Page 34 of Forever Wild

“You find me attractive?” She squints over at me.

“Uh, yeah. Duh. I believe I told you that in the bathroom, but you may have been in a sex-induced stupor. So I’ll give you a pass.”

She socks me on the biceps. “Shut up, I was not.”

“Again—there was physical evidence. If you keep denying, I’ll be forced to gather photographic evidence.”

“No.” Her eyes widen, her head shaking violently from side to side. “Absolutely not, Wild. That’s another rule.”

“We’ll see—maybe I can get you to change your mind.” I rake my eyes over her body and she rolls her eyes.

“No, you will not.”

“I feel a challenge brewing,” I tease, running my hand up her thigh.

“Challenge accepted. If you get me to pose for any kind of incriminating photo, you’ll know I have completely lost my grip. The only person who’s ever going to be able to take any type ofnude pic of me is my husband, and I’m fairly certain you’re not in the market for a wife.”

I scoff, huffing out a heavy breath. “Hell, no. Fine, no photos and no blood. We’re both in for a no-strings-attached good time. Deal?”

Sticking my right arm out, I offer her my hand. She presses her lips together and grips my palm, shaking on it.

“Deal, Wild. Atop-secretdeal. And our first test is dinner tonight.”

CHAPTER 15

TRIXIE

“Should we take two cars? We should probably take two cars.”

I’m pacing from one end of the miniscule apartment to the other in a complete panic. Why did I agree to this dinner again?

“No, that’s dumb. We can take one car.”

“But that’s very—I don’t know—couple-y. Danny’ll suspect something’s up.”

“No, it’s economical. Have you seen gas prices lately? And we’re roommates, which he’s going to figure out in about two minutes. It would be odder to show up in two vehicles. One is much less suspicious.”

I frown, considering. He does have a point. Sometime soon, Danny will figure out Colt and I are rooming together. But that doesn’t mean anything. Lots of people have roommates of the opposite sex and it’s platonic. Look at Rachel and Joey onFriends.Okay, bad example because I’m pretty sure they end up sleeping together; I’ll be sure not to throw that one out there.

“Fine. One car. But you’re driving.”

“Thank goodness, because I’ve seen you behind the wheel and it’s a little scary.”

“Is not!” I punch him in the arm and my knuckles bounce right back. Hitting Colt is like hitting a wall of steel.

Very hot, fit steel. Steel that I’d absolutely like to see naked.

“You ready?” Colt’s voice jolts me out of my daydream.

“Uh, yeah, let’s go.”

We head downstairs, exiting through the back door of the shop. Behind the building’s a small lot for tenants and Colt walks me to his truck, his hand hovering at the small of my back. Although he’s not quite making contact, my skin still tingles beneath the heat of his palm.

It’s gonna be a long night.

He opens the door for me, helping me in before going around to the driver’s side and firing up the truck. Red Hot Chili Peppers blasts from the speakers and I cover my ears to protect my hearing, heavy bass rattling the windows.

“Could you turn it down? Please?” I shout over the chorus of “Give It Away Now.”

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