Page 13 of Love is a Game

“Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day,” he began. “We were both surprised, and we said things we probably shouldn’t have. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to start over. I don’t want things to be awkward between us. Like you said, small-town living, right? If you’re going to be around for a while, we’ll probably keep bumping into each other. What do you say?”

She gave him a sideways glance and then shook her head, smiling slightly in a way he didn’t like. Actually, he kind of did like it, even though it made him nervous.

“That was very lawyerly of you,” she said, crossing her arms.

He frowned. “What?”

“All the trimmings of an apology without ever saying the words ‘I’m sorry.’ Instead of taking responsibility for your words, you gave me a share of the guilt. Then you presented a deal as if it’s mutually beneficial, even though it offers me nothing of value. I am perfectly comfortable pretending you don’t exist while I’m here.” She cocked her head to the side and asked, “Do you want to try again, or can I get back to my shopping?”

He felt his jaw tense. Nice. Be nice. Apologize. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came. She smirked and pushed her cart past him.

“I could use your help with the Cypress Hotel,” he blurted, turning toward her. It pained him, but he added, “I’m sorry about what I said the other day, the assistant thing.”

Her cart stopped moving and she looked back at him. Her expression was skeptical, but he would take that over her usual glare.

People were starting to look at them, so he held his hands out in surrender and said more quietly, “I’m in a little over my head, and it would be stupid not to take advantage of your expertise, if you are willing.”

She took her time answering, narrowing her eyes slightly as she considered his words. “I don’t know, Andrew,” she finally said, rubbing her fingers across her forehead as if massaging away a headache.

“Don’t think of it as helping me,” he suggested. “The Cypress Hotel was good for Briar Cove. Did you know Rusty’s Diner shut down a year after it closed?”

She nodded slowly, looking down at her hands. “Yeah, I heard about that.”

“If you help me, you would be helping everyone.”

She puffed her cheeks and blew out a breath. “I do want to preserve the hotel. I just . . . It’s been a long day. I’ve been up since five. I just got back from my first visit to the Port Angeles site; the inspector I was supposed to meet didn’t even show up . . .” She looked at him and shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I will think about it, okay? Right now I’m too tired to commit to anything, especially anything to do with you.”

It wasn’t a no, which would have to be good enough.

“I understand,” he told her. “Take all the time you need.”

“So can I get back to my shopping?” she asked, gesturing for him to get out of her way.

“Right, yes.” He started toward the checkout. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”

She raised her eyebrows, confusion written across her face. “What?”

“Didn’t your mom tell you?” he asked slowly, as the realization hit him. He wanted to laugh but held it in.

“Tell me what?” she asked, a dark edge to her tone.

Andrew grinned. “She invited me over for dinner.”

Chapter Five

Andrew Price was in her house.

Sadie sat on the couch stewing, arms and legs crossed, as she watched her family welcome Andrew in. Her mom gushed over the daisies he brought for her as Tyson reached out to clasp his hand, then pulled him in for an all-too-familiar bro-hug. Julie took his jacket from him, and her dad offered him a drink. Andrew seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her, but it was only a matter of time before he’d turn that cocky grin in her direction. He was enjoying it, she could tell.

“Sadie, can you help me set the table?” her dad called, forcing her to leave her spot on the couch and join the group. “The plates are on the counter there.”

She rolled her eyes at the sight of them. The good dishes. It was too much.

Would anyone notice if she licked Andrew’s plate, she wondered? She saw Julie looking at her and set the plate down, saliva free.

As everyone moved to the table, Sadie was quick to take a seat away from Andrew. He sat next to Tyson, who was teasing him about how much he’d lost at last month’s poker game. Once the food was served, it didn’t take long for her dad to launch into one of his golf stories. Sadie ate quietly, focused on the plate in front of her. Surrounded by such a group of extroverts, she hoped she could avoid everyone’s notice until dinner ended if she just didn’t say anything.

While it seemed to be working for her family, she kept catching Andrew looking at her. She couldn’t tell if the amused smile he wore was for her or for them. Her parents were eating up his charms, which wasn’t a surprise. They liked anyone who would listen to their stories. She was surprised by how well he and Tyson knew each other. Again, she wondered why no one had told her he was back.