Montana Passions. Allison Leigh

out.” She almost said more. Meaningless chatter. About the warming trend. About how she liked to walk whenever the weather permitted. But she didn’t. His eyes didn’t invite chitchat. “Justin, what—?”

      He cut in before she finished. “Who was that guy you were talking to inside?”

      Her heart warmed. So that was the problem. He was jealous. “Cam? He’s only a friend. Honestly. A friend…”

      His mouth twisted into something meant to look like a smile. “Not that I had any damn right to ask.”

      She looked at him levelly. “If you were wondering, then I’m glad you asked. It’s important that we both feel we can say whatever’s on our minds.”

      “Is it?” He lifted a dark brow at her.

      She blinked. “Now what is that supposed to mean?”

      He shrugged. “Nothing.”

      Untrue and she knew it. It was very much something. She could see it in his eyes.

      But before she could open her mouth to pursue the issue, he spoke again. “Will you have dinner with me?”

      There was only one answer to that one. “I’d love to.”

      “Where would you like to go?”

      He sounded so…formal. As if she was some stranger.

      It came to her that she didn’t want to go and sit in a restaurant with him. Surrounded by other people, she wouldn’t feel she could really talk to him. And she needed that, to feel free to talk. This new distance between them scared her a little. She wanted, with all her heart, to bridge it.

      And then again, was this feeling of distance really all that surprising? They’d found a rare and thrilling intimacy, just the two of them, in the museum. But she had to remember that they’d known each other less than a week. The attraction had been immediate and the forced proximity had made it possible for them to grow close very fast.

      And then he’d returned to his life and she’d gone back to hers.

      No. She had to expect that things would be a little awkward, now they found themselves face-to-face again at last.

      She intended to eliminate the awkwardness, to break down any and all barriers between them. That would be easier if they were alone.

      “Tell you what? Let’s just go to my place. How about fried chicken and oven-browned red potatoes, would that be all right?”

      He frowned. “You’re sure?”

      She stepped back, a half laugh escaping her. “Justin. What’s not to be sure of?”

      He hesitated a moment longer. But finally, he agreed. “Well, all right, then. Let’s go.”