Mark’s face became clouded and Christina was positive she’d offended him.

“Please try not to take that the wrong way,” she said quickly. “It’s just that you’re not interested in her and she may be confusing your mild friendship for something more. She needs to see how a man acts when he’s infatuated, not friendly. I mean, have you ever volunteered to make supper for her?”

“No.”

“That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about. Not that you’re a jerk or that you don’t know how to treat a woman properly. I think you do. It’s just that it’s clear by the way you stared off into space at the...