“Sounds reasonable.”
“This looks amazing.” I sit across from him and look at the pile of food on my plate. “I’ll never finish this.”
“Just eat what you want.”
I dig into the macaroni and cheese and don’t miss the way Alek is squirming in his chair when I give a long, appreciative moan. I do it again with the ribs. When the hell did I become such a tease, but more importantly, am I doing it because I want something to happen between us?
Yeah, I think I am.
Get it, gurl.
Okay, who’s voice was that and where did it come from? I chuckle and Alek’s head lifts.
“What’s funny?”
“When did you arrive in town?” I glance around the immaculate home. “Just today, or are you a neat freak?”
He laughs. “Last night, actually.”
I nod. “How long are you staying?”
He glances at his food and puts his fork down, like he’s suddenly lost his appetite. What did I say?
“You don’t have to answer,” I say. If he wants to keep things impersonal, I can too.
“No, it’s just that I have to be back in Boston in a couple of weeks for Kaylee’s birthday.”
This time it’s my appetite falling off the cliff. “Oh, your girlfriend?” I ask causally as I fork coleslaw into my mouth. Wait why is he grinning at me like that.
“You sound jealous.”
I make a ridiculous snorting sound. “That’s crazy. I don’t even know you.”
Oh, but you want to, Alyssa.
There’s that weird voice again.
“Kaylee is my four-year-old niece, going on sixteen and I have no idea what to get her. She kind of has everything.”
“She sounds like a handful.”
“Oh, she is, but she’s so sweet.”
“Why don’t you want to go back, then?”
He groans. “My folks. They’re going to be on my case if I show up alone. Like I said, they want me settled and giving them grandkids.”
“Ah, I get it.” Marrying and having kids is not on his bucket list. I’m not sure if it’s on mine either. The only eligible men in this town are scooting around in electric wheelchairs, or are sporting canes.
“For the record, Aly, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
It’s a shocker really, considering how good looking he is, but looks aren’t everything. Truthfully, I could see him being single if he was a complete jerk, but I’m not seeing that side to him either. Maybe he was hurt in the past and is off relationships.
“So this bucket list of yours,” he says. “What else is on it?” I study his face, as he nibbles on a juicy rib.
“It’s a big one. It’s all written in my journal at home. Do you have one?”
“Actually, no. I never really think that far ahead into the future.”