“What are you interested in being?” I let my arms fall to my sides and start walking toward her.

“Nothing,” she lies, avoiding eye contact.

“I told you I don’t like playing games.” I stop when we’re toe-to-toe and she shifts nervously.

“I’m not playing a game,” she whispers.

I grin.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because I’m starting to think this game might be fun.” I lift my hand and touch my fingers to the underside of her jaw, hearing her sharp intake of breath. “I’ll be in touch.”

“What?” she asks as I step out of the apartment.

“See you around, Mouse.”

“Clay,” she calls to my back then shouts, “I’m not playing a game.”

“I know,” I shout back over my shoulder then hear her make a frustrated sound right before the door slams.

Yeah, this might be fun.

Chapter 6

Willow

WITH MY FEET aching due to the heels I chose to wear today, I take a seat at my desk and start up my computer so that I can log out of the banking’s online system and shut down my desktop. Like most Mondays, the day was busy from the time the bank opened until I walked out the last client and locked the doors behind them just minutes ago.

“Hey.”

At the sound of Carly’s voice, I lift my head and watch her smile, looking unsure as she steps into my office. “I wanted to come check on you. We haven’t had a chance to talk all day and I felt horrible after we hung up yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t walk you out. I should have done that.”

“I’m good, and no need to feel bad,” I reassure her with a smile.

“You got home okay, right?”

“Yeah,” I leave out the part about waking up in Clay’s bed because each time I think about that, his statement about wanting me in his bed comes to mind, and I just can’t go there.

“Okay.” She frowns. “We really overdid it.”

“Apparently,” I mutter, and she laughs, seeming more relaxed than she was just a few seconds ago. “So how did things go with Matthew?”

“Good.” She smiles, ducking her head. “We spent the day in bed yesterday, then had dinner last night.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah, I think he’s coming over this evening and we’re going to go out.”

“Wow, he’s not messing around.”

“I guess not,” she agrees, blushing. “Do you want to go out with us? I think we are going to do karaoke.”

“Sorry, I can’t. Brodie is heading out of town, and I need to meet up with him because I’m keeping Jeb while he’s away.” Even if I didn’t have actual plans, I still wouldn’t go, not after what happened Saturday night. I hate that I can’t trust her now, but that’s one thing Clay and I can agree on. Women should always stick together when they are out because you never know what could happen.

“He’s lucky you are nice enough to keep his dog for him every time he goes out of town.”