Page 12 of Bad Boy for Hire
“And the binary code is because you are a computer science nerd.”
“Represent! Had to include a nod to my passion.”
She pulled her hand away and folded her fingers together. For a second, neither of them spoke. May forgot about everyone around them. Her focus was on the man next to her, his story etched in black and gray on his body.
Lou broke into their intimate chat by dragging a chair over. “Sorry. Had to let Ant know I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Did you tell Xavier what I suggested?”
“No,” May said meaningfully.
Xavier took this in stride, like he did everything else. “What’d you suggest?”
“That she hire you.” Lou shrugged.
“Lou!” May growled.
“What? I’m helping!” Lou turned to Xavier, who was chuckling, and with even more sincerity said, “If she hires you, then she won’t have to honor her no-hot-men rule because it’s a loophole if you’re being paid.”
“I’m so sorry.” May forced a laugh, hoping to convey that Lou was drunk and hadn’t meant to suggest Xavier be her date—paid or otherwise. “She’s… I don’t know what she is. Delusional?”
“Am not!” Lou argued.
“I should probably head out. Thank you for having me. I had fun.” Before Xavier could argue, and by the looks of his half-open mouth, he was about to, May stood.
Lou stood as well, wrapping her hands around May’s upper arms and giving her a gentle shake. “Don’t let this moment pass you by.”
“What moment?” Ant, the cavalry, had arrived. Thank God. May had suddenly changed her mind. She’d take that ride home after all.
“No one is having a moment!” May tried to shake out of Lou’s grip and knocked Lou off balance. Both women toppled to the side, neither able to regain their footing.
Ant caught Lou like the pro that he was, and Xavier, who apparently had the reaction time of a cat, caught May before she fell. Not by the arms the way Lou had held her, no, no. He had wrapped one arm of support around May’s waist and tugged her flush against him.
With his firm, solid body warming her ribs, breasts, and hip on one side, she had to struggle to take a full inhalation. He smelled like pine trees and IPA and smoke from the fire. Heavenly.
His pupils widened, the black eating up the amber. She parted her lips to speak but no sound came out.
His mouth spread into a slow smile, and when he licked his lips, she forgot about everything apart from leaning in to kiss him. It would cause a mess of other problems, but it would feel so good she might not care.
His gaze flicked to her mouth, and she shook out of her stupor. One hand settled on his chest, she pushed off him to right herself. He kept his arm at the ready in case she was unstable, but he was no longer holding her against him.
Damn. She officially did not know what she wanted. But she did know what she needed.
A ride home.
“Thank you, Xavier. For the lovely evening and the, ah, fast hands.” Embarrassed, she averted her eyes. That wasn’t exactly what she’d meant to say.
“Anytime.” The look he gave her was pure heat, and made her question whether she wanted to run away or climb into his lap.
“Ant, Lou, I’ll take you up on the ride home.” She faked a yawn. “I’m tired.”
Lou’s eyes were narrowed so much, they were practically closed. “I thought you said?—”
“Not a problem,” Ant cut in smoothly. “We got you, May.” He shared a manly handshake with Xavier, who clapped his shoulder in return. “Great party.”
“Thanks for coming,” Xavier replied.
Ant offered his arms to Lou and May, escorting them up the hill, away from the crackling fire and everything May didn’t want to admit she wanted.
She didn’t look back. Not once.
