Page 11 of One Wild Ride

And I wanted a chance to get to know the woman I had been fantasizing about for three years.

I tried to look at Aria again but I felt the heat rising in my neck. My eyes landed on a large yellow bucket resting against the back wall.

“Wow. I was way off on that one.” She grimaced. “Sorry.”

I tried to laugh to ease the tension but it ended up as a snort. Glancing at Aria, she had her hand over her mouth obviously holding back a laugh.

“I know my reputation, Aria, and it really isn’t what you think—”

“Alex, it’s none of my business. Really, what you do in your bedroom is, well, I guess it is sort of my business now that I am going to paint a mural.”

My eyes widened, and I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest. “Really? So that’s a yes to painting a mural for me?”

She nodded. Without thinking, I opened my arms and picked her up for a big hug. Aria was soft and smelled sweet and airy, like spring. I didn’t normally go around hugging people but I was ecstatic.

“Alex?” Aria said, her voice muffled.

“Right. I’m sorry. I should put you down now.”

Only I didn’t. I squeezed her tighter. Not only that, but I sniffed her. Not a subtle intake of breath; no, my awkwardness around this woman had no bounds. It was the loud and obvious sniff variety. It was her hair, too. Her silky, honey hair was right by my nose so it’s not like I could help myself.

I heard a creak from behind us as a cool rush of air filled the closet.

“Found them.” A very male voice came from behind me. “And they still have their clothes on so it’s okay to look.”

I finally let go of Aria. Actually, I let her soft body slowly slide down mine trying to milk every second I could. When I turned, I saw stern blue eyes staring daggers at me. It was Aria’s friend, Evaleen, and behind her was the owner of the male voice, the bartender.

“We meet again. I’ll be taking my friend back.” She reached inside and helped Aria move past me. Before she left, Evaleen turned back toward me. “I suggest for your own well-being you stop stalking my friend Aria. Or I might have to give your mother a call.”

Evaleen knew who I was. But what surprised me even more was that she knew my mother was a threat.

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