Page 44 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

I placed my hand on Daniel’s shoulder as he headed for the door; he paused mid-stride. Delectable shivers coursed through my veins. I’d always let the guy take the lead. This newfound power emboldened me to run my fingertips along Dan’s arm and take his hand in mine. With an encouraging tug from me, he began walking once again.

He pushed the door open for me, and we moved into the chill spring evening. Leftover mist from the light rain from earlier in the day dusted my hair and face, coating my exposed skin. Dan led me to his car parallel parked across the street.

Of course, he chose to rent a pearl-gray Tesla.

“Now tuck your hair behind your ear and step into his bubble. If he’s interested, he’ll do the rest.”

How was Remi watching me right now? I didn’t look back at the building to figure it out. The beat of my heart urged me forward. Desperate for a romantic connection, I pressed him back against his car.

Though our height difference wasn’t as drastic as Remi towering over me, I still had to tilt my chin up to see his eyes. His pupils dilated in the darkness. As instructed, I tucked my hair behind my ear, waiting for him to do the rest.

The halo of the streetlamp illuminated half our bodies in the deserted street. Acting a bit tentative, his damp palms swept my hair away from my face, his thumbs tracing my cheekbones. His head dipped closer to mine; the warmth of his breath touched my lips.

Then it hit me. I was getting kissed. I held my breath. Time had been my enemy for too long. My lips had almost turned into dry husks during their extensive drought. Water was about to pour down from the sky.

His lips, wetter than I’d like, moved over mine. My body instinctually took over, and I opened my mouth and went with the flow. His hands dropped to my lower back, pulling my entire body closer to his, while mine tangled in his hair, knocking his glasses crooked.

My breaths shortened until I was gasping for air. I couldn’t tell if this was because I didn’t allow myself to come up for air or if the pressure from Daniel’s arms stifled my ability to bring in more oxygen. He pulled back slightly and kissed my forehead.

“I had a nice night.” He climbed into his car and winked at me. The Tesla chimed, and its screens woke up, accompanied by a soft hum. “Thanks for the awesome date. I’ll be back.” He did a poor imitation of Arnold Schwarzenegger and closed the door.

I stepped back from his car, and with one final wave, he rolled forward and turned around the corner.

Placing my hands on my scalding cheeks, I spoke through my grin, “Remi. It worked.” But the masculine voice in my head I’d grown accustomed to didn’t answer back. “Remi?”

I tugged my phone free from my bra and wiped the glistening sweat from its screen … it was blank.

Remi had hung up.

Chapter 16

Remi

IcollapsedonBlake’snursery floor next to the organized piles of screws and crib parts. “I am in deep shit.”

Pedro couldn’t come to the crib raising, as his kids had fevers, and Chuck had chosen to go to bed early since he was taking the opening shift at the garage tomorrow. It was Blake, me, and Myles … discussing the impending disaster headed my way.

Myles shared a look with Blake and passed me an unopened beer, his own a quarter of the way gone. I took it but didn’t open it and let it fall by my side, still clutched in my hand.

“Have you approached Tony and Nora yet?” Myles straddled the back of a chair, leaning his arms on its backrest.

I sat up and picked up a piece of Styrofoam, launching it at Myles.What the hell are you thinking?I mouthed and glared at Myles.

“What? Blake doesn’t know?” Myles persisted like the dumb box of rocks he was.

If a duck had his brain, it’d fly northfor the winter. I couldn’t imagine the ramifications if Lili learned about me and the CDC. She’d go straight to Angie for sure.

“You want to approach them about what?” Blake looked over the instructions and grabbed the drill Myles held out to him.

I leaned my forearm on my bent knee, my beer still unopened, still dangling from my hand. “Um—”

“On giving him a raise,” Myles finished.

Great, now I was begging for money from a man with terminal cancer.

Blake pressed the drill bit to the white finished wood, and slowly drilled a hole. “Stupid manufacturer didn’t pre-drill these holes right,” he muttered, blowing at the saw dust, then lined it up with another piece. “You want more money? From Tony and Nora?”

“That’s not what’s bugging me.” No way would I let him believe I’d take more money from two people circling the bankruptcy drain.

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