Page 2 of Out in the Country

“That burger place is up here, and I wanted to try it.”

“You gonna remember it? Should we come back in the morning?”

“Course I’m gonna remember it…unless you have somethin’ else you want to feed me.” His eyes sparkle with mischief as he holds the door open for me. I gulp and step inside.

Tension radiates between us, and I’m having a hard time focusing on the menu with him practically pressed against my back.

“See anything you like?” The words are whispered against my ear, and I jump at the same time a shiver races down my spine.

Everett’s breath is hot against my skin, and the smell of whiskey is strong but not unpleasant, and I just want to indulge in complete fucking debauchery tonight with my best friend.

But I can’t.

Sighing, with all the willpower I can muster, I take a small step to the side and point at the menu. “I’m thinkin’ either the sunrise burger or the one with the avocado.”

Everett scrunches up his nose. “Ew, no avocados on my birthday.”

“Technically, your birthday was yesterday.”

“Same event—still counts.” He shrugs and grins, and I sway on my feet because damn is he hot.

“Can I take your order?” Startled again, I take a step forward and order the non-avocado burger and Everett does the same before paying—the jerk—and grabbing the little table number.

“You’re not supposed to pay on your birthday,” I state as we walk to a table and sit down.

“This was my idea.”

“You’re bein’ awfully bossy tonight.”

Slowly sitting back, Everett stretches his arm over the back of the empty chair next to him and gives me a lazy grin. “You like me bossy?”

“What?” I choke on the word because the man in front of me hasnevertalked to me like this…ever.

“Two sunrise burgers. One onion rings and one with sweet potato fries. Y’all need anything else?” the waitress asks as she sets down our plates.

A cold shower.

“No, thank you,” Everett replies before taking a massive bite. His eyes fall closed and his mouth tips up at his obvious enjoyment. “This is so damn good,” he moans, and I have to make a conscious effort not to gape at him.

Instead of answering, I shove a fry in my mouth and simultaneously groan at the sweet and salty goodness and curse myself because it’s lava hot and my mouth is on fire.

“Good, right?” Everett asks, and there’s the tiniest bit of ketchup on his cheek that I want to clean off his face.

With my tongue.

What? Nope…not good.

“So good. Also,” I motion at said ketchup, and he shrugs.

“This is too good to put down. I’ll get it later,” he says. I chuckle before digging into my own food and breathe a sigh of relief at the normalcy that settles over us.

We talk about the show and the band and things going on in Clementine Creek, and by the time we’re heading back to the hotel it’s like that weirdly sexual vibe between us is gone.

It takes Everett three tries with the keycard before he finally gets it to work, pushing the door open and stumbling into the room.

“You’re going to be feelin’ it in the morning.” I laugh, but he only grins.

“Feelin’ what?” Straightening to his full height, he kicks off his shoes and then launches himself onto one of the beds. He looks gloriously rumpled, and my feet move of their own accord toward where he’s laid out with one hand behind his head.

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