Page 26 of Help Wanted

“As a personal favor to me, I would appreciate it if you backed off.”

“I don’t remember owing you any favors.” Brady crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side. In truth, Zane had done a lot for Brady. Hopefully, one day Zane would thank him for this.

“Fine, then I’ll owe you one.”

Brady shook his head slowly, enjoying himself. “Dude, she licked her lips,” he explained. “You know what that means.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t. When I lick my lips it means they’re chapped.”

“It means a woman wants it when she licks her lips.” In some cases this was true. But not with Kenley. That was why flirting with her was completely harmless. She would never try to take it to the next level on her own. Casual office flirting was the extent of their relationship.

“And there is research to prove this?” Zane said doubtfully.

“I’ve done enough research to know.” Brady’s lips pulled up on one side. He was the devil. But it was for a good cause.

“I’m—okay. I’m calling her, got it? She’s mine.”

Gotcha.Now, he just needed to set the hook and reel Zane in. “Really?” Brady laughed.

“Yep.”

“And you’re going to act on it?” he challenged.

“I’m just waiting for the right time.”

Yeah, right. Like when? At his pace, he’d be working his moves with a walker. But this was progress. At least he’d owned up to it.

“All right. Good for you. I’ll back off.” For now, Brady added in his head. It wasn’t easy playing the part of badass when he was actually a romantic at heart. Unfortunately he didn’t have room in his life for romance. He had other responsibilities.

For now he would have to be content with casual hookups and office flirting.

* * *

Hearing the words she’s mine come out of his mouth had made Zane feel kind of lightheaded. If only they were true.

But saying it was the only way Zane could think to end the nightmare of a conversation. It had worked. Brady had given up. At least for now. The relief Zane felt with this news was pathetic.

Zane went home to pack for a trip that was unnecessary. He could have easily handled everything through phone calls and emails, but he needed to get away.

After his failed lunch with Kenley and Brady’s lesson on goals and lip licking, he came up with a strategy. If he could just stay out on the road, he might have a chance. And now, with her new system upgrade, she had given him the opportunity to do everything remotely. No need to come into the office where her presence would torture him constantly.

An even better idea came to mind. He’d been toying around with the idea of opening up another shop. He’d seen a place for sale in Ohio, on Lake Erie, that would be perfect.

It was a flawless plan, which could only mean it wouldn’t work.

Project Avoidance was interrupted by his phone. Weston Archer had been his roommate in college. While they were only about two hours apart, they rarely had the opportunity to see one another. They both worked too much to have a life.

“Hey. How’s things in Boston?”

“Good. How are you?”

“Good. What’s up?” Neither he nor Wes were big conversationalists, which made them great roommates, but made it difficult to keep in touch.

“I want to get a boat.”

“Sure. What size were you thinking?”

“Big enough that I could live on it for a few years.”