It Started with a Snap by Piper James

Chapter Seventeen

Ember

My heart stopped. My face flushed hot. And I inhaled a chunk of the French fry I’d been in the process of swallowing when Ethan Perry smiled at me.

The change in his demeanor was devastating. But I only had a fraction of a second to appreciate it before I was choking, attempting to cough up the food blocking my airway.

Ethan’s palm pounded against my back, and the piece of fry flew out of my mouth, landing on the countertop in front of me. I leaned away from Ethan, coughing a few more times as my throat spasmed. I took a long drink of water, then shot him a death glare.

“Were you trying to kill me with that thing?” I asked, my voice laced with accusation.

“I was just trying to help,” he said, holding up his palms. “I didn’t hit you that hard.”

“No, not that,” I said, shaking my head. “You smiled. I almost had a heart attack.”

One corner of his mouth turned up into a smirk, denying me the glory of his full-lipped smile. He took a bite of his burger and chewed it, his expression turning thoughtful. I followed suit, the soreness in my throat from my near-death experience nearly gone.

Swallowing, Ethan said, “I do smile, you know.”

“Not at me, you don’t,” I shot back, giving him a saucy wink to let him know I was kidding.

But I wasn’t. Not really. The man had never turned that dazzling smile in my direction. Not once. That wasn’t something I would’ve overlooked or forgotten.

“In all the months we’ve known each other,” he said, his voice tinged with regret, “this is the first time we’ve really ever talked. I wanted to before. I, uh, just didn’t know how. You’ve always made me nervous.”

“I…what?” I asked, honestly at a loss for words.

I made him nervous? What universe was I living in right now?

“It’s true,” he said, chuckling in a self-deprecating way as he scrubbed a palm across the back of his neck. “You’re so outgoing, so full of life, and I’m, well, me—the serious guy with the telephone-pole-sized stick up his ass. I knew we had nothing in common. I had no clue how to even start a conversation with you. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”

“Sorry about that,” I said. “About the telephone pole thing. I was pissed when I said that.”

“It was well-deserved,” he said, his mouth curving upward. “Luckily, I had my own personal jaws of life in my garage. I’m officially stick-in-the-ass-free.”

That small smile grew into a big one like before, all blinding white teeth and sparkling eyes. Luckily, this time I was prepared for it, and there was no food in my mouth to choke on.

“Well, the big one is gone, at least,” he said, his smile faltering a little. “I’m still me. I’m just naturally a reserved person. My mind is always full of data—I run the business side of things at Perry Brothers, and I manage all four of our personal portfolios. And I’ve spent the last decade trying to keep Noah out of trouble, though that torch has passed to Dakota, now.”

He winked at me, and my stomach jumped up into my throat. Damn it, I needed to get it together.

I’d prepared myself for an uneasy friendship with the aloof, restrained Ethan I’d known since I met him. This easygoing, winky, smiley Ethan was alien to me, throwing me off-kilter and keeping me there. I was getting ready to retreat and reassess this decision to extend an olive branch when his words finally sank in. His life seemed to revolve around the business, leaving room for little else.

Tilting my head, I asked, “Don’t you ever do anything just for fun?”

“I like to read. Watch T.V. And I like to work out,” he said, flexing his arm to make his bicep bulge out.

“Show off,” I said, chuckling at his devilish expression.

I flexed my own arm, showing him my wimpy muscles. Ethan reached out and touched my bicep, testing its size and hardness with a thoughtful expression.

“Hmm,” he said, scratching his chin. “Could use some work.”

“Real funny,” I said, leaning over to push at his chest.

It didn’t budge. Not a centimeter. It was hard and warm, and it took every ounce of willpower I had in my body to pull my hand back without exploring it further.

We ate in silence for a while. I could feel his gaze burning against my skin, but whenever I looked over he glanced away. It was disconcerting, to say the least. I didn’t know what was happening, but I didn’t hate it. Whatever the reason, Ethan decided to open up to me. To show me the real him underneath all that quiet reserve. To smile and tease.

And I wanted more.

“I have an idea,” I said suddenly, breaking the silence. “What are you doing the rest of the day?”

“I don’t have any plans,” he said, giving me a questioning look.

“Great,” I said, hopping down from my stool and taking my plate to the sink. “I’m going to go change, and then we can go. Will you take Kane out for me?”

“Sure,” he said, bringing his own plate and setting it in the sink on top of mine. “Where are we going?”

“No questions,” I said. “We’re being spontaneous. Just go with it.”

He stared at me hard like he was trying to compel the information from me. I lifted my hand to my mouth, twisted and invisible key, and tossed it over my shoulder.

Ethan’s expression lightened, and he gave me another one of those heart-stopping smiles.

“Wow, three smiles in one day?” I asked, my voice filled with exaggerated wonder. “You better be careful, Mr. Perry. I might start thinking you actually like me.”

Without waiting for a response, I spun around and rushed from the kitchen. Closing myself in my bedroom, I tried not to think too much about the fact that I was stripping out of my clothes with Ethan just in the other room. Thankfully, I’d showered and changed out of my pj’s just before he arrived, but I wanted to wear something cuter than my ratty jean shorts and tank top.

Pulling a baby blue sundress from my closet, I quickly unhooked my bra and shrugged it off. The dress had built-in support, and the spaghetti straps crisscrossed in the back, showing a lot of skin. Sliding my feet into a pair of white sandals with no heels, I hurried into the bathroom to fluff my hair and spritz on some perfume.

Pausing, I frowned at myself in the mirror. I was too excited.

“This is not a date,” I whispered at my reflection. “Stop acting like it is.”

Taking a deep breath, I flicked off the light and wandered back toward the kitchen, purposefully keeping my pace slow and even. Otherwise, I’d probably start skipping like a fucking schoolgirl.

Not a date. Not a date. Not a—

My internal mantra-chanting cut off as I spied Ethan standing in front of the sink. He had a dishtowel draped over his shoulder, his hands submerged in soapy water as he washed a plate. Turning on the faucet, he rinsed it before yanking the towel from his shoulder and drying it off.

He turned toward the cabinet I’d pulled it out of, freezing when he spotted me. His gaze travelled down the length of me slowly before moving back up. My heart, which had already accelerated at the sight of him doing fucking dishes for me, kicked into overdrive at his thorough inspection.

Once his eyes met mine, he shook himself and cleared his throat. He turned back in the direction he’d been headed, then back to me, then back again before facing me with a small smile.

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, then spun quickly to put the plate in the cabinet before I could reply.

My breath hitched in my chest, and I fought to control it as he walked back to the sink, drained the water, and folded the towel before draping it over the faucet. Slowly, he turned to face me, licking his lips to wet them.

“I took care of Kane. Are you ready to go?” he asked, and I nodded. “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”

His expression relaxed into a smirk, and my muscles unwound one by one. This wasn’t a date, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun.

“I’m ready,” I said. “And the answer’s still no.”