrying your sister. He also said your parents aren’t going to cough up any money for the wedding until Alice works things out with you.”
“I hadn’t heard about that last part. Alice must be freaking out. My parents have been giving her money for years.”
Pushing away from her, Sam went to a tall stool and sat negligently. “Apparently Kevin and Alice think the solution is to set you up with someone. They want some guy to romance you until you’re so full of endorphins, you won’t have a problem with them getting married anymore.”
“And you’re supposed to be that guy?” she asked incredulously. “Mr. Endorphins?”
“Speaking.”
A suffocating blanket of outrage settled over her. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Sam responded with a lazy shrug. “Do what you want to do.”
“Even if I wanted to, there’s no way I would go out with you now. They would laugh at me behind my back and talk about how gullible I was.”
“But you’d be laughing at them,” Sam pointed out.
“I don’t care. I’d rather avoid the whole thing.”
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll tell them you wouldn’t go for it, that I’m not your type. But don’t be surprised if they try to set you up with someone else.”
Lucy couldn’t hold back a disbelieving laugh. “This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever … Why can’t they just leave me alone?”
“Apparently,” Sam said, “your parents will only approve of Alice’s wedding—and start giving her money again—when one condition has been met.”
“What condition is that?”
“Your happiness.”
“My God,” Lucy exclaimed in exasperation, “my family is so bizarre.”
“Believe me, they have nothing on the Nolans.”
She barely heard him. “Now they care about my happiness?” she demanded. “A thousand times in the past they could have taken my side but didn’t, and now all of a sudden, they want me to be happy? Screw them! And screw you too.”