Inside Out - Lauren Dane [37]
Damn. He caught her staring. Ella knew she blushed furiously, but the slow, sexy smile he sent her took the edge off her embarrassment, warming it into pleasure. She was emotional enough after Rennie’s speech, and she’d not-so-casually looked for him, only to find him with Raven and her friend again.
She watched, her insides warming up as he shook his head to whatever they offered and looked to her, at first with surprise and then, when he’d caught her looking, sly pleasure.
“I say this because I love you. You need to bang that drum, Ella. Bang it like there’s no tomorrow,” Elise whispered into her ear.
“So romantic,” she murmured back, trying not to laugh.
“Don’t judge, El. Don’t judge. I’m gonna play rock band on my soon-to-be-husband’s body all night long.”
At this, she lost her battle and giggled, right as Cope reached her, taking her hand.
“What’s this all about?” He kissed her knuckles again, casually but sparking heat.
“Elise is giving me her secret recipe for biscuits.” She smiled widely, and he raised his brows at her.
“Must be some kind of biscuits then, by the look on your face.”
“Biscuits are serious business, Andrew. They’re irresistible, and you can never have only one.”
He drew her away from the crowd, back toward the house where it was quieter. “I really must try these biscuits. You’re clearly eating different ones than me, and while I’ve enjoyed them, I’m apparently missing out on something.”
Oh, how she wanted to be bold and say something suggestive just then. She didn’t really know how. It wasn’t that she was ashamed or anything, but she didn’t have much experience with this stuff.
“I have to tell you, the blush you’re working right now really makes me curious.”
She nearly choked; instead, she tried to smile serenely, but she probably ended up looking like she was drunk.
“What made you want to be a social worker?” he asked.
“I thought about being a doctor like my brother. But I totally suck at math and science. It’s sort of a requirement and all, so that was out by the time I needed to choose my classes for second quarter of my freshman year at the UW. I volunteered on a crisis line, and that’s sort of how it started. I thought it was a great direction. I just got . . . sidetracked for a while.”
“Would you like to go for some coffee?” Cope asked suddenly. “Looks like things are winding down here.”
Oh, that feeling was one she hadn’t felt in years. She gave herself a long moment to simply luxuriate in it, that giddy joy at being asked to coffee by a handsome man. Didn’t matter if he only meant it as a friend; it still felt awesome.
“I really would, yes. But I promised to help wrap things up here. There are little gift boxes, and I need to check those, actually right now.” She looked toward the table they were meant to be on and motioned, beginning to hurry over.
“I can help. Just point me, and I’ll do your bidding.”
“All right then.” God, he made her fluttery. “Um, come with me.” She waved at Adrian and pointed to the empty table, indicating she was going to put the little gift boxes out. He nodded.
“They’re in Adrian’s bedroom. Through here.”
“I know where it is.” He laughed. “How do you?”
She turned as she opened Adrian’s door. “How do you? Is there something you haven’t told me?”
“I don’t like that type of dude.”
Nearly choking, she turned to him. “What type of dude do you like?” He could not be gay! She’d seen him making out with women and he had been sort of romantic with her and, oh man, what if she’d misunderstood the whole thing?
He slid his thumb over her bottom lip, sending shivers through her. “I’m just teasing you. I like women. One in particular.”
She blushed and damned her skin for showing it so easily. “Oh. Well, all right, because I was wondering if all those women hanging all over you every two feet you move were overcompensation or what.”
He chuckled. “It’s not that bad.”
She turned and motioned toward the bed. “Ha! In any case, I see the platters are here.” She put the pretty