Her eyes widened and I put out my hand instinctively, as if she might kick me in the balls. “I didn’t mean any of that,” I groaned. “Just open the damn box already.”
Stifling a laugh, she opened the hinged cube and lifted the delicate ball chain from its tiny satin pillow. The shiny penny that had caught my eye that night in my car hung in front of her sparkling green eyes. I could see her imagination spinning as she waited for me to explain.
“It’s a good luck charm. You know, a lucky penny. I found it in my car the night of our accident.”
“I think we may have different definitions of good luck.” Her eyebrow crooked up as I took the necklace from her hands and unclasped the chain.
“You’re standing here, aren’t you?” I asked, waiting for her to turn around. She did, lifting her long hair from her neck. The skin beneath was soft and perfect. “And I’m standing with you.”
I slipped the necklace over her chest and fumbled with the clasp, my fingers too big to snap it back together. I used the opportunity to lean closer, inhaling the honey scent of her hair. “I’d say that makes me the luckiest man on Earth,” I whispered.
Her shoulders shook from a small shiver. After three attempts, the clasp finally locked in place. Avery let her hair cascade down her back, over my fingertips. It was as soft as silk, and I had to fight against the urge to slide my fingers through it.
Turning back around, she grasped the penny that hung against her chest. “That’s really thoughtful of you, Josh.”
I made a face, unsure if she was being sarcastic. “You’ve said that before.”
“I mean it.”
I shrugged, wondering if I’d made a fool of myself. “Flowers die, and we see enough of that at work. I thought this might help keep you safe, you know, when I can’t be there to pull you from the wreckage.”
She breathed out a laugh. I placed my fingers under her chin to raise her gaze to meet mine. “Penny for your thoughts?”
Her teeth raked over her lower lip. “You just … you surprise me. You don’t seem like this kind of guy.”
“What kind of guy is that?” I tried to push down the twinge of jealousy. I knew what kind of guy she thought I was and who had caught her eye first.
“Well … ” She held up the penny and peered through the hole drilled into its center. Her eyebrows pulled together. “I just didn’t see you doing arts and crafts. What’s next? Scrapbooking? Painting happy clouds?”
My grip was so tight on the steering wheel that my fingers ached. I’d never been so worried about impressing a woman. Chancing a glance at Avery, I relaxed. She was mindlessly rubbing her penny between her thumb and index finger.
“You look nervous.” I slowed to turn off Milton Avenue onto Broadbeck Street.
“Maybe I am,” she admitted, causing me to sit taller. “Not like that.” She sighed, rolling her eyes for dramatic effect.
“Like what?”
“I just … I get that this is kind of your thing. I see the way the women at work look at you, and how many you’ve gone through.”
“You think I’m just playing you? That this is all some sort of game to get in your granny panties?”
“Well, yeah—wait, what? I do not wear granny panties! Who told you that? Was it Deb?”
I chuckled. “I know I have a reputation. I’m not going to lie to you and say I didn’t earn it.” Putting the car in park, I turned to look at her as she wrung her hands together in her lap, visibly cringing. “I’ve never made any promises to anyone, Avery. Every one of those women knew what I was putting on the table.”
“You haven’t made any promises to me, either.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear the tiniest edge of hurt in her words. “I guess I’m just saying … if this is all part of the game, I don’t think I want to play. I’m not like the other nurses.”