Page 52 of Reckless Hearts

I need to shut up. Even if these are all just thoughts in my head, it’s still pretty bitchy of me. Some might even say it sounds like jealousy, and it might be. It probably is. Okay, it is.

Jealousy that she has what I want, and I don’t just mean the world champion surfer title.

“Yeah, okay,” Nate says, his brow going up as he looks at me. Shaking his head, he adds, “Any chance you could get her to do a signing at the shop before Maui Pipe?” His question is directed at Flynn, and as much as I know he wants to say no, he’s going to say yes.

He needs to keep Jade happy. He needs to keep his job. And having her do a signing is right up her alley. All the attention on her, people swarming to be close to her.

“What about Alana?” Flynn now asks, and my head whips around so fast that I swear I could have given myself whiplash.

“What about Alana?” Nate shoots back, somewhat aghast and if I didn’t know him well, I’d be insulted.

“She’s surfing Pipe too. Why not ask her if she wants to sign?” They’re talking about me like I’m not standing here, and I put my hands on my hips, pursing my lips as I look at Nate.

“No one wants Alana’s autograph,” Nate says, and instantly regrets it when Sage slaps his arm.

“Nathan Peterson, that was so rude,” Sage admonishes. “Yes, people want Alana’s autograph. She’s a local, and she’s made it here all on her own.” Sage stops, glaring at Nate, shaking her head in disgust. “Not that Jade hasn’t worked hard too, but Alana, she’s…” Sage trails off with that still-insulted look plastered on her face.

Shit, she’s a great friend. Not that I wouldn’t have stuck up for myself. But I do get what Nate is saying. Jade is a novelty, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the people who live here. I’m just here, always. They can find me on the water or in The Pipe Dream, or hell, even in the grocery store. I’m approachable and friendly, always wanting to show people that I’m real, nothing fake about my personality.

“Why don’t we do a dual signing? Alana and Jade?” Nate now suggests, and that seems to appease Sage as she nods in agreement. “Think Jade would be in?”

“Yeah, sure, I don’t see why not,” Flynn responds but doesn’t say much more as Nate interrupts him, checking his watch.

“Shit, babe, we gotta go,” Nate spits out, linking his hand with Sage’s as he tugs her off the counter. “Flynn, we’ll hash it out tonight. See you at seven.”

“Laters, mate,” Flynn says, and holy shit, why does that sound so sexy? Can a man’s voice actually make you come in your panties? Because I feel like his just did with his comment.

When the door closes behind Nate and Sage, Flynn steps closer to the counter, his scent enveloping me, and I want to close my eyes and bask in it.

“Looks like we’re alone, Alana,” he murmurs, and yep, I did just come in my underwear.

“Alone iswhen we both do things we shouldn’t,” she says, hitting me with a look.

Laughing, I take a sip of my drink. “Not always,” I tell her. “We were pretty good on our run this morning.”

Alana rolls her eyes, grabbing the iced coffee from my hand and taking a long suck from the straw, all of which causes my mouth to go dry and my dick to instantly harden.

“Fuck me, Alana,” I growl, adjusting myself as my eyes drop to her mouth. “Why do you have to make this so hard?”

She smirks, handing the drink back to me as her gaze drops to my crotch. Shaking her head a little, she licks her lips before saying, “So are you really staying to help?”

The one eighty makes my head spin and I blink, trying to remind myself that this is for the best because I need to keep my hands to myself, not fantasize about fucking her in the back room of this shop. “Yeah, of course,” I reply.

“What about Jade? Was that her calling before?”

I exhale. “I’m not working right now, and she knows that.”

Alana nods. “Does she know where you’re staying?”

“God no,” I say. “And I’d really like to keep it that way.”

Alana mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key before she says, “Okay, so let’s put you to work then.”

As soon as the words leave her mouth, I’m already conjuring up ideas for exactly how she can put me to work, but before I can say anything dirty or inappropriate, the bell over the door sounds and we both turn to see Tanner walking in.

“Flynn, hey man,” he says, a huge smile on his face as he walks over to clap hands with me before turning to Alana. “Hey, Alana.”

She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling as she jerks a thumb in my direction. “So, he’s your favorite now, huh?”

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