“Hannah!”
Seth looked no different than he had in New Jersey—long hair, leather jacket, stormy eyes—except that he wore dark jeans and boots instead of dress slacks and oxfords. I didn’t let my gaze linger over how well Seth’s clothes fit.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
That stopped him cold.
“Seriously?” he said. “You’re still pissed?”
“I am not pissed.” I enunciated each word. “I haven’t thought about you since last month. But this is where I work.” I gestured to the agency. “Which I think you know. So I believe this qualifies as stalking.”
Seth cocked his head and smiled. He approached warily, hands in the air.
“I’m in town for a gig.”
“Great. I’m in town for my job.” I turned to go and Seth reached to stop me, but he paused midreach. Wise. I glared at his hand and he retracted it. “What do you want?”
“I thought we could get dinner. Sometime. Since I’m in the area.”
“No.”
“What the hell?” Seth raked a hand through his hair.
My heart softened slightly at his legitimate confusion. The Sky brothers weren’t lacking in the beauty department, and Nate and Matt had brains to spare, but Seth …
Seth was either dense or so egomaniacal that he couldn’t fathom being friend-zoned.
“I’m sorry, Seth. I just think it’s better if we don’t hang out.”
“Why?” He glowered at the sidewalk. “Nate said you’re going to the zoo with him in the spring. Why won’t you hang out with me?”
I balked, momentarily speechless. Weird … I couldn’t picture Nate sharing those plans.
“Uh, the zoo thing is tentative,” I said. “Very tentative. And Seth, that’s different. Nate is … Nate. Nate has a wife, kids…” I trailed off, looking meaningfully at Seth.
“So? Are you implying that I have ulterior motives?”
“Not implying anything.”
“So what’s the problem? What if I do have ulterior motives? You’re gorgeous, you’re funny and smart, and I want to take you out.”
“It’s not happening, Seth.”
“Never?” He glared at me.
“Never. Sorry.”
“Then we’ll be friends. Let me take you to dinner. Bring a friend if you want.”
I could see that Seth wasn’t going to give up, and I was beginning to feel cruel. What could he really do to me over dinner? Nothing, except bore me or hit on me. Or both.
Besides, I didn’t believe Seth really wanted me. To him, I was Matt’s old flame, available yet unattainable, and my resistance was probably fueling his pursuit. Maybe if I gave in to a dull dinner, he’d give up, too.
“Dinner.” I sighed. “Tomorrow night?”
His dark eyes lit up. “All right, tomorrow night.”
“Meet me at Cherry Creek. Seven okay?”
“Seven is fine.” Seth’s face fell. “The mall?”
“Yeah. They have a nice food court. I’ll meet you outside Macy’s.”
I bounded up the steps before Seth could object.
*
“Han, I am so hot for this guy.” My sister fanned herself as she drove. “Like if I were a dude, I’d be gay for this guy. That hot.”
“I don’t think that’s … quite how homosexuality works,” I murmured. My hands twitched on my lap. I was fighting the urge to steady the wheel.
“Whatever, whatever.” Chrissy turned up the music—Goldengrove, of course—and raised her voice to compensate. “Just let me work my magic! You have your—”
She glanced at me as we pulled up to the shopping center. I was wearing a loose turtleneck sweater dress, leggings, and boots. Nothing sexy about it.
“Okay, you have your frock going on there. I’m working this.” My sister gestured to her chest. Her tight leather jacket was unzipped enough to show a line of cleavage. She looked good, as always. Her short hair was styled perfectly, her makeup flawless, her clothes fit snugly.
We laughed as we climbed out of the car.