“Reed, if I put my number in your phone, I’m not going to have some woman calling me late at night, telling me they’re your wife or girlfriend, am I?”
Reed shook his head. “No, ma’am. None of the above.”
“Please don’t start the ma’am crap again.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance. “If I was seventy five I might find it endearing, but right now it sounds like an insult.”
He rambled defensively while she entered her number into his phone.
“You seriously find that offensive?”
She nodded with a smirk.
“How about honey or darlin?”
“Definitely not honey.” Glancing at his empty plate, she offered, “You want the other half of my turkey burger? I’m stuffed.”
Reed wrinkled his nose in disgust. “I’m from Texas, darlin. We eat beef. Not heart-healthy pretend burgers or those funny looking fries either.”
JC’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Ohhh, I am telling Codge you said that. He makes the best turkey burger ever.” She picked up the burger and wiggled in front of him. “Come on, try it. You’ll love it and the sweet potato fries are delicious.”
Tension and longing sparked inside her as he bent forward and took a bite of her burger right out of her hand. His warm tongue playfully licked barbeque sauce off her finger sending her pulse sky rocketing like fireworks on the fourth of July. All she could imagine was...
“You’re right. That’s pretty good,” he snickered, inhaling the rest of her burger out of her fingers.
Silence.
Her lips separated, licking the inside edge of her mouth. Her gaze lowered to the tan skin on his throat. Prickly heat warmed her body. Every muscle at the core of her body contracted, steeling the breath right out of her lungs.
Feeling hot and dizzy, she fought to control her breathing, unconsciously rubbing the nape of her neck. Lifting her chin, she met and held the blue heat of his gaze in a long smoldering stare, both without apology. The prolonged stare sent another rush of desire curling through her.
Codge approached the table. “I take it you two are friends now?”
They nodded like high schoolers caught making out behind the bleachers.
Codge lingered at the table, entertaining them with a few colorful stories of his youth.
“I..I should probably get going. Thanks for dinner, Codge.” She crawled out from the booth, giving him a warm embrace. “Tell Mom hi for me.”
“Will do. Are you running off back to Europe or sticking around for a while?” Codge asked.
JC shook her head. “I’m sticking around.”
“Well damn girl. Don’t make me do all the dirty work. Come say hi to Mom yourself and soon if you don’t want to be on her shit-list.”
“I promise. I’ll be back soon.” She timidly turned her attention to Reed. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”
He stood from the booth, barely resting his hand on her back. “I’ll walk out with you.” Giving Codge a firm handshake, he snapped, “I’ll deal with you later.”
Walking out the door into the cool night air, she anxiously wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
Reed placed his hands on her arms, rapidly rubbing up and down creating heat from friction.
She squirmed, withdrawing from the warm of his touch, even though she knew he meant nothing by the kind gesture. Even though his hands felt like heaven. Even though she desperately wanted him to hold her. Something split in her brain. Her confidence began to fray like a loose end of a knit scarf. She feared if she pushed too hard she would unravel on the spot.
He softly cleared his throat and tucked his hands into the pockets of loose denim riding low on his hips.
Containing the urge to sprint, she slowed her pace and trudged through the gravel, stopping beside her car. The thrashing beat of her heart pounded at the pressure points in her wrists and neck.
He stood close to her, resting his hand on the top of her car so she couldn’t open the door. “Are we friends now, JC?”
Digging restlessly through her purse for keys, she managed to push the unlock button on her Prius. JC forced her gape upward from the bottom of her bag. His ice blues and simple smile spread a wave of heat over her body.
Awkward silence filled the night between them.
She wanted to hug him goodbye, but instead shirked away. Her nose and eyes burned, fighting back a surge of trepidation. JC had never run away from a man in her life before Luca. It wasn’t in her DNA. Typically, she ran toward them, full steam ahead.
Nevertheless, nerves set in and her throat tightened. “Umm hmm. We’re friends.” Warily, she extended her hand. “I…I gotta go Reed.”