After the hot-as-fuck phone sex though, he couldn’t get Libby out of his mind. He really liked her. Even though they’d spent a good portion of their time together so far having sex, his gut told him they were compatible, not just in bed, but in life.
Granted, he’d thought the same thing once before with Veronica, and she’d burned him and left the scars behind. He’d spent the last three years trying to get on with his life. It didn’t help that Libby had such a strange relationship with her parents, especially her mother. It made the hairs stand up on the back of his neck every time he remembered her telling him about them.
It’s not the same, he told himself over and over. She’s not Veronica. He’d begun to think he was simply being paranoid, but there were uncanny similarities between the two situations. Every time Jason had suggested meeting Veronica’s parents, she’d blown him off. Libby was doing the same thing. Keeping him a secret. He would not play that game again. He’d been burned before. Not again.
When Jason knocked on the door to Libby’s townhouse at seven, a cute blonde answered. He recognized her from Trent and Destiny’s wedding. She smiled shyly and backed up to let him in. Her pale cheeks turned red. She licked her lips several times. “Libby will be right down. She’s just finding her shoes.”
“Good. Christa, right?”
She tucked a lock of pale blond hair behind her ear and nodded. “Yes. We met at the rehearsal dinner.” She backed up toward the couch. “Come on in.”
He followed her, glancing around at their townhouse. Their condo was two-stories with the kitchen and living room downstairs and probably two bedrooms upstairs. “I remember.” He smiled at her. Damn, she’s shy. “So, you live here with Libby?”
“Yes. I moved in after Destiny moved out. The rent is better than the place I was renting on my own.” She pointed at the kitchen counter where he noticed three narrow vases, each containing a single rose. “The roses are very romantic. I wish someone would send me roses.”
He frowned. Did she think he sent them to Libby? “I didn’t send roses.” He stepped closer to the counter and stared at them. “What made you think they were from me? Didn’t they have a card?”
“Uh…no. You didn’t send them?”
Footsteps made Jason lift his gaze to find Libby descending the stairs on the other side of the living room. She was holding a pair of heels in her hand as she rushed toward him. “Sorry. Couldn’t find my shoes.” She held them up.
“No worries.” He lifted a brow at her, wondering why she was so flustered.
“Uh, Libby,” Christa said, “Jason says he didn’t send the roses.”
Libby’s eyes widened. “Seriously?” She shifted her gaze toward the vases.
“No.” He shook his head. There was no reason to be pissed. Especially since she had no idea who sent them. But his chest tightened, and he hoped to God there was nothing to read into it.
“Yikes.” Christa winced.
Libby bit into her bottom lip and eased past him to touch one of the roses as if that would give her answers. “That’s beyond weird.”
“When did they come?” he asked.
“Saturday morning after I ran into you Friday night. Monday morning before I left for work. And this morning after I spoke to you. I just assumed…” Her voice trailed off.
“That’s a lot of attention from a mysterious admirer,” he pointed out, not wanting to sound accusatory. This isn’t her fault.
“Maybe they’re from your date Friday night?” Christa suggested.
“Eddie?” Libby turned back around. “That seems so unlikely. When he dropped me off, I gave him no indication I was interested in seeing him again. He hasn’t tried to contact me, either.”
Jason could feel his brow furrowing. He’d been in the Army, specifically with Delta Forces, long enough to scrutinize things in the civilian world with an irrationally doubtful eye. They’re just roses, Hatch. Not a bomb.
“Do you know what florist they’re coming from?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I haven’t paid attention.”
“If you get another one, get the delivery driver’s card. I’ll go in and find out who’s ordering them.”
Libby swallowed. “You think it’s a big deal?”
He lifted a brow. “I don’t really care if it’s a big deal or not. I’m not fond of some guy sending roses to the woman I’m dating.” If he sounded cocky, he didn’t care.
Libby smiled and reached out to wrap her small hand around his biceps. “I’ll find out,” she murmured before lifting onto her toes and kissing him briefly on the lips.
He blew out a breath as he cupped her face and held her gaze. He needed to shake off the uneasy feeling about her admirer and enjoy their evening.
Finally, Libby leaned down to put her heels on, and then she righted herself, blowing out a breath and smoothing her palms on her dress. She was breathtaking. The dress was white and fit snugly across her breasts and waist. It flared out over her butt, the looser material hanging halfway down her thighs.
She turned to Christa. “Not sure when I’ll be back.”
Christa smirked as she nodded. “Shocking.”
Jason was slightly surprised at her snarky reaction since she’d barely managed to make eye contact with him. He stared at her for a second, wondering what Kraft might think of her. The man loved natural blondes. That was a fact. He might have even danced with her at the wedding reception. But Jason hadn’t been paying close attention to anyone but Libby.
Christa continued. “I work early tomorrow, so I’ll see you in a few days probably.”
“’Kay.” Libby leaned in and kissed her friend on the cheek. Afterward, she grabbed her small purse and a white sweater from the couch and met Jason’s gaze.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
He glanced back at the roses before following her across the room. After stepping outside, he set a hand on the small of her back. When they reached his SUV, he opened the door and then gave
