Page 20

“I am.” He cleared his throat. This was so not the time or place to have a damn erection. “How do you know I’m not being nice so you won’t think I’m your stalker? Or so I can get my hands on your money…that I didn’t know you had?”Jesus.He needed to stop talking. He’d dug himself a deep hole.

“Do you know anything about Lewiston?” Tristan asked. He swayed with Michael.

“Which one? There isn’t a Lewiston around here, but I’m sure there are at least two towns by that name in the surrounding five-state area.” Michael shrugged. “But those towns are at least two hundred miles away.”

“Exactly.”

“I’m confused.” He wanted to melt against Tristan. The warmth of Tristan’s breath seeped to his core. He could get lost in Tristan’s eyes and be happy never to find his way back out.

“The stalker wants me to write about Lewiston. No state or particulars given. Just write about this town.” Tristan brushed his nose along Michael’s. “If you have no idea, then the writer can’t be you. You’re too honest.”

Don’t be so sure about that. “Oh.” He fumbled for words. With Tristan so close, his brain misfired. “I could be playing the fool.”

“Nah.” Tristan feathered a kiss over Michael’s lips. “You don’t trust me, but I trusted you from the start.”

He had no words. Nothing. Besides, he couldn’t shy away from Tristan. He’d have to tell him the truth, but the magnetism between him and Tristan was too much to fight.

“Would you take my check?” Tristan’s voice came out husky. “And my books?”

“Yeah.” Right now, he’d take anything Tristan would give him.

“How about going to my uncle’s place tonight and we’ll order pizza? We can sort and talk.” Tristan cupped Michael’s jaw in both hands. “Or do something else.”

Fucking balls, he was in over his head. He had to gather his bearings. “How about we deposit that check first and figure out later…later? I’ll tell Dicey and Cilla where I’m going. I’ll count it as my lunch break and eat later.” Maybe by then he’d have his head cleared.

“You’re sure? You should eat.”

“I’ll be fine. I’d rather not have that check in the open.” He wriggled free of Tristan and missed his warmth. He sighed, then unlocked the door. He almost collided with Dicey. “Hi.”

“I wasn’t listening,” she said, then looked away. “Promise.”

“Right.” He stood tall. “I’ll make an announcement later, but Al McCartney donated money to the library. I’m going with Tristan to the bank. I’ll be back in half an hour, tops. Hold down the fort, okay? I’ll have my phone and will run if you need me.” He nodded once. “Okay?”

“Sure.” Dicey stared at him. “Uh-huh.”

Michael shifted into business mode. He had to think straight if he was going to the bank. Love-sickness and erections weren’t welcome, no matter how sexy Tristan might be. He retrieved his phone and keys.

Dicey darted behind the counter and gestured to Tristan. She said something to him in low tones. When Michael approached, she scurried away.

“Everything okay?” Michael asked.

“Couldn’t be better.” Tristan held the door for Michael. “I’ll bring him back in one piece.”

Michael groaned. Dicey had probably given Tristan advice or asked about what they’d done in the bathroom. After that comment, she’d tell everyone he’d had sex in the men’s room. He shoved the keys into his front pocket and his phone into his shirt pocket.

“She tried to warn me.” Tristan fell into step beside Michael. “Told me if I hurt you, she’d hurt me.”

“She would.”

“I know,” Tristan said. “She likes you.”

“She’s mentioned that a few times.”

“What is it about you that’s so irresistible?”

“Don’t ask me. I have no clue.” He focused on the sidewalk before him and kept moving forward. He had to change the subject. “I like that you’re writing about Sullavan. Are you doing the research for that next book?”

“Sort of. I’d planned on writing another novel, but had no inspiration. I was going to throw a dart at a map and go wherever the dart landed, but I got the call from Jamie first.” Tristan shrugged. “Divine intervention, I guess.”