She guessed she could understand that.
“Watch a movie with me.”
A movie? Um, that wasn’t what she expected. She pointed at him then at herself.
“You and me, yes.” He cleared his throat, looking nervous. “Elias thought you might be okay with me taking his room in the main house.”
She nodded.
“Good.” He relaxed. “How about I grab my stuff? Won’t take me long and I’ll meet you in the living room. You choose the movie.”
Huh, and here she’d thought he would want to choose. But she’d try to choose something they’d both like.
Twenty minutes later, she was sitting on the huge sectional in the living room. She’d made a bowl of popcorn and had a movie up on the screen ready to go. Her nerves had grown to the point she felt ill.
She wished he’d just kissed her. Now she was worrying about what would happen next. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe she’d freak out. Who knew? It wasn’t like she’d ever been kissed.
She’d grabbed a blanket for armor more than to keep her warm. She held it up over her until only her eyes peeked out.
When he came in, he paused, studying her. A tension came over her as she waited for him to say something. Slowly, he walked towards her. Instead of sitting on the sofa, he pulled the coffee table over and sat on it. His legs bracketed hers and he leaned forward until she got a hint of his aftershave.
Whatever it was, it was damn sexy and it made her insides stir. She’d only ever felt this way around Xavier.
Guilt filled her at the thought of Xavier. But she shouldn’t feel that way. They weren’t anything other than friends. That was the way he wanted it. She pushed Xavier from her mind. She shouldn’t think about him while she was with Brick. It was wrong to want both men. It wasn’t fair to Brick. It would hurt him. She would never want that.
She didn’t know how Brick’s ex had been stupid enough to let him go. But Juliet wasn’t that dumb.
If he wanted her . . . if he could deal with her quirks . . . then she was going to do her best to open up to him.
He set down a hoodie he was carrying on the sofa beside her.
“Feeling nervous?”
She nodded.
“Me too.”
Her eyes widened. He was nervous?
“I’m rarely nervous. Want to know why I am now?”
Um, yeah.
His gaze hit hers. And she sucked in a breath at the intensity she saw there.
“Because even though we’ve only known each other a few days, there’s something pulling us together.” He looked off into the distance. “Linda left me bitter. Angry. I don’t want to be that person. And around you, I feel more at peace, happier than I have for a long time.”
She lowered her blanket then reached out to touch his hand with hers.
“For you, I want to be a better person.”
He was a good person. Didn’t he know that?
“Know I’m not good enough for you. I jump to conclusions, let my temper get the best of me. But I’m gonna try to be better.”
Drat, where was her stupid whiteboard?
“Even if it’s only friendship you want.”