I stand there, slack-jawed.
Holy crap, is he asking me out on a date?
Or is this just two neighbors hanging out?
I’m far enough removed from the dating world that I honestly don’t have any clue.
“You really don’t have to—” I stammer.
“Come on.It’s the least I can do.”He glances at his watch.“Otherwise, I’ll say no to the ornaments, and be stuck with a buck-naked tree.”
Did he really need to saybuck-naked?
And is my brain even daring to go there?Stop it, brain.It’s ridiculous how this guy has a way of reminding me that I haven’t had sex in years.
“How about I come back here at six?”he asks.“Does that work?”
“Um, sure.Yeah.That would be nice.”
“Great.”He glances at the other bags in my car filled with decorations for the party.“Do you need help getting this stuff inside?”
“No, I can handle it.Thanks for saving my noses.”
“No problem.I’ll see you in a few,” he says, backing away from me.
In a few?I glance at my watch.
Oh my God.He’ll see me atsix?That’s fifteen minutes away.I need time—time to mull this over and come up with a suitable excuse because while it’s sweet he’s so friendly, it’s almost painful being around a guy this hot without being able to act on the instinctive pull I feel toward him.
Unless…
Stepping into my house, I set down the bags on my counter and pull my phone out of my purse.
Desperate for advice, I tap in Charlisa’s number.
“Did you get the noses?”her all-business voice greets me.
“Yeah.But I have to ask you about something else.If a guy tells me he wants toget me some dinner, what does that mean?”
“What do you mean,what does that mean?”
“I mean, does that sound like it’s a date?”
“Who said he wants to get you some dinner?”
“Harris.”
“Hot guy next door?”she practically shrieks.
“Yeah.”
She pauses for a beat.“Oh my God.Is Nicholas still home?”
“No.Bryant picked him up.”
“Oh my God,” she repeats.“Whatexactlydid he say?”
“Well, I ran into him outside and he said…” I pause briefly, trying to recall his exact words.“Something like, ‘I’ll borrow your ornaments if you let me get you some dinner.’”