Page 19 of Wild Flower

My phone beeps several more times, because Miranda doesn’t understand the concept of a long text message. Instead, she sends a hundred small ones like smoke signals on the western plains. I sling my camera strap over my shoulder and head back through the garden toward the parking lot.

Miranda:Okay, so question …

Miranda:Archer.

Miranda:How well do you know him?

Beyond Archer’s proclivities to make women orgasm in the dark … I don’t actually know him very well. He’s one of those people you work with, but who keeps you at arm’s length. He’s charming and has a good sense of humor, but he also makes a point to never tell me anything about his personal life.

Iimaginehim as the kind of guy who does Spartan races, hauling burlap bags of rocks through mud puddles, or doing parkour through the jungle. We have a similar taste in women and a similar lust for the forbidden thrill, but the last thing we’ve done is exchange pleasantries about our hobbies and favorite television shows.

Miranda:He was our waiter last night.

Miranda:Hello! Thunder from Down Under—Bat Wing edition!

I have no clue what that means.

Miranda:You’re a good looking guy, Finn, but does it hurt your ego to work at a place like Flambé? There are SO MANY good looking guys at that place.

I doubt her boyfriend would like hearing her say that. And for the record, no, it doesn’t hurt my ego. When supermodels get hired to be Victoria’s Secret angels do they feel inferior? No! They feel like they just got inducted into the hotness hall of fame. It strokes the ego. And as Archer has no problem pointing out, it also gets you a lot of play.

Miranda:Back to my question …

Miranda:Kyle and I left early last night.

Not a question. This woman needs a lesson in how to be direct. No wonder my phone was blowing up.

Miranda:I left my best friend with Archer.

Nowthatgets my attention.

Miranda:He was supposed to serve her dessert, flirt a little, make her feel like it doesn’t suck to be the third wheel at that sexy restaurant.

Oh, shit. Is Miranda’s friend, Becca?

Miranda:Because, you know, Kyle and I had to bail. That place is HOT, and there are things one needs to do with one’s boyfriend after eating at Flambé.

Miranda:And they should NOT be done in public.

Well, maybe not done in public … for Miranda.

Miranda:So, any chance you saw Archer with my friend?

Yes.

Miranda:Was he being flirty and nice and making her laugh?

Flirty? Yes.

Nice? Depends on your definition.

Making her laugh? Her head was thrown back, and her mouth was open—which looks a little like laughing if it wasn’t, well, an orgasm.

Miranda:Oh, and my friend is super easy to recognize. You totally saw her … silver mermaid hair, flower tattoos, goth-queen make-up.

I consider adding: beautiful mouth that will haunt my dick, sinful blush that runs between her cleavage, gorgeous flower between her legs that truly blossoms when two guys make her day.

She’s unforgettable.

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