Practice Makes Perfect (When in Rome, #2)

by Sarah Adams

“So you and Will can…what? See other people?” asks Emily, testing me. “Yep.” “And you’re okay with that?” I shrug. “Of course. The more the merrier!” Nope. And I’m also a little worried at how the thought of Will (the man who is not my real boyfriend) dating anyone else sends a boiling surge of jealousy through my body. Apparently, that was a bridge too far because Maddie and Emily share a look. One of the looks that always makes me feel so mad to be excluded from.

They turn to me and cross their arms—a habit we’ve all adopted from Noah for when we mean business. “All right. Fess up. What’s going on? Did you and Will actually sleep together last night?”

Ugh. Here we go. The truth. “Okay, okay, okay. Amelia set the whole thing up. Will is my dating coach for a few weeks to help me practice because…” Because I went on a date and it was a disaster and I’m boring. Nope. Still can’t bring myself to tell them that part. They’ll laugh. Or they’ll make a joke about Angel Annie being too saintly for a bank teller. Or even worse, they won’t be surprised at all. “Because I’m ready to start dating seriously, but I’m nervous. He’s just helping me get over the nerves.”

Maddie leans her hip against the counter. “Please at least tell me it’s like a sexy dating-coach thing? Like y’all are going to practice having sex too?”

I shrug. “Just like regular stuff. Datey stuff, you know? Good topics to bring up on dates. How to flirt. Those sorts of things.” Madison’s nose wrinkles. “Oh. I guess that makes more sense.”

She laughs lightly because she thinks I’m in on this joke. “It’s you; and it’s Will Griffin! You guys are polar opposites. He’s all sexy-fun-adventure, and you’re our quiet sweet-little-introvert. I’m just saying it’s probably for the best that you guys aren’t really dating because you’d rather be inside on a Friday night reading a book, and he’d probably be drunk in a club.” She and Emily laugh, and I try to muster one, too, but all that comes out is a weak attempt at a smile.

Will: The town still holding up while I’ve been away? Annie: Who is this? Will: It’s Will. We literally exchanged phone numbers just last night. Annie: Sorry. I think you have the wrong number. Will: Seriously? Annie: No. I was just messing with you.

Will: Annie Walker. Are you…flirting with me? Annie: Maybe. Or maybe this is a forty-year-old man’s number and I’m catfishing you. Will: If you are a dude, are you at least sexy? Annie: How do you feel about loafers with little tassels on the front? Will: *Bites fist*

Will: Have you seen the petition yet? Annie: OMG, you’ve seen it already?! I’ve been all worked up worrying about how to tell you. I was afraid you’d be upset. Will: Why would I be upset? Annie: Because the town thinks we’re a couple and is voting against it. Will: Again. Why would I be upset? I’m clearly getting the better end of the stick in this scenario. You’re the one dating a debauched bodyguard. Annie: Debauched!! What a good word. Will: Learned it from your pirate romance book. I like it. Annie: It suits you. But don’t worry, I’ll set the whole town straight with the truth one by one. Will: Or…

Will: We could not say anything. And just let them believe what they want to believe. You said you wanted everyone to stop seeing you as Sweet Angel Annie…this might be just the thing to do it. Annie: You’d do that for me? Will: I’m quickly learning I’d do anything for you.

Will: While I’ve got you… Will: *Picture of palm tree and blue sky overhead* Will: At the risk of sounding a little too poetic and sappy, the color of California’s sky is the same blue as your eyes. Annie: Oof. That was sappy. Will: Dammit. I thought so. Annie: I’ll let it slide this one time. Will: Changing subject now. Have you ever been to L.A.? Annie: Nope. I haven’t traveled much.

Will: That’s a damn shame. You need to come to California, Annie. So many cool flower shops. You’d love it here. Annie: I want to, but I’m scared of flying. And going to new places. And meeting new people. Will: My offer stands to hold your hand. Annie: I do like your hands. Annie: Oh wow. Pretend I didn’t say that. I’m super embarrassed now. GAH! Why is there no unsend button. Will: I like your hands, too, Anna-banana.

Annie: I had the funniest dream about you last night. Will: Funny? Hmm. I’d prefer sexy.

“Thanks,” says the man and immediately I take note of his voice. It’s a nice voice. And because it caught my attention, I try to discreetly assess him as he wanders around the shop. Nice light brown hair cropped close to his head but with enough play on the top to style it A well-groomed beard Button-down casual dress shirt Nice jeans Clearly works out No wedding ring

He frowns, looking around the shop. “What sort of bouquet is appropriate to buy for a woman who just had a baby?” Oh. He’s a dad. Well, that’s that. “Actually, for a sister-in-law who just had a baby,” he amends like maybe he saw my face and wanted to clarify. Things are looking up again.

“I’ve actually just moved to town. Or the town over, to be exact. My family lives around here, and I felt ready to settle down. So I moved my clinic here and bought a house.”

I take his bouquet to the counter to ring it up. “Oh, are you a doctor?” “Veterinarian,” he says, and that earns another ding, ding, ding sound in my brain because I love animals. Even better—a man who loves animals too. And he’s apparently a family man who is looking to put down roots! My sisters would definitely be giving me a thumbs-up right now and telling me to go for it.

He laughs and hands me his credit card. “Brandon Larsdale,” I say, shamelessly reading the name on his credit card out loud. “No fair. I don’t get to scan your credit card to learn your name.” I smile up at him, feeling my cheeks turn pink in a way that I really wish they wouldn’t. I think he’s flirting with me now too—and