Page 41 of The Mr. Right Checklist

That gives me pause.

Maybe she decided not to walk her. That shouldn’t bum me out, but it does. If she didn’t walk Molly, there’ll be no note in that loopy handwriting left for me with a silly heart over the i in her name. Yes, I realize I’m a selfish bastard for even thinking that way when there are more important factors at play, but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything, and even her notes make me feel a hell of a lot.

“Hey,” Talia says as she pops into my office. “Derek and I are meeting Ben and Aurelia at Bridgette’s for dinner. Want to come?” Ben and Bridgette are two of Talia’s siblings, and Aurelia is Ben’s wife.

“No thanks,” I say tightly.

“Bad day?”

I don’t respond.

“You’re usually in celebration mode at the end of finals week.”

“Let me ask you something” comes out before I can stop it. “Let’s say you go out and have a great time with a friend, and things get a little hot. The next day he does something nice, and you go radio silent. Would you want that friend to reach out, or . . . ?” Am I really asking Talia for dating advice? “Fuck. Never mind.”

“Is this the same friend you’ve been helping every night?”

“Yes.” We leave my office and head down the hall.

“Okay, and how hot did it get?”

“I’m not in the mood for an inquisition, but not that hot.”

She grins. “You like her.”

“As a friend, yes.”

“Uh-huh,” she says with amusement. “You don’t get hot with friends.”

“Cut the shit, Tal. She’s sweet, and cute, and we have fun together. It’s nothing more than that. I just hope I didn’t make her uncomfortable.”

“Did you try to take advantage of her?” she asks as we walk out the doors to the parking lot.

“You know me better than that.”

“Exactly. So what are you worried about? She’s probably busy. You said she just started a new business.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“This isn’t like you.” Her tone turns serious. “What did you do for her today?”

“She got her first client, so I sent her some flowers that her dad used to send her. He passed away last year.”

“I thought you said you two weren’t serious.”

“We’re not.”

“A thoughtful gift like that says otherwise.”

I curse.

“You’re not a stupid man, Fletch. You know a gift like that sends a message.”

“I didn’t think about it that way.” I stop by the row of cars where Talia’s vehicle is parked. “I didn’t really think about it much at all. I was happy for her, and I wanted to do something that would make her happy.”

“Better be careful around this one. When a man like you stops thinking with his head, there’s no telling what’s next.”

I exhale frustratedly and head for my Range Rover.