Frenemies to Lovers

Chapter Eight

Can I stop by?

TAMARAWASSOSURPRISED by the text from Andre, she replied yes before the idea of refusing ever entered her brain. They needed to talk anyway. She had to tell him they couldn’t repeat what had happened. That no matter how great the night before had been, the conflict of interest was too much. She wondered if that’s what he wanted as well. To remind her that he wasn’t the settling-down kind of guy and that the night before had been a mistake.

She’d show him that she wasn’t the Goody Two-shoeshe took her for. She could handle a one-night stand just as easily as the next person. She kept on her work clothes. The less comfortable and more in command she looked, the better. No invitation in for dinner. No sweet-talking. Just straight to the point: let’s move on.

Her doorbell rang shortly after she responded. He must have been at home or on the way when he’d texted her. She smoothed a hand over her hair, which she’d pulled back into a ponytail that day, then straightened her skirt before opening the door.

Andre stood on the other side. He wore a fashionable dark gray zip-up hoodie with matching joggers. The dark jacket opened to reveal a black T-shirt that clung to his broad chest. The pants fitted just enough to show off strong legs and make her eyes want to linger. Basically, he looked delicious. But that wasn’t what made her breath catch. The small bouquet of daisies clutched in his left hand was what did that.

They stared for a few seconds before he blinked, cleared his throat and lifted the flowers. “Hey, I saw these when I stopped to buy bread and remembered you like them.”

“You got me flowers?”

Obviously, but she couldn’t believe it. Even as their sweet fragrance drifted on the breeze. Andre had taken the time to grab a bouquet and bring it to her. Not only that. He’d remembered she liked daisies. This was not what she’d expected.

He pulled the flowers back. “Yeah. If you don’t like them...”

“No.” She all but yelled. She reached forward for the flowers. “I love them. Thank you.”

His shoulders relaxed and the uncertainty on his face disappeared. Their fingers brushed as she took the daisies out of his hand. Sparks flew from her fingertips, up her arm and across her body. He was making it hard to remember she was supposed to be saying they weren’t sleeping together again.

He took a step forward. The look on his face telling her he was about to pull her into his arms and kiss her. If he kissed her, all of her we can’t repeat what happened bravado would fly away on the wind.

“Come in,” she said quickly. She stepped back into the house.

Ignoring the flash of confusion over his features, she turned and went farther inside. Her heart beat harder with each step she took toward the kitchen. Even without hearing his footsteps, she could feel him behind her. The pull of him. The memory of him.

She put the daisies on the counter and looked beneath the sink for the vase she kept there. Andre leaned against the door and crossed his arms. His hazel eyes following her every move as she put water in the vase.

“You want to tell me why this is weird?” he asked.

“Weird? What’s weird?” She avoided eye contact by putting the daises in the vase.

“Tamara, I thought after last night we’d be okay with being honest with each other.”

She sighed and slowly turned to face him. “I’m trying not to make this weird, despite never having a last night was fun, but it won’t happen again conversation.”

His brows drew together, and he came into the kitchen. “Oh, is that the conversation we’re having?”

She put the vase on the table. Moving away from him. This would be easier if he wasn’t so close. “Yes. It’s the conversation we have to have. I’m not so much of a Goody Two-shoes that I don’t understand what last night was.”

He raised one brow, his lips twitching. “What was last night, then?”

She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “It was a one-night stand. I know you’re not the settling-down type. I’m not going to ask you to do anything you don’t want to do. Besides, there’s the issue with our jobs.”

His lips flattened into a line and his brows drew together. “Our jobs?” He sounded confused.

“Yes, our jobs. You’re the contractor on a high-profile project supported by the mayor. I work for the town of Peachtree Cove. If word gets out about what we did, then people will assume that I’m playing favorites. I don’t want to lose my job over this.”

“You aren’t going to lose your job.” He spoke easily, definitively, as if that wasn’t even a possibility.

She placed a hand on her hip. “Oh really? I’ve already got the home builders saying the town is giving your project preferential treatment. The town manager has already warned me about not giving any indication of favoritism. What do you think will happen if they find out I slept with you?”

He took a step closer. “First of all. You’re too much of a Goody Two-shoes to play favorites with anyone.” He held up a hand when she started to interrupt. “Second, it’s not slept. Not just a one-night stand. It’s when they find out we’re sleeping together. Because, despite what you’ve told yourself, I’m not looking for just a one-night stand.”

Tamara blinked. Her mind and heart racing as his words flew around in her brain. “Hold up? Then what are you looking for?”

“I didn’t come over here and bring you flowers because I want to forget what happened. So whatever you’ve told yourself about what you think I think last night means—forget it. Ask me what I think last night means and I’ll tell you.”

“What does last night mean to you?” she asked in a quiet voice.

Her palms were sweaty and her breathing shallow as she tried not to let the hope in her voice come through. To not let him see just how much she’d wanted to think last night was more because she was afraid to put her hopes in Andre only to have him push her away like he had when they were younger.

“It means the start of something new. The first time I’ve thought about a relationship or commitment in years. The first time I’ve taken my mom’s advice about learning to be okay with falling for someone seriously.”

The sparks flying through her chest made her want to jump into his arms. This was what she’d yearned for. The spark, the urgency, the flame of excitement from just being with someone. But could the spark last? Would the flame keep her warm or incinerate her?

“Andre, how can this possibly end well?”

He stilled. “Are you doubting my word?”

She stared into his eyes and searched her own heart. The man in front of her wasn’t like the kid she’d known. Andre was much more straightforward now. She didn’t doubt his word. If he said he wanted to start a relationship with her, then he meant it.

“I don’t doubt you.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly. “Then what do you doubt? Are you worried about what people will say? Because I don’t give a damn. But I understand what you mean about your job and the perception. I’m not about hiding what I do, but I also won’t make a big deal about us together. I don’t ask for preferential treatment, and you don’t dish it out. I got this job straight up before anything started between us. Anyone can question how we work together on this project, but they won’t find anything.”

He made it sound so easy. That their relationship wouldn’t be scrutinized every time an issue came up on the project. That people wouldn’t try to use it. The mayor, to push her to make work happen faster. The town manager, to make sure any request of Andre’s wasn’t bogus. But as she looked in his eyes and saw the grim determination there, she knew that no matter what happened, Andre wouldn’t leave her out there to fight these battles alone. He’d always been a fighter, a defender of those he cared about, and with the determination she saw the most important thing. He cared about her and her answer.

“I want this.” She held up a hand before he could talk. “But...”

He frowned. “But what?”

Tamara closed the distance between them and stared up into his eyes. “But, I can’t have you shutting me out if things get hard or we get questioned. I understand what happened and why you did what you did when we were younger, but if we’re going to keep seeing each other, I want to make sure that we’re honest about how we’re feeling. If either one of us wants out or thinks it’s too much, then we’ll say so.”

His shoulders relaxed and he slid an arm around her waist. “I’m not that kid anymore. If you agree to be with me, no matter for how long, I’ve got you. I won’t push you out or hold back what I’m thinking. I promise.”

She studied him for several seconds. He stared back unblinking. She believed him. Maybe it was foolish. Maybe she was making a huge mistake, but she also knew that if she didn’t explore what she was feeling for him, she’d regret that more than saying no now.

Smiling, she nodded. “So let’s do this.”

She thought relief flashed in his eyes. Had he been worried she’d say no? The thought touched her heart. Mr. Cool and Aloof did have a heart. And he was trusting her with it. Tamara leaned up and kissed him. Her stomach fluttered, from excitement, nerves or both she didn’t know. She had a sneaking suspicion that her life was about to turn upside down.