“I’m not.” Another big lie, but no way did she want Steve to think she’d be the only one in the house. “And really, Steve, it’s not your concern. We’re over.”
“But still friends.”
“Since when?”
He sighed. “I don’t blame you for being bitter. The way I treated you—”
“I’m not bitter,” she said from between her teeth. “I’m not anything—except in a hurry.”
Just then, she recognized Armie’s truck as he pulled up to the curb and her frustration mounted. She didn’t need a conflict between the two men and worse, if Armie was here to cancel on her, she’d... Well, she didn’t know what she’d do. Maybe try insisting.
But he wouldn’t be drunk now and that meant her odds of swaying him to her way of thinking were greatly diminished.
When the sound of his slammed truck door echoed over the street, she urgently wanted Steve to take off.
“I’m sorry,” she said, racking up her third lie, because she wasn’t sorry at all, “but I’m not interested.”
“Not even in a drink?” Steve cajoled. “Just for old times’ sake? Friend to friend?”
“Hey,” Armie said, looking so awesome in a snug-fitting long-sleeved T-shirt that, for once, didn’t have any provoking writing on it. Had he made that concession for her?
She’d have to tell him that she liked the raunchy sayings on his T-shirts.
But maybe later. Right now, his gaze was only on her. He didn’t even acknowledge Steve.
“What are you doing here, Armie?” She glanced at Steve and found him studying Armie, his expression hostile. “I was just heading to your place.”
Armie seemed to fight some internal battle before saying, “I wanted to follow you.”
“Why?” She didn’t want Steve to know how upset she’d been. “I’m okay.”
Pulling her in, Armie brushed a warm kiss over her mouth, rendering her mute. “’Course you are. But it’ll make me feel better. Okay?”
Spellbound by that spontaneous, casual kiss, she nodded.
And Steve suddenly exploded. “You.”
Armie smirked. “Didn’t recognize me at first? Yeah, I always figured you to be obtuse. Now beat it.”
Wait a minute. Merissa looked from one man to the other. What was she missing? “You two know each other?”
“In a way,” Armie told her.
“He,” Steve said, “attacked me!”
Merissa looked at Armie, and sighed. “Why?”
He laughed. “That’s it, Stretch? You don’t even ask if I did it?”
“No need. I can see it on your face.”
Armie tweaked her chin. “Well, you’re wrong. What I did was defend myself after his boyfriends jumped me.” Armie shrugged. “And yeah, after I finished with them I kicked his ass a little, too.”
“A little?” Steve demanded. He turned to Merissa. “You saw me! You know how bad it was.”
“When you were bedridden? Yes, I remember.” She huffed. “If you had your boyfriends—” Shoot, now she sounded like Armie. “Your friends jump him, then you all got what you deserved.”
“Why thank you, honey.”
“He was following me,” Steve insisted.
“Not exactly how it happened,” Armie told her, sounding bored. “And if you want all the deets I’ll give them to you. But if I stay next to this bozo one second more, I’m going to have to deck him. And then you’ll have blood all over your porch. You don’t want that, do you, honey?”
“No.” Merissa hiked her purse strap over her shoulder, lifted the tote bag and took Armie’s hand. “Later, Steve.”
“It might not be so easy this time, you bastard!” Steve followed them off the porch. “I’ve been working out!”
“Yeah?” Armie glanced back, his expression hopeful.
“No,” Merissa said firmly. “Keep walking.”
He didn’t.
Turning to look over her ex, Armie said, “You got some pretty muscles now, Steve-o? You wanna see how we match up?”
“Armie Jacobson, don’t you dare!” Merissa put both hands flat to his chest and pushed.
She might as well have been pushing on a brick wall.
A little panicked, she whirled around on Steve. “You’ve always been an idiot, but for God’s sake, use what little sense you have and leave!”
“Hey.” Armie’s hands settled on her shoulders. “Calm down, honey. It’s okay.”
She pivoted back to blast Armie. “I do not want you demolishing him where my neighbors might hear.”
He cocked a brow. “So that’s your only concern?”
“I live in a nice, quiet neighborhood of elderly people,” she growled. Did he actually think she still cared for Steve? “Take him apart on your own time, but not in my front yard!”
“Okay, okay. Take it easy.”
Knowing she’d overreacted and now feeling like a fool, Merissa tried to step around him.
Armie pulled her against his chest. Near her ear, he said, “I’m sorry. I would never deliberately do anything to embarrass you.”
That he would be so considerate, that he could pull his anger together so easily, amazed her. She dropped her forehead to his shoulder. “You won’t kill him?”
His rough laugh teased along her nape. “Naw. I’ll leave him intact—for now.” He set her away from him, studied her face and asked, “Okay now?”
They both ignored Steve.
“Yes, thank you.”
Steve wasn’t ready to let it go. “I looked for you. Did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t. But I wish I had.”
“Now I know who you are!”
Dark eyes glittering, Armie smiled at him. “I’ve always known who you are. Keep that in mind.”
Okay, wow. That made Merissa shiver. And when she glanced at Steve, he looked far from unaffected.
Armie took the tote bag from her, put an arm around her waist and walked her to her car. She got behind the wheel and set her purse and tote in the passenger seat.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Armie promised.
“You don’t mind that I’m coming over?”
Instead of answering that, he brushed the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. “We need to clear the air anyway.” And with that he stepped back and shut her door.
Uh-oh. That didn’t sound promising.
In the rearview mirror, Merissa watched Armie go to his truck. Steve still stood on her walkway, glaring and looking like a disgruntled bully. She didn’t like leaving him there, but her house was locked up, the security system on, so there really wasn’t any damage he could do.
When Armie started his truck, she pulled away from the curb. He followed. With every mile the anticipation ramped up and by the time they reached his apartment she’d worked herself up to a near frenzy of hyperneed and nervousness.
Dinner, she reminded herself, trying to stay on task. Armie wanted to talk, too. She needed to know what had happened between him and Steve. Then, finally, she could try getting him back into bed.