Page 38 of In Spades

Let me go with you.

I smiled at his last message. He was presumptuous, and I didn’t hate it.

Will

One question. Are we going to talk about that belly button piercing of yours that I got a look at the other night? I think it’s cute.

Oh, sweet baby cheeses. The man was doing a number on me. I wondered what he would think about my tattoo. Did he have tattoos? What did he look like underneath all those long sleeve shirts?

I stared at my phone and wished I could flirt better. I didn’t want to take it too far or lead him on, but there was nothing wrong with a little playful banter.

I didn’t really miss dating all that much. The last time I had a boyfriend was when I was nineteen and in college. Sex had never been great, but what nineteen-year-old actually knew what they were doing in bed? I fooled around a little in my former life, but nothing memorable ever happened. Probably a blessing in disguise.

I didn’t know what I was missing, so there was never anything to miss.

Will wasn’t the Luca type—all slick, muscly, and charming like a celebrity. Which was good, because God knows I embarrassed myself when I first met Luca at Maddie’s houseboat. It took six months of seeing him at poker night before I stopped getting all giggly around him.

He wasn’t the Steve type. Even though Steve has a heart of gold, he was growly, gruff, and built like a fridge.

And he definitely wasn’t the Isaac type—the jet-setting playboy who basked in the limelight. Hell, he was pretty much the complete opposite.

Will didn’t fit any of those molds. He was secure in who he was. Quietly confident.

Some guys filled out a t-shirt so well they could turn me into a giggling mess. Sure, he was as hot as asphalt in the middle of July, but Will made me laugh and kept me at ease. Some used their charisma and confidence to dominate every room they entered. Will carried himself humbly and made space for me to feel like I belonged.

There were a lot of types of men out there, but Will was a man among men.

He also seemed like he would know a thing or two about the art of female pleasure. He was soft-spoken, but always in control. I imagined him being confident in the bedroom. Those thirteen extra years on earth had probably given him enough time to perfect his moves.

He may have been the strong silent type, but the man was a downright flirt.

Goosebumps flashed across my arms at the memory of that night we played pool at the bar. The way he put his arms around me while I lined up my shot. The way he knew when to move closer and when to put enough space between us to leave me craving his orbit again.

And that text about my belly ring? That decision had been the impulse of a sixteen-year-old girl. Lately, though, I had thought I was getting too old to keep the piercing in. Sure, I liked it, but it wasn’t becoming on me, as Cheryl used to say.

Will liked it, though…

Kristin

Good to know you like the piercing. At least you won’t be too shocked if you ever see what else I keep hidden.

See? I thought to myself with a satisfied smile, stuffing my phone in the back pocket of my uniform pants. I could totally flirt. Kind of.

I needed to work on that.

“This one?” Kylie asked, cringing.

“Huh?” I snapped to attention and looked around. I’d been standing in front of the same car for far too long. It only had two doors and too many zeros on the price tag. What I really need is a mini van, but even I wasn’t desperate enough for a mom car.

“You’re being weird today, Krissy,” Hunter piped up.

I sighed and tightened my ponytail. “Sorry, guys. Just some, uh, stuff at work.”

“I’m hungry,” Zoey whined.

“I know, sweetie,” I soothed, smoothing my hand over her hair. “It’ll only be a little longer. Can you hold on for a few more minutes?”

She pressed her cheek to my leg and whimpered.

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