“Quite the night.” He says through a yawn and I know he must be exhausted, organizing everything for today along with my dad.
“You did a great job.” I praise him, squeezing his shoulder.
“Yeah? Everyone is having a great time?”
I curl my mouth to the side, “You know they are.”
His jaded blue eyes stare at me with a knowing look. He knows I miss my best friends and this brings back so many memories. His hand moves up to run through the gray highlights dusting his black hair. We both stay quiet.
“Take this, you need to hydrate yourself.” Russ slides a bottle of water across the bar and I open the cap, chugging it down. I wasn’t even aware of how thirsty I was.
Well, thirsty for something else too.
Right as I avert my gaze to the bar’s entrance Blakely enters and walks to the ladies’ room. I nearly drop the bottle with the few drops that remain in it. The sweat cascading down her skin, her damp hair hugging her soft features, and that jacket sticking to her curves can turn a monk into a sinner—fuck, I want to taste and touch her again.
She looks free.
A little crazy with the gas but it’s the kind I like.
I wait a few moments for her to exit the bathroom.
As she crosses the bar again, I say, “A dónde vas?”
“To our room.” She turns her head halfway, and a mischievous curve tugs at her mouth.
“Is that an invitation?” There is a thrill in pushing the limits and finding out what lies across.
She gives a half-suppressed laugh and walks out.
“Got to go,” I tell Russ as he serves a customer and I charge toward the door. My chest heaving wildly. I lace my hands behind my neck, stretching my muscles as I reach my room.
I have the spare key but I decide to knock on the doorinstead and she opens it as if she anticipated my arrival.
“Wilder,” I sound out of breath, dragging my shades atop my head.
“Meadow,” she crosses her hands over her chest.
I didn’t think this through much. When it comes to Blakely I don’t. It’s like this magnet pulls us together and I can’t resist her no matter how hard I try.
“Your ex showed up,” she gazes back up at me, assessing my reaction.
My brows settle in a V-shape. “What? Where?”
“Earlier. I took care of it.” Her mouth curves to the side, attempting to smile.
“What do you mean?”
“She tried to scare me away with her intimidating glare.” Her eyebrows jump once.
I contemplate for a moment, “She’s gone?”
“I think so.” Her lips pause and move again. “I told her you moved on and that you deserve better. She is the one who needs to leave you alone because you deserve a fresh start with someone who sees you for who you are and is there for you no matter what.”
My eyes flick so fast to meet hers, they hold so much honesty that I can’t look away. “Why didn’t you come here sooner?”
“I’m here now.” The anticipation twinkling in her brown eyes drives me fucking crazy.
My fingers round her jaw, holding her delicate face. The pad of my thumb stretches her lower lip as I please. “Whatif it was another night?” I watch it pop back up.
