"He looks like the type of man who knows his way around a woman's body," Penny chimes in.
"Oh, I'm sure he does."
Kate wiggles her eyebrows. "Planning to find out?"
"It's complicated." In quick words, I relay the pros and cons-mostly the cons. I really need some perspective on this. Some non-Bennett perspective. I love the Bennett girls, but if there's one thing I can't talk to them about, it's my crazy attraction to one of their own.
"So, you see, this isn't the best idea," I say. "But bad ideas are so delicious and tempting."
"Like cheesecake," Kate states, nodding to her half-eaten cake and pushing her plate toward me. I dig in right away.
"The real question is how will you resist him while you live next door?" Penny pushes.
"Excellent question. My rational side says he's a great friend, and his family treats me like one of their own, so I'd better not mingle. My dark side says he's hot and single, and he'd know how to make my lady parts tingle."
The girls roar with laughter, and I join them.
"I think your dark side should win," Penny says after we calm down. "I mean, worst-case, you jump his bones and things get awkward. You'll move out anyway, and you can avoid him whenever you hang out with the Bennetts. Or you just hang out with them less."
That wipes the smile right off my face. Kate only offers a cautious smile and a shrug, and I know why. The two of us grew up without the safety net of a family, a group of people who'd love us and support us no matter what. People, who have that, like Penny, take it for granted. But I never will. The Bennetts might not be related to me, but they're as close to family as possible.
When the waiter brings us another round of drinks, I hold up my glass, and the girls follow suit.
"To hotties who make us suspect we have double personalities," I exclaim as we're toasting. Since the conversation hasn't helped my conundrum in the slightest, I'm eager to change topics, so I ask Kate about her job and her husband. Josh is truly the loveliest man on earth. Kind and gentle, perfect for my friend.
We stay out for so long that by the time I climb the staircase to my apartment, it's past midnight. I'm nearly at my door when I see Blake unlocking his.
"Fancy meeting you here again," he remarks with a smile, moving closer.
I shake my head. "This is so inconvenient. The corridor is too small, and you're far too hot."
Blake cocks a brow. "Did you drink any cocktails?"
"Nah, just estrogen overdose. I've been out with two close friends, Kate and Penny. Outings with the girls give me a high, and I'm usually prone to making rash decisions and bad choices afterward."
"Excellent news. There's a festival tomorrow evening. I want to take you to see it."
"Oh, I don't know."
"Just come with me, Clara. You'll have a great time."
"It's not a wine festival, is it?"
"No. Why? Are you afraid of drinking when I'm around?"
"You make me lower my guard even when I'm sober. So yes, I'm afraid."
"Good. You should be."
Why, that sounds like a sinful promise, and my cue that I should say no, which of course, I don't.
Instead I ask, "So what kind of festival is it?"
"Local food and crafts."
"Oooh, forgot it was so soon. I actually wanted to go."
"I know. You mentioned it a few times."
Emotion rushes through me, just as it did when I entered the apartment and found the wall painted and the bookcase in place. He isn't seducing me. He's charming me. I don't know if he's doing it on purpose, but he's thoroughly and efficiently attacking my defenses.
"I'm taking you." He says this with such determination that I have no idea how to counter. As if sensing that I'm scrambling to strengthen my defenses, Blake moves even closer, stepping right in my space, propping a hand on the door behind me. All of this is too much. The determined glint in his eyes, the arm on the wall, his closeness. I can feel the heat radiating off him. "I'll pick you up at seven, okay?"
Licking my lips, I nod. "Seven."
His eyes glint with joy and triumph. "I'll see you tomorrow."
CHAPTER EIGHT
Clara
The next evening, I'm on pins and needles as I'm preparing for the outing. I'm wearing dark jeans and a bright red sweater that molds to my curves nicely, showing just enough cleavage to entice.
Great! I'm telling myself we're going as friends, but I'm dressing to entice. I want to kick myself. At seven o'clock on the dot, Blake knocks at my door. I try to ignore the way my heart squeezes and excitement courses through me.