Page 16 of South of The Skyway

Maybe it was the fact that it had been months since anyone touched me or the heightened adrenaline at the premise of being caught bent over the counter with a stranger in the back of Three Leaf, but a growing suspicion in the back of my mind said it had just been…Rhyett. At the end of a long-suffered sigh, I lifted his phone, entered my name and number, and slid it back into his hand.

“Happy?”

His smirk turned wolfish as he hit the call button, melting into something milder when my own cell began ringing. “Very,” he said. “I’m texting you my name.”

As if I would ever forget it. This man would be forever seared into my retinas—his grip on my hip, palm to my breast, scent on my skin—for the rest of my days, whether or not I saw him again. “Sounds good.”

“And the name and address of the restaurant, the reservation is under my name. Seven pm.”

The deep inhale did very little to calm the stampede of anxiety in my belly, but I nodded and said, “Don’t get your hopes up. I don’t really do dating.”

“Lucky for you, neither do I. Would you prefer to meet there, or should I pick you up?”

“Rhyett. I wouldn’t even have time to go home and get ready.”

“You’re perfect like this. Why would you bother?”

“Do me a favor?”

“Yeah.”

“I haven’t even told you what the favor is, and you’re just agreeing?”

“No less responsible than letting your dog run off on you.”

“She recalls just fine, normally. Usually, not even the damn squirrels—” I bit my lip as he started chuckling. The beautiful bastard was messing with me. “If—and I cannot stress how big of an ‘if’ that is—I ever agree to a date, just leave the cheese at home.”

“Fine, no cheese. So…I’ll see you there?”

When I narrowed my eyes, he stepped forward, wrapping one palm around my neck and the other around my waist, leaning and creating an infectious cocktail of mingled breath.Christ, get it together Brex.

“Keeping me on my toes here, Ace.”

Just as I made to rise up to taste him one more time, he smiled. The arrogance permeated the air between us as he straightened out of reach. Again. He flashed a wink, swaggering backwards.Cocky son of a bitch. Did he withhold his lips to prove a point? Did he justteaseme?

“Welp. You better get used to it. Like I said, I’ve got plans tonight.” I thanked every star in the sky my voice came out steady. Oh god, I wanted him. Here. Now. And the worst part was, he freaking knew it. I shook my head, chewing on my bottom lip and starting down the trail Noel had taken a few minutes before. But when Rhyett turned on a heel, striding in the same direction, I stopped in my tracks, scowling at him.

“Are you stalking me?”

“Hey,” he said, raising his hands in mock defense. “I just allowed fate to decide, since that was your rule.”

“No.Right now. What are you doing?”

“Heading to my showing.”

“No.”

“No?”

“You’re walking this way?”

“I mean, I haven’t figured out levitation yet, so yeah, that was the plan.”

“Dammit.”

“We’re doing it.”

“Doing what?” I balked.

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