“My house isn’t even remotely on your way home. You mean to tell me that my mother expected you to drive all the way out here for a six-dollar pie dish?”
He merely watched her, somehow managing to look both amused and disinterested. “No. I volunteered,” he said simply.
“Why would you do that?”
“To spy on you and Romeo, of course. Who was he? Accountant? Chiropractor? Does he supply the retainers for all your snaggletoothed teens?”
Brynn gave a small, secretive smile as though the thought of Evan got her juices flowing. “He was a lawyer. Very rich. Very handsome.”
Will snorted, and followed her into the kitchen. “He sounds absolutely riveting. How was the kiss?”
“That’s some pretty thorough spying,” she said in response.
Brynn pulled
down two wineglasses even as she told herself that he would absolutely not be staying. “Why are you here? And no more crap about my pie dish. I’m not really in the mood for company. I’m tired, cranky, and sort of…”
“Horny?”
“I was going to say pissed that you’re in my home, unexpected, without asking. If you’ve come to apologize about our…episode, let’s get it over with and then you can leave.”
He frowned and stepped closer. “Why the hell would I be apologizing? I don’t apologize for fucking, Brynn. Not when the woman is as willing as you were.”
A blush crept over her face. She had been willing. More than willing.
“You’re not seeing him again,” Will said.
“What? Who?”
“That idiot who was stupid enough to leave after one kiss.”
“The Neanderthal routine doesn’t suit you, William. What can you possibly care about who I date?”
The expression that flashed over his face might have been hurt, but it was gone before she could identify it. “Did that night mean so little to you, Brynn? You’re already looking for your next conquest?”
She looked at him more closely. “Aren’t you? Wasn’t what happened between us just the latest move in the power game we play?”
And then she saw it again. It wasn’t just hurt. It was vulnerability. Had that night mattered to him? Did she matter to him?
“Never mind,” he said roughly. “I’ll be going. I didn’t mean to intrude upon your post-date euphoria.”
The moment had passed and damn if she didn’t want it back. “No, Will, wait.” She reached out a hand but stopped before she touched him. “Can’t we just…can’t you…”
“What?” he asked, watching her intently. “What do you want?”
“I…I just wanted to make sure that you hadn’t told anyone about us.”
His eyes went colder than she’d ever seen them. “No. Not a soul. You weren’t worth the bragging rights.”
That stung, but she didn’t let herself swipe back. “You should go. And I’m sick of skipping my own family’s dinners so that we can avoid each other. Maybe you could miss one once in a while?”
Will gave her a disgusted look. “Exactly how old are you, Brynn?”
She blushed but stood her ground. “Look, I know it’s immature, I just…I can’t see you after knowing that we…”
She shuddered a little at the intensity of the memory, and saw immediately that he misinterpreted the reaction as disgust.
“All right. If that’s what you want.”