Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men, #1)(70)

He stared at me a moment longer as if he wanted to say more, something probably meaningful enough to knock me on my butt, but he cleared this throat and glanced down. Seeing the book in his hand, he handed it across the table to me. “Anyway...here. I think I can officially say I’m addicted to Harry Potter. Sarah and I couldn’t wait to borrow The Goblet of Fire. We bought our own copy and started it yesterday.”

I cleared my throat, trying to catch up with the one-eighty he’d just taken in our conversation. “Wow.” I swiped at my cheeks to make sure they were dry—which they were, thank you, God—before I took The Prisoner of Azkaban back. “You and Sarah are just cruising through the series. I’m impressed.”

“That going-back-in-time scene was really cool. I couldn’t put it down.”

Grinning, I hugged the hardback to my chest. “It was always one of my favorites too. Especially when they saved Buckbeak.”

“I ended up reading it twice. Once when I read ahead, and then again when Sarah wanted it read to her.” His eyes warmed as he smiled. “Which reminds me…”

He half stood so he could slide his hand into the front pocket of his jeans and dig something out. Curling his fingers around whatever he’d retrieved, he grinned mischievously enough to make me suspicious as he sat back down.

I leaned in slightly. “What do you have there?”

His lips spread wider. “Something for you. I had it made. This guy I know takes an advanced metal crafting class and put it together.”

Totally not expecting that, I straightened. “You did what?”

He extended his hand and uncurled his fingers. “I know it’s pretty crude, but I thought it might fit on your bracelet.”

A tiny silver charm blinked up at me in the sunlight. My mouth fell open. His friend had somehow crafted the Harry Potter logo, making the initials H.P. with the lightning bolt in the P and everything. To me, it didn’t look crude at all. It looked perfect.

“Oh, my God.” I took it from his fingers with gentle reverence. “This is amazing, Mason.”

“He almost ruined the surprise on Sunday when he called during Sarah’s birthday party to tell me he was done. I’d been hoping he’d finish before then.”

I glanced up, shocked to learn that call had been about a surprise for me…not a client setting up an appointment. And here, that had been one of the biggest deciding factors I’d had for telling Ethan I would—

I shook my head, not wanting to think about that right now. Mason had ordered a present to be made especially for me.

“I had one made for Sarah too. Yours was actually the prototype. So I think it might contain a few more mistakes.”

“What mistakes?” I shook my head as I used the tiny hook that had been made to attach it to my bracelet. “It’s flawless.” I held my wrist up so I could see all the charms dangle. The HP was by far my favorite. I looked up with a big goofy grin, my heart full of affection. “Thank you.”

He opened his mouth to answer when someone sat on the bench seat beside me. I wasn’t expecting Eva today, but when I turned, I thought it would be her.

Ethan’s face totally caught me off guard. He grinned. “Hey.”

I fumbled. “Umm. Hi…Ethan.” A blush hit me so hard I could feel it spread from the roots of my hair all the way down my neck. “I…I’m not used to seeing you on a Friday.”

He chuckled. “I know. But I saw you over here and thought I’d say hi.” Then he glanced across the table. “Hey, Mason.” Giving a friendly wave, he seemed nothing but congenial and courteous.

And yet Mason reacted as if he’d been flipped the bird. “Riker,” he bit out in a tense voice, pulling back slightly in his seat to send a suspicious, narrow-eyed stare back and forth between us.

“Oh! You two know already each other?” I blurted out, wanting to keep things as kosher as Mason obviously didn’t want them to be. “Great. That saves me from making introductions because obviously…I forgot to make introductions.” I snorted at my own lame joke, revealing just how nervous I was.

Ethan grinned like a gentleman, but Mason looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. My grin died a quick, painful death.

“So, I’m really excited about tomorrow night,” Ethan went on. “And I forgot to ask: Was there anywhere special you wanted to go?”

“Umm…” I bit my lip, desperately trying to ignore the way Mason swung his head to gape at me. Color leeched from my face, and I grasped for reasonable thought. But why did I suddenly feel…awful?

“No,” I croaked. “I can’t think of anything. Just…wherever is fine. I’m not too familiar with Waterford yet.”

“Great.” Ethan’s smile was slow and pleased. “I have a couple places in mind.” He glanced at his wristwatch and let out an impatient breath. “I have to get to class. See you tomorrow.”

He stood up just as quickly as he’d sat down. Then he bent toward me and stamped a quick kiss to my cheek before I even realized what he had planned.

“Whoa!” I blurted out and leaned away, even though he’d already pulled back.

He paused to squint his eyes at me questioningly. I flushed and opened my mouth to apologize. But the waves of anger coming across the table from Mason made me stop. With a tense smile, I said, “See you tomorrow.”