Page 55 of Chasing Sparks

What about … Ori?

“What do you think?” Casey purrs, dragging her nails along my thigh. “Sound good so far?”

“It does. So,” I state, swirling the wine in my glass and trying to find my center, “give me the details. Where, for how long, that sort of thing.”

“Hmm. Wherever you like, for as long as you like.”

Her hand creeps further up my leg. With a nervous chuckle, I grab her hand and place it back on the table.

Jesus Christ, she’s persistent. Never thought that would be a turnoff.

“Seriously, Casey. I need details.”

“Cut to the quick. No foreplay for you.” Casey leans back, a bemused smirk on her darkly stained lips. “Just the way I like it.”

“You’re asking me to upend my life, so I need a bit more information. And for the record, I’m a huge fan of foreplay.”

Just not with you, Casey.

I should have said the words out loud, even if they were biting, because now she’s kicked it into high gear.

“Why don’t we get our food to go, and I’ll tell you all the details at my hotel suite? I’ll order another bottle of wine and then show you all the goodies I brought along. Handcuffs, flavored lube—one for every mood. What do you say?”

“Yes, Asher, whatdoyou say?”

At this moment,fuck my lifeseems an appropriate sentiment.

No need to turn around. I recognize that husky-edged tone anywhere—the voice of the tiny bookstore owner I’ve spent the last month with.

What are the chances? Hell, I’d throttle Braden for ratting me out, but he had no idea where Casey and I were headed tonight.

This is one of those freak coincidences, also known as the universe fucking with me.

That Casey was discussing extracurricular activities when Ori walked up? Icing on the cake.

Sucking in a breath, I turn to face my executioner. But instead of rampant anger, Ori’s face is a sea of calm.

That fact scares me way worse. It means one of two things: either Ori doesn’t give a crap that I’m out to dinner with a woman who wants to fuck me, or she’s going to slit my throat while I sleep.

Trouble is, I don’t know which option is worse.

Best to aim for levity and hope Casey plays along. After all, nothing has happened besides some sexual innuendo—and that was all from Casey’s end.

It’s not like I agreed to shack up with her.

It’s totally innocent … right?

I shoot Ori a smile, waiting for her face to register an emotion. Any emotion.

No such luck.

“Ori, you’re a surprise. What are you doing here?”

She holds up a bag of food containers and nods toward Mina, who stands beside her, glowering at me. “Mina raved about their crab cakes and insisted we have some for dinner. I called your shop to ask if you wanted something, but Braden mentioned you were out. Small world, isn’t it?”

Beyond fucking tiny.

The silence blasts out as the seconds roll by, each one feeling like an eternity.

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