Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter

and listened.

    Paige took a whiff of the fresh flower arrangement, trading a smile with Dylan. She’d been surprised to find him waiting in the lobby. He’d never stopped in before, and their texts had been sporadic since their last date.
    “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
    “I didn’t feel good about how our date ended last week. I’m sorry if I was—out of line.”
    His regretful tone and dreamy brown eyes gave her mood an instant lift. The gesture of flowers didn’t hurt either.
    She gave a saucy smile. “So these are apology flowers?”
    “Apology flowers . . . you’re-really-special flowers . . . can-we-go-out-again flowers . . .”
    “That’s asking an awful lot from a bunch of blooms.”
    “What can I say? I like to shoot for the moon.”
    Paige turned, setting the vase on the countertop in front of Riley’s slightly cluttered desk. It was great having him in the office. He was a fast learner, and he knew her so well he could intuit what she needed before she even asked.
    But beyond that, something seemed to be shifting in her. She found herself seeking him out sometimes, wanting his opinion or even just his reaction.
    She gave herself a mental shake. She just wanted him to feel needed and appreciated. His self-esteem had taken a huge hit. The loss of his leg weighed heavily on him, she could see it in his eyes.
    “Shoot,” Dylan said. “I knew I should’ve gone for the roses.”
    She turned, realizing he’d taken her silence for rejection, and offered a smile. “Roses are so predictable.”
    He took a step closer. “Does that mean you’ll go out with me again?”
    For some reason Riley’s face flashed in her mind, his green eyes beckoning.
    Beckoning? What was the matter with her?
    She had to get rid of these silly thoughts. And what better way than the handsome man standing right in front of her? A man who wasn’t her best friend. A man who actually seemed to be entertaining the thought of kissing her.
    “I’d like that.”
    He moved closer, the toes of their shoes almost touching. “I’ll call you next week?” His voice was deep and quiet in the stillness of the lobby.
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    The familiar tap-shuffle of Riley’s gait reached her ears before he entered the room, Bishop on his heels.
    Riley’s gaze toggled between them as the guys greeted each other. Then his eyes settled on Paige. “You ’bout ready to shut down for the night?”
    She checked her watch. They still had an hour before they had to be at the Roadhouse, but she wanted to grab a shower. “Sure.”
    Dylan nodded at Riley as he took a step back. “I should get going. I’ll call you about Friday.”
    “Sounds good.” She walked him to the door and let him out, conscious of Riley behind her. When she turned, he was staring at the flowers on the counter.
    He jerked his eyes back to her. “I’ll put the dog back, then we’ll head out.”
    She watched him go, feeling oddly torn. Then she shook her head. Stop it, Paige. You’re being weird.
    So weird. Her girlfriends had always thought it odd that she had a guy for a best friend. “Doesn’t the girl/guy thing get in the way?” they’d asked. They’d gush about how attractive Riley was and marvel that Paige didn’t even seem to notice or care.
    But lately she was noticing. Noticing the sharp turn of his angled jaw, the deep olive tone of his sun-kissed skin, the amber flecks in his pensive green eyes. His build wasn’t exactly a turnoff either, with those broad shoulders and corded arm muscles.
    She walked to the window air conditioner and turned it on. Cool, stale air blasted her warm cheeks. She leaned against the window ledge.
    It is not okay to be thinking this way, Paige Warren. He’s your friend—your best friend. He doesn’t have corded muscles or pensive green eyes.
    Except he did. And now that she’d noticed, she couldn’t seem to go back to seeing him the way she had before.
    Okay, fine. He’s a good-looking guy. He’s well