Page 28 of Bad Reputation

“Mmm,” he says, nodding. “I don’t know. Evie has turned my whole world on its axis, it seems like.”

I peek inside the pastry box, eyeing a second croissant. “So you just came here to… what, come clean to me about dating her?”

He shrugs. “That’s all I’ve got right now. And actually…” He looks at his phone. “I should probably get going. I have to open Cure a little early today. We have a big liquor shipment coming in this morning.”

“Okay.” I watch as he stands up, draining his coffee. “I’ll take your cup.”

“Come by the bar in the next couple of days. I’m trying out a lot of elderflower liquor based cocktails, to appeal to a lighter palate. I’ll use you as a guinea pig.”

“Okay. See you later.”

He heads off the porch, and I sigh. His visit was unexpected, but kind of nice. I may have already known about Asher and Evie, but it was still sort of sweet for him to tell me.

Honestly, it makes me think about Jameson. If my brother had told me this little story a month ago, I probably would have used it as ammunition to ward off any big brotherly fuss about me and Jameson.

Now, of course, it doesn’t matter. Jameson made the whole matter moot. But it’s still good to know that if A ever puts up any resistance to me dating someone older than me, I can pull the Evie card.

Thinking about Jameson must put some kind of vibrations out there in the universe, because as soon as I settle into reading again, Jameson shows up. He pulls his bike up to the curb outside my house, looking as edible as an ice cream cone. I look at him as he steps off the bike, pulling his helmet off and running a hand through his hair.

He starts towards me, striding up the path in tight denim and a baby blue tee shirt. His dark hair and five o’clock shadow only highlight the intensity in his eyes. My mouth starts to water and my hands begin to shake when I realize that I am the thing that intensity is focused on.

I have to wonder, will there ever be a point when I don’t lust after Jameson? When I don’t see him and immediately feel like we are the only two people on the planet, like the sun circling the earth? When I don’t picture us naked and writhing together, no matter how briefly?

I’m pinned in place by that gaze. I want to strip myself, here and now, and just throw myself at his feet. But of course I don’t. I havesomepride, after all. I just think about it instead.

By the time that he gets to the porch, I’ve managed to work myself into quite a state. Never mind that I’m supposed to be mad at him for how things ended the other night.

I haven’t forgotten that, but it just seems so distant now. Unimportant.

Jameson stops at the porch steps. “I come in peace.”

His voice is so rough and gravely, it sends chills down my spine. I cock my head, pretending to consider his words.

“Is that right?” I say. My voice is surprisingly steady, given the gut-churning turmoil that is going on inside my head.

He clears his throat. “Can I come up and sit?”

My mouth feels dry. I incline my head. “Yes.”

He climbs the steps. I rake my gaze up the length of his body. I forgot how tall and broad he is, how petite I am in comparison. As he sits down, I bite my lower lip, refusing to admit to myself how much I want him.

I must be hormonal or something, that’s for sure. That would explain how my nipples stiffen and my pussy clenches, just looking at him.

Jameson sits down beside me, looking at me with a hesitant expression. “I’m sorry for how things ended the other night. That was not my intention.”

I narrow my gaze at him, shifting in place.

“I mean, what else could your intention have been? What did you think was going to happen when you dragged me outside?”

He looks down for a second. “I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking, obviously. I just… I saw you with that other guy, and I kept thinking… not here. I won’t just stand here and watch that guy win Emma over in my space.”

I arch a brow. “You realize that is crazy, right? Legitimately nuts.”

He scowls. “Yeah, I know. I just… I’m struggling to come to terms with the breakup, okay?”

I sit back, considering him. “Yeah, I am getting that.” I purse my lips, thinking. “At least it’s not just me that’s having a hard time with everything.”

Jameson looks up at me, his brown black eyes shining.

---