Page 23 of No One But You

Good Lord, have mercy on my soul.

It must have been a long time since I had been with a guy because the nerve endings in my body were firing on every cylinder. I grabbed a magazine and fanned my face. It was getting warm in this room.

“No bother at all, Kai.” Darlene gave me a questioning look then smirked.

I turned my head.

“You’re not working tonight, are you? It’s Friday,” Darlene asked.

“Well, tomorrow I’m playing cornhole with Bryson. It’s the finals, you know, so I need to get some work done tonight.”

“Fine, get some work done but join us at the pub by eight. You and Bryson could get practice in. You don’t need to stay late, but you can’t miss the pub on a Friday,” Darlene pointed out.

Kai placed the paint cans in the corner. “I need to get the walls taped and prepped for painting. Maybe when I’m done and cleaned up, I’ll show up. I can paint this room tomorrow morning before Blake shows up.” His gaze rested on Kora. “Are y’all heading there?”

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tear my gaze from him. I was transfixed by his biceps, and his shirt molded to his body and those eyes. Damn those eyes.

Darlene nudged me in the side, and I shot her a hard glare, then nodded. “We’re heading there now. There’s a pitcher of margaritas with our name on it.”

“Then maybe I’ll see you when I get things cleaned up here. Don’t spill any margs without me.” He smirked and that dimple appeared.

My heart thumped so loudly I was sure they all could hear it. I swallowed hard. “I don’t think that’s an issue I have. That’s your wheelhouse.” I hoped that jab sounded harsh. Darlene was giving me too many odd looks. “Let’s go, Dar. I’m starving.” I turned on my heels and high-tailed it out of that room. I needed to get some air and get out of there quickly before anyone noticed the flush I felt climbing my neck. Darlene gave James a hug and followed quickly behind. Thank God.

“Holy Shit.” Darlene started laughing. “What the hell was that about?” We climbed into her car. “The heat between you two is scorching. Like able to burn down an entire forest hot.”

I tried to ignore her and play it cool. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bull. Shit.” Darlene turned left onto the road, then a quick right into the pub’s parking lot. She put the car in park and shifted in her seat.

I shook my head, jumped from the car, and tried to escape into the pub, but Darlene blocked the door.

“No, you don’t.” She held up her hand to stop me from walking through the door. “I haven’t seen you run from a guy that quickly since high school when you were stuck in the closet for seven minutes with Trevor.”

“Yeah, well, Trevor’s sweet and all, but that kiss was anything but exciting.”

“Yeah, but he thought it was total heaven and you guys dated like, forever. He still gives you the eye.”

I held Darlene’s gaze and gestured to the door. We were not going to have this discussion.

“Fine,” Darlene wined, and we walked into the pub and to the bar.

“Hey there, beautiful ladies. I’m guessing you two want the usual?” Trevor asked as he leaned on the bar.

“Please, Trevor,” I answered.

He winked and went to fix our margaritas.

Good Lord, Trevor. You’re just fueling the fire.

Darlene nudged my arm. “He’s still got the hots for ya.” She wagged her brows, and I raised my eyes to the ceiling. Darlene wasn’t going to let any of this go.

He returned with a pitcher of margaritas. “Thanks.” I smiled wide at him and leaned on the bar. “Trevor, it’s been one hell of a week. Let’s get started with some tequila shots and lemons.”

“You got it.” He placed two shot glasses on the bar and a plate of lemon slices dipped in sugar—Trevor’s version of a lemon drop. “Shots are on me.”

Darlene glanced at me from the side of her eyes. I ignored her and slid a shot glass in her direction.

She picked up the shot in one hand and a lemon slice in the other. “Here’s to an awesome Friday night.”

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