Page 49 of Captivating Mr. Second Chance

Laney huffed. “She never liked me. Youknowshe never liked me.”

He hid his stupid half smile around a sip of beer. “No, but it doesn’t matter. She doesn’t matter.”

“Talk to me when everyone you grew up with is looking at you with judgy eyes.”

“I don’t even know what judgy eyes look like,” he said, bending closer to her.

“You know, like this.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Or this.” She widened them, giving him her best Precious Moments eyes.

He took a swig of his beer before letting his gaze run down the length of her, and she didn’t know if he realized it or not, but he was talking straight to her breasts when he said, “I think I got one or two of those judgy eyes.”

“From who?”

He zipped his eyes back up to hers, completely unembarrassed at being caught gawking. Although after their little romp together, he had no reason to be embarrassed. It had proven his point.

She wanted him.

And she wanted to do it again.

“I was talking to Caleb Reichenbach. He’s apparently some big club promoter in Las Vegas now. The guy put on, like, fifty pounds of muscle and suddenly has judgy eyes.”

“He was probably trying to intimidate you.”

“Ha.” Ethan pushed his glasses farther back on the bridge of his nose with his index finger. “Me, the coolest kid on the planet, intimidated?” He pointed to himself. “Nah.”

“I remember a time when you weren’t so cool. When you had to wear a neon jacket while you pushed carts around the parking lot of the grocery store.”

He dropped his hand to her knee, squeezing, and the muscle memory sent a zing of pleasure straight between her thighs.

“I ruled those carts with an iron fist.”

Laney’s laughter was disturbed by someone calling their names.

“Hey, Marrero, Laney.”

They swiveled around, and Ethan jumped up at the sight of Gabe Madsen. They hugged each other.

“How’re you doing, man?” Ethan patted Gabe on the back. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming home?”

“Last-minute thing,” he said, dragging his hand over his long hair pulled back in a bun. “My grandmother’s in the hospital, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to come down…” He lifted his arms. “You know how it is. But I came down and heard about this thing at school and thought I’d swing over to the old haunt, see who was here.”

“I can’t believe it.” Ethan chuckled a carefree sound. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“You too,” Gabe said, then hugged Laney. “And how are you?”

There was no implied question or funny tone of voice. He was legitimately asking how she was doing.

“Great,” she answered once they let go of each other.

Someone got up from a nearby stool, and Ethan snagged it, placing it down in front of Gabe. “Have a seat.”

Gabe sat down next to Laney, and Ethan moved to stand right behind her as he reached around her for his beer. “So, what’s up with your grandmother? Everything okay?”

He pulled a face. “She’s got dementia and had an episode. My mom decided that they need to put her in a personal care home, so I came down to help with the move and all that.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Ethan said, and Gabe elbowed him.

“What about you and your brother? Fill me in.”

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