Double Dare (8 page)

“I need coffee before I can be subtle.” Sasha yawned and put her head down on the front table in Sweet Tooth.

The plate scraped along the table as Emma slid her friend a biscuit drizzled with butter and honey. “I don’t know why subtle has to be attempted. First of all, I’m a grown woman. If I don’t want to do something, I shouldn’t be bullied into thinking differently.”

“Bullied is a strong word to use,” Abigail said.

Emma shrugged. “Encouraged. When you know it’s more effective to let me tell you how wrong you are and then let me stew.”

“She’s right.” Sasha didn’t open her eyes. “Why am I here?”

“Second, I’ve stewed.” Sasha didn’t even twitch at Emma’s announcement. “It was just mean to make her come,” Emma said.

“If we have to get up this early, so does Sasha,” Abigail said. “At least once a year.”

“It’s only fair.” Sasha yawned again. “Can we go get coffee and watch her flirt with Dark and Dangerous?”

Emma pushed the plate closer to Sasha. Abigail was already halfway done with hers. “Eat first. And why aren’t you guys wondering what I’ve stewed about? I’m being mysterious.”

“We know you,” Abigail started. “You’ve probably been thinking about Tobias off and on since you guys kissed. Then you find out he’s the owner of the business you want to work with. Plus, he’s been making eyes at you, but you haven’t stopped him in his tracks. You would have cut him at the knees by now.”

Sasha yawned again, jaws stretched before straightening. “A sure sign you were thinking about him and what you wanted to do with him.” She widened her eyes and blinked several times. “Since we’re on the subject—you guys are the reason why I can’t find a decent man.”

“How is that possibly on the subject?” Emma shook her head.

“Whoa!” Abigail put up her hands. “How did we get the blame?”

“You,” Sasha pointed to Emma, “make sure I’m fed. You,” she pointed at Abigail, “make sure my boundaries are pushed and that I’m not letting myself fall into a rut.”

“Watching naked men pose all day can turn into a rut?” Emma asked.

“I understand what a male OB/GYN feels like,” Sasha said. “The odd one might make your brows rise, but if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Anyway, at the end of the day all I need is my itch scratched.”

Her statement quieted the table. Emma shook her head, refusing to believe the theory. “Maybe you haven’t found the right man. I mean, I only cover one part of the food group. Abigail only points out what we’re doing wrong. She’s Type A through and through.”

“I tell you when you’re doing something good.” Abigail crossed her arms.

Emma scoffed. “The last time?” She added, “Without sarcasm.”

“This biscuit is delicious,” Abigail said.

“My food doesn’t count either.”

Abigail pursed her lips and then said, “You have a lot of room to find a man who picks up our slack.”

“Oh.” Sasha considered the conclusion and polished off the biscuit in two bites. “So, why do I keep finding losers?”

Abigail and Emma shared a look, and unfortunately it was Emma’s turn to tell their friend. “You only date art models,” Emma said softly.

“No, I don’t.” Sasha frowned.

“Last five, for sure,” Abigail pointed out.

“No,” Sasha said slowly, swiping up left over honey with her finger. “The last seven.”

“Seven,” both Emma and Abigail said.

“Speaking of which, how is Miguel?” Emma asked Abigail.

“We’re approaching six months.”

“Seven. Crap,” Sasha said and then shrugged. “But I’m not ready for marriage.”

“You could date,” Abigail said, because they were crossing into well-covered territory. “You currently don’t date. You sleep.”

“There’s rarely sleep.” This was said with a sly smile.

“Same difference,” Abigail said.

“There’s a difference.” Offense creased Sasha’s brows. “Sleep implies a want to be around the person longer. A desire that goes beyond sex.”

Her friends debated that point, but Emma’s gaze had been drawn out the window. From the seat she could Tobias unlocking the door to Caff-aholic. Another black shirt. The man dressed as though in mourning. He rarely laughed or smiled. Not her type, but the perfect guy to befriend, especially since they planned to become business partners. She had her friends and he had no one, yet. What would it hurt to offer something a little more between them?

The fact he probably never did anything halfway would keep them on even keel. Yeah, he desired her, Emma knew it, but he wasn’t knocking down her door to see more of her. A physical attraction was understandable but controllable. They wouldn’t indulge themselves and scratch the itch they had for each other. An urge Abigail and Sasha would likely encourage and instigate. Strong emotions wouldn’t get in the way of their relationship. If she presented the idea of being just a little bit more to him it would be, “You’re a man. I’m a woman. We’re single. How about we spend time together, you know, when we want company?”

See
, no emotion involved in that. It would be like dating, without pressure. All that dour of his would ensure no entanglements. It would be a nice change of pace to feel desired too, because Emma would bet money he wouldn’t smile if she surprised him. She’d get that
look
, and Tobias would mentally remind himself it was rude to undress her in his mind.

Settled on the plan of action, Emma scooted out of the booth, leaving her friends to argue. When the morning chill prickled the hair on her arms, she cursed. She’d forgotten his jacket again. Checking for traffic, she crossed the street to him. The heeled boots clacked against the sidewalk. She hadn’t had time to slip into flats yet.

His gaze started at the shoes then up until their eyes met. There was such an intensity to it and so much passion behind the look, it left no doubt he’d mentally taken off every stitch of her clothes. Her lips parted remembering the rough way he’d suckled her lips and tongue. A feverish heat consumed the skin his gaze brushed over. In its wake she couldn’t find the earlier bemusement at the
look
.

“Morning,” she said, breathless.

The shuttered gaze came first, and then he mentally placed her clothes back on. “Morning, Mallow.” He stepped into the store, waited for her to enter and locked the door.

“What brings you by?” He slipped his keys into his pocket.

“One friend brain dead,” she said. He started to take down chairs and she helped. “The other one can’t stem the flow of chatter. I’ve perfected the sleeping with my eyes open method.”

Efficient. He had all the chairs in place and was heading behind the counter. He was like a freight train, the kind that couldn’t stop on a dime.

“Sounds like an emergency,” he said. “Espresso. The sweetest blend I have, but nothing added. For you, a mix of regular coffee and cappuccino with all the frills.”

Was he flirting? Maybe he always had that lightness in those midnight eyes. Why couldn’t he smile and let her know?

He set to work and within minutes a bitter yet sweet tang filled the air. “How’s my brother working out so far?”

He didn’t chuckle, but she heard the tinge of laughter in his tone. “A huge help. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

He placed the espresso down. No smile, but the same intensity and passion in his gaze like before. He’d undressed her in his mind, shook his head and put the clothes back on. She glanced down. The starched white shirt was buttoned up to the top. She undid the first two buttons. No cleavage but skin. If he stumbled she’d know, because that meant he wasn’t only paying attention to details but to her. And wouldn’t it be fun to see if she could stand in front of the freight train and make it stop? Would it hurt to get singed with another one of those looks?

“In case you were wondering, today he’s coming in early to cover the store,” she said.

“So soon?” He babysat the coffee maker and didn’t turn around to look at her.

“You trained him well already. He can dance circles around me and it’s my store.”

A muscle flexed beneath the black shirt. He was turning. Emma held her breath. Something flickered behind his gaze. Tobias’ hand slowed when he placed the plain cup of coffee onto the counter. Like there was a caution sign between them, he didn’t reply, instead he began to make her cup. It wasn’t enough of a tell to know if it were the change of details or Emma.

Yeah, Emma could ask, but it had been awhile since she was the one in the driver’s seat. She’d become complacent in men asking her out. She forgot how nerves could make the steadiest of hands shake. For goodness sakes, the man had to have some sort of tell that said go ahead, ask for more. With his back to Emma again, she undid a third button and this time there was the barest hint of cleavage.

Tobias never brought up their first meeting in a sexual manner. Maybe that’s why she was obsessed with getting a reaction. Even a mature man would have at least one dirty joke in his arsenal. He didn’t give her the nickname Bare. Or Jiggle, because no amount of exercise could ever truly offset taste-testing desserts on a daily basis. No. He got stuck on the reckless part of her being naked. Not the naked kiss part of her being naked.

Seriously. After the passionate kiss he’d zipped right back into practical. He wanted to know why. The next question, given the time, would have been how. When she added up all the lack of sins it made sense why it was absolutely necessary the next time Tobias turned around he’d stumble, stare and stutter. Something had to yank him out of that calm. Then she would know if it was okay to say, “
You’re a man. I’m a woman. How about us dating as friends?
” No, not dating but being friends.

He was turning. Emma held her breath.

Tobias said, “Run him through the jargon and he’ll be set to go.” His eyes narrowed on the third button, but the rest of his body stilled. He shifted, put his weight on one foot and held her coffee. Tobias kept right on staring as though the button could confess to how it joined its friends on the open side. “Did you―”

He shook his head and placed the cup down onto the counter. He shook his head harder when it became clear he’d been focused on her chest. The price popped up on the cash register and it was Emma’s turn to frown. She checked the prices on the blackboard above his head and did the math.

“You didn’t charge me for my drink,” Emma pointed out.

He crossed his arms but the light was there in his eyes. “You didn’t have three buttons unbuttoned.”

“You counted.” She sucked in a breath and let it out before saying, “You don’t talk about the kiss.”

“You don’t talk about the kiss.” His focus centered on her lips, looked away and then up to her eyes. “I don’t encroach on another man’s territory.”

“I don’t consider myself another man’s territory. Ever.” She frowned at him. “Why would you think that?”

He shrugged. “Josh mentioned something about a lunch.”

Intrigued, she asked, “He talks?”

“Quite chatty. But, you’re not territory is noted and understood. I still like to have a couple of beers before a pissing contest.”

She paid for Sasha and Abigail’s drinks, picked up hers and took a sip. How could it be better than the last time?

“No need for beers.” Emma’s tongue lapped up the whipped cream from her top lip and gathered her courage. “Unless you plan on taking me with you. For some beers, not the latter.”

“This is a college town there is bound to be a beer joint, but I don’t like crowds,” he said.

Emma faltered because she’d lost her place in the conversation, but he ghosted a smile for a moment, and then let his face go blank again. “Mallow, would you like to go on a date?”

She schooled her face like him. “I believe it is essential we get to know each other better if we’re to be a great business duo.”

He shook his head. “I recall saying date.”

He wasn’t her type, but her stomach filled with nerves. “As friends.”

His face was still blank though his eyes held a laugh. “Friends. Yes or no?”

“Yes, Third Button.” Having succeeded, she looked at the drinks. How was she to get across the street with all three coffees? “Do you have cup holders?”

He blinked. “Right.” Tobias reached under the counter and placed the two cups in the holder.

She put in her own cup and said, “Later then.”

Emma waited until she was outside before letting the grin spread across her face. Forgetting the cup holder was better than a stumble, stare and stutter. She made him do all those things and forget. On a satisfied sigh, she entered her store.

“See, this is what I’m talking about,” Sasha said. “She leaves and comes back with—”

Emma talked over her friend, “Espresso for you. Plain for Abigail but a sweet blend.” She went to the table and put down the cup holder. Both women looked at her coffee topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

“Is that like a metaphor for how he feels about you?” Sasha asked.

“It’s how I like my coffee and it’s how you like yours,” Emma said.

Abigail took a sip. “Impressed. It is how I like my coffee. How does he know that?” She waved her hand. “Don’t care. So?”

Emma would have said they were going on a date, but the details were fuzzy. Maybe he wasn’t the only one forgetting important facts. “At some point we’ll be going out as friends.”

“What does that mean?” Sasha knocked back her espresso.

“It means there’s a sure sign of interest.” Abigail took another sip and sighed. “This stuff is good.”

Sasha worried her lip. “But if there isn’t a specific date…”

The phone rang and Emma got up from the table and jogged to it before it cut to voicemail. “Sweet Tooth Bakery. How may I help you?”

A deep timbre, with a hint of laughter reached through the phone. “Mallow, this is Third Button. We didn’t set a date.”

She cleared her throat to cover the laugh. “We did not. Tonight. Eight.”

“My place,” he said.

“Yours?”

“Yes,” Tobias confirmed. “Mine. Third Button, out.”

Emma laughed now. Without being told, she knew he wanted confirmation. “I can’t say it.”

“I’m the one completely without humor and I can do it.” He paused. “Ah, the audience, right?”