Chapter 10
Morgan
So far, operation seduce Reina had a business feel to it. We talked about the fire investigation, the renovation, and her parents. It wasn't intimate. She could be talking to anyone about this topic.
I didn't think I needed advice from Cooper, but maybe I was wrong. I usually picked up a woman I didn't already know. We weren't already friends. This dynamic with Reina was so different from anything else.
I was at a loss for how to turn this into something else. I even tried brushing against her while we were setting the table, but she just laughed about how I couldn't seem to maintain personal space. Wasn't she affected by my presence?
Maybe I'd misjudged this situation. That one time she looked at my chest was an accident. She would have looked at anyone that way. I wasn't special.
We ate dinner while the sun was setting.
Reina's gaze was on the mountains. "It's so beautiful here."
"You think you'd want to move out of your apartment and get a place like this?"
"It makes more sense for me to be close to the bakery. I have to get up so early. I wouldn't want to commute." She smiled and the light of the sunset reflecting on her face was more beautiful than the sunset itself. "You must spend a lot of time out there."
I shifted so I could see her view. "I'm usually working late, or I grab a beer with my brothers, then go to bed early to do it all over again the next day."
She shifted her gaze from the sky to me. "Maybe we both need to slow down and enjoy our surroundings more."
"Maybe." But I was looking at her instead of the sunset.
"You're so lucky to have Maverick as a brother. I bet he gave you a good deal on this patio."
I stood up and turned on the water feature that Maverick insisted I install. The water sputtered and then shot out, spilling over the rocks.
Her eyes widened. "I didn't know you had that."
"I don't use it." I sat down again.
Her gaze followed me. "Why not? I'd have it on all the time."
I shrugged. "It's just me here."
She crossed one leg over the other. "You never bring women here?"
I shook my head. "Nope."
Her brows rose. "Really?"
"I've never been into anyone enough to bring them to my home. That feels personal."
Her nose wrinkled. "I'm here."
"That's different." Too late I realized that comment wouldn't move me out of the friend zone.
She tipped her head to the side. "Because I'm Tom's sister?"
"You're important to me." But it had nothing to do with Tom. It was because of the feelings I'd had since I rescued her from the fire. I felt this protectiveness toward her. A tenderness I'd never felt for anyone before, not even my family.
Her eyes flashed with an emotion, maybe surprise, before she quickly schooled her features. She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair. "I think I'll spend every night out here until I move back home."
Her eyelashes were long against her cheeks, her blond hair shimmering in the remaining light.
Her skin was tan, and her legs were long in cutoff shorts.
She'd crossed her arms over her breasts, effectively pushed up in her white tank.
She was dressed casually for a night at home, but I'd never seen her look sexier.
She started kicking one leg, and I was momentarily distracted by the smoothness of her thighs pressed together.
"Are you watching me?"
I startled. "Of course not."
She laughed. "I could feel your gaze on me when my eyes were closed."
"That's ridiculous." How could she know?
She smiled softly. "You know, if you want to invite someone over, or go out on a date, you don't have to worry about me. I'll make myself scarce."
Is that what she wanted? "I have no desire to date right now. You're here, and I'm focused on the bakery. The business was more important than any personal life. This time is short, and we're going to put all our energy into making it a success."
Her brow furrowed. "But your brothers are all dating."
"I'm not ready to settle down." This thing with her wasn't about that either.
I was attracted to her, and I wanted her.
That was different than wanting forever with someone.
I doubted I'd ever want someone like that.
I liked living alone, but now that she was here, I was starting to think I preferred company.
But maybe it was just her. "What about you? You dating anyone?"
I would have assumed if she was seeing someone, he would have been at the hospital. But maybe he was a jerk. The thought of her dating someone made my stomach tighten.
She laughed. "I don't have time for a social life. I have early wake-up calls, and I go to bed at the same time as a toddler. No guy wants to deal with that."
"The right guy won't see it that way." She wasn't something to be dealt with. She was someone to be desired. I was so mixed up.
"I guess I'm not ready for a relationship right now either.
You're right about the business being time consuming.
Not everyone gets it. Why work so hard when you're barely turning a profit?
But I know how good it can be. Businesses can be a way for financial independence, not only for me but any family I might have. That's very attractive to me."
"You want to build generational wealth?" I asked, impressed by her desires.
She nodded. "I want the money for myself, but I want to create something that outlasts me. That supports not only me, but my family and everyone who comes after. I want a legacy."
I got tingles listening to her. "You're impressive, you know that?"
She shook her head. "I wouldn't tell my parents any of that. They don't get it. They understand steady paychecks and guaranteed health insurance. Not investing in something without a guaranteed return."
"I don't remember Tom being so black-and-white."
She gave me a look. "Tom who's in the military and thrives on rules and regulations?"
I chuckled. "You might be right about that."
The breeze was cool now that the sun was setting, and the sound of the water fountain was lulling me into a state of complacency. But I was supposed to be seducing her, not putting her to sleep. "Do you want to relax and watch a movie?"
She pouted. "I don't want to go inside."
I grinned. "Then you're in luck. I have a screen out here, but I've never had an opportunity to use it."
Her eyes widened. "Wow. Maverick thought of everything."
"He insisted that one day I'd thank him for everything he put out here. I didn't believe him until now." She clearly enjoyed everything he'd built.
She stood. "I'll help you clean up."
She seemed eager to get to the movie watching, and I was pleased I'd thought of it. We'd have to cuddle under a blanket together. It was the perfect date-like activity that I could pass off as an innocent roommate thing to do.
Cooper was right about our roommate situation lending itself to the perfect close-proximity encounters. I couldn't interact with her the same way in a crowded bar. And there was no one to interrupt us.
When the plates were in the dishwasher and the grill brushes washed, I grabbed a few blankets and took them outside. There was a large sectional on the patio across from the screen. I pressed the button to let it come down, and Reina gasped even though she knew it was coming.
"This is amazing."
I inclined my head toward the couch. "Get comfortable while I get everything ready."
She sat on the cushion, folding her legs underneath her. Then she arranged a blanket over her lap. Hopefully, we'd be under the same one. I didn't come this far to misstep.
Almost touches and proximity were the plan for now. Eventually, those almost touches would turn to real ones. I just needed to be patient.
I moved the outdoor heater closer and turned it on. Then I went inside to grab waters, a bottle of wine with glasses, and some candy I kept for movie nights. I loved popcorn and candy, creating the perfect movie experience, but I wasn't sure if she did.
I took the candy and drinks outside, setting them on the coffee table. "Did you want popcorn?"
"Of course," she said.
"I'll be right back then." This time, she followed me inside and watched while I pulled out my popcorn machine and a bowl. I grabbed kernels, oil, and salt. We'd have to share popcorn from a single bowl, our hands brushing against each other.
By the end of the night, I hoped she was thinking about me touching her everywhere. I might have been getting ahead of myself. But my time with her was limited. Any day, she could tell me that she found a place and was moving out. I needed to make my house the place to be.
I turned on the machine and waited for the first kernel to heat, then pop. She moved around the counter to stand next to me. "You said you never have anyone over, but you have candy and a popcorn machine."
I waited for the machine to turn off, then added melted butter and salt to the cooked kernels. "I guess I thought my brothers would spend more time here. But since I bought the place, everyone has been busy, and we usually gather at my parents'."
She grabbed the bowl, not bothering to ask for a separate one for herself, and we headed outside. I opened the bottle of wine and poured some for both of us. Then I settled next to her under the blankets, and she cradled the bowl on her lap.
"Now for the hard part. Picking a movie," I teased as I grabbed the remote.
"I want something filled with action."
"I like how you're thinking." It meant her focus would be on the fast-paced film and not me, but I couldn't exactly ask for a romance; she'd figure out my plan. This was supposed to be a subtle seduction, not a hit you in the face one.
She grinned at me, and my heart tripped over itself. I hadn't prepared myself for what it would mean to be this close to her.
She was Tom's sister. What was I doing? I felt hot and tingly all over as I mindlessly flipped through the available options.
When Reina asked to watch one, I obliged and set the remote aside.
"Are you okay?" Reina asked, probably noticing that I wasn't eating the popcorn.
"Yeah." I shifted on the cushions, bringing my thigh alongside hers. Then I reached for the popcorn, my fingers brushing hers.
We watched the movie in silence, munching on popcorn and sipping the wine. When the popcorn was gone, I took the bowl from her and opened the chocolate mints.
I dumped a few in her palm. "These remind me of the theater."
I dropped a few in my mouth. "That was the idea."
"They're hit-or-miss though. Sometimes you get one that's hard."
"I like them soft."
She smiled over at me as if we shared some kind of secret. But she wasn't my childhood best friend or crush.
This was my chance to see if we were attracted to each other. If the chemistry I felt was two-sided.
The movie was picking up, and we refocused our attention on the screen. Maverick had installed speakers throughout the space, and I could feel the thump of the music as it got louder.
Reina snuggled into the blankets, her head resting on my shoulder. "This is the perfect night. First the sunset and then this."
"I'm glad you're enjoying it." Was she comfortable putting her head on my shoulder because she saw me as a friend?
The thought made my heart squeeze painfully.
This wasn't going exactly as planned. I thought this was the perfect romantic evening, and she was more entrenched in the friend zone than ever.
When the credits rolled, I realized I hadn't paid any attention to the plot. Instead, I was hyperaware of her touching me, the weight of her body, and the tickle of her hair.
She moved before I did and stretched. "I'm exhausted."
"You can go to bed. I'll clean up."
Her forehead wrinkled. "Are you sure?"
"You're my guest, remember?"
She stood and folded the blanket. "I can take a few things in."
Once the food was inside, I rolled the screen up and turned off the heater.
Inside, she stood in the kitchen, sipping water. "Thanks for a nice evening."
"You're welcome."
"You don't have to avoid me, but you don't have to show me a good time either. We're roommates. Friends."
My heart contracted at the word friends. "Of course."
Her smile was soft. "I had a nice time though."
My throat tightened, and I couldn't form a response.
She gave me one last look before she said, "Good night," and then she took her glass upstairs.
I sighed; it hadn't gone exactly as planned. She had a good time but needed to put up that boundary that we were just roommates. Was that her way of telling me she didn't want anything to do with me?
I wasn't ready to give up yet. Maybe she wasn't even thinking about me the way I thought about her. We were on two separate pages, and I needed to get us on the same one.
Living together was supposed to give me an advantage, but all it did was put me in the dreaded friend zone.