Page 65 of The Bridges I've Burned

Deeply.

“Guess I wasn’t as done as I thought I was.” Those emerald eyes met mine.

God, his was beautiful.

“So, are you staying long?” I asked, instantly looking away.

I maintained my detached and aloof demeanor. He pretended to be deeply invested in his book. We were both failing miserably.

“Until the wedding,” he stated. “Macon asked me to be his best man.”

What? He did what?

“Oh.” I managed to keep my mouth from falling open.

That meant that he and I?—

Fuck.

My phone buzzed, and I thanked the heavens above for the auspicious interruption. I looked down and found another text from Marin.

Marin

Dinner at our house tonight. Come over whenever.

I nearly wept with joy. Time to get the hell out of here.

“Well, it’s good to see you, I guess,” I said, adding the last part simply because I was still mad at him for leaving this morning. “I am headed out for dinner.”

I started to turn but noticed him rising from his spot on the couch. I couldn’t help but watch. He wore ripped black jeans today and another vintage tee. That bomber jacket he loved clung to his body like it had been made for him, but all I wanted to do was push it to the floor and find all those hidden tattoos.

I had not done myself any favors today.

If the sexual tension had been bad before, it was off the chain now that I’d pictured him naked while I got myself off.

The man ban was gonna suck extra hard now that he was back.

He started to breeze past me but stopped short. “They invited me over for dinner, too.” He grinned.

I pressed my lips together. “Oh.”

“I’ll go grab my keys, and we can ride together?”

I merely nodded, my brain going crazy with the sheer proximity of him.

“Oh, and one more thing.” He stepped even closer. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek as his lips curved upward into a mischievous grin. “Do you always scream that loud when you come?” he asked, and then he leaned in closer, nearly brushing his mouth against my skin. “Or is it just when you think of me?”

I forgot to breathe for a second. He was so close, his mouth a fraction of an inch away from mine, and his voice—God, his voice. And then the haze started to lift, and I registered the words he’d uttered.

My eyes widened, and I shoved him, heat flushing my cheeks, but also pooling in my thighs. My body was so confused.

“I cannot believe you!”

“Hey, I can’t help what I heard. You weren’t exactly quiet.”

“I didn’t know I had an audience!” I threw my hands up, flustered. Why is it so damn hot in here? “And I was not thinking about you!”

“You called out my name, Louie.”

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