Page 68 of The Foul Out

“No.” She stomped straight for the elevator, leaving me behind. “I meant making me nuts.”

“Oh,” I said, feigning ignorance. “We should watch that mermaid movie together. I’m telling you, the entire point of it was that the mermaid made the crab nuts.”

At the elevator bank, she crossed her arms, the move forcing her breasts up and together. There was no stopping the way I homed in on her tits. They were full and round, and they pushed against the tight knit fabric of her sweater in a way that made my body temperature spike. More than once tonight, I’d imagined cupping them in my palms. Running my tongue from one to the other. I could picture them, pale and covered in freckles, just like her shoulder. And I could imagine the way her nipple would tighten to a firm bud I could pull between my lips.

“Kyle.”

I blinked and silently chastised myself for getting lost in my fantasies. “Should I sing ‘Under the Sea’ again?”

With a groan, she shook her head. “That once-in-a-lifetime experience has already happened tonight.”

And we’d crushed that. I’d started out alone, but Asher had jumped in—the guy knew the words, thanks to his kids. Emerson was next, because the guy always had to be in on the fun. Even Mason and Eddie Martinez hopped up to finish us off. The best part of it all was Harper’s smile as she laughed at us. In that moment, I understood why Emerson was so willing to act like a lovesick puppy for Gianna. Even grumpy-ass Chris would pretzel himself for a smile from Avery. Getting a smile from the right woman could feel like the biggest win.

She leaned into the wall, and her sweater slipped down her arm again. The red mark it uncovered looked angry in the bright light of the lobby.

“What happened?”

She tucked her chin and inspected it, catching on to what I was referring to quickly. “Oh.” Looking up, but not at me, she swallowed. “Cutting Piper’s nails is like going into battle, so I put it off. But she got upset last night, and I paid the price for not taking care of them when I should have.”

The outbursts. Ryan had them too. They got better as he got older, but for years, my mom worked to teach him how to manage his anger and frustration. It was a long, bumpy road. That was for sure.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

“Harper,” I murmured as I followed her off.

She peered up at me, her lips pressed into a straight line, probably bracing for a comment about Piper.

“Tonight was one of my favorite nights in years.” I brushed a strand of her silky red hair back from her face. “I really like hanging out with you.”

She pressed her teeth into her bottom lip, but the smile that spread across her face pulled it free. “Me too.” She blinked at me, her expression full of apprehension and hope, then lowered her eyes, trying to hide it all from me.

I brushed the back of my hand over her satin skin as I tipped her chin up.

“I’d really like to do it again.”

“I would too. But…” She shook her head, pain flashing across her face. “I have Piper and Sam.”

“I’m well aware.” I chuckled. “I spend eight hours a day with one of them.”

She rolled her amber-colored eyes, though she was still more subdued than I was used to.

“But I wouldn’t mind if we hung out here. With them.”

When the elevator doors opened, I followed her into her hall. She was two doors down on the right side, the door with the Revs sticker at the bottom.

When we reached her apartment, she spun with her back to it and took a breath. “I might be willing to give that a try.”

This answer was all coy. The shyness from moments ago had completely evaporated.

“Might, huh?” I stepped between her legs and rested my palm on the warm bare skin of her shoulder. “How might I get a firmer yes?”

Smiling, she shrugged, but she didn’t respond.

I ran my hand up to her neck and held it there, brushing my thumb over her jawline.

She tilted her chin up to mine, and I dropped my face closer to hers.

Her breath skated against my lips.

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