“Why would I look elsewhere when you’re in the room?”
She shakes her head, partially to hide her natural blush. “Shameless flirt.” Martin deposits the shots by her elbow, and she turns to gather them between her fingers. “Thank you for the drinks,” she says.
Before I can say or do anything else, someone wraps their arm around my shoulders to pull me back. “Is that my big bro?” Gaby slurs. She’s already smashed? She literally just walked in, for heaven’s sake. I’d bet my entire Lego collection that she’sgoing to be so drunk I’ll have to take care of her all night long. “You” – she pokes her nail in my pectoral – “go celebrate with your friends and leave my bestie alone. You already see her every single day of the week, so she’s mine tonight, ’kay?”
I mock a salute. “You got it, boss.”
Alara hands the shot glasses to Gaby. “Bring these to the table? I’ll be a sec. Don’t drop them.”
“I’ve got it!”
Gaby is already sauntering off, and thankfully disappears without questioning us further.
“She’s such a lightweight.” Alara chuckles, keeping her eyes on Gaby to make sure she gets to their table. “I’ll watch over her, don’t worry.”
“I know you will.” I reach for the belt loop of her jeans, wrapping an arm around her waist to dip my mouth to her ear. With her palm laid flat on my chest, there’s no doubt that she can feel how wild my heartbeat is. “We have unfinished business, Alara.”
“Yes, we do.” The hint of seduction woven into her dulcet voice gives me chills. Then, she cups my jaw, stands on her tiptoes, and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Happy birthday, superstar.”
A rush of cold air hits me in the wake of her absence, and, with the lingering touch of her lips on me, I realize that Iwanther. And, tomorrow, I’m taking what I want. Tomorrow, I’m being selfish.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DIEGO
The crisp air slipping through the crack of the open door sends a rush of cold through Rock Snow.
The store is closing in less than five minutes, and I’m the only one left here. Joe had to leave early for an appointment at the dentist’s and left me to close. Knowing he trusts me enough to lock up and keep a key makes me feel proud. Earning his trust and respect has always been a goal of mine and, now that I have both, I intend to stay on his good side.
I glance up from the computer I’ve been logging out of as Alara walks in.
My heart comes to a brief halt before going back to beating again. I haven’t seen her all day – haven’t seen her since Saturday night at Heidi’s Corner. When she didn’t come into the shop, even though her usual dirty chai latte was waiting for her on the front desk, I had to call her. I was worried she’d gotten sick or slept through her alarm, which isn’t like her. Turned out she was going out of town with her mom to meet with a client.
“Hi,” she says softly. “Sorry, I’ll be a minute. I just have to take a photo of an article number for my mom.”
She hurries to the storage room, leaving me contemplatingthe way her long wool coat engulfs her body to her ankles. The scent of her perfume leaves a trail of sweetness in its wake, compelling me to follow it. But there are two minutes left before I can finally call it a day, and I have a feeling these next hundred and twenty seconds will be the longest ones yet.
At 6 p.m. on the dot I shut off the computer, go to the front door and lock it, turn off all the lights, and head toward the back of the shop. The storage room is big enough that I got lost the first time I had to organize it. Shelves upon shelves are full of boxes and items we need to stock up front, with just a few chairs and tables to use for a quick break.
Thankfully, I won’t have to look too hard for the woman I’ve been chasing, because, as usual, she’s the first thing I see when I enter the room.
And. Fuck. Me.
The back of Alara’s thighs are backed up against the table set by a wall, her coat draped along a chair. She’s wearing a cute black cardigan, a skirt entirely too short to be wearing in the winter, and fucking thigh-high socks that make my jaw go slack.
Checking the room to ensure there are no surveillance cameras, I shut the door behind me and turn the lock. The soft sound makes her look up from her phone.
“I’m sorry. I’m just waiting for an answer to make sure it’s what she wants, then I’ll be out of here.”
Lazily striding toward her with my hands in the pockets of my jeans, I wander my eyes over her beautiful physique again. “I’m not in a rush. Are you going somewhere?”
She glances down at her outfit and deposits her phone on the table. “I’m having dinner with the girls.”
I nod, rubbing a palm across my jaw. “You look beautiful.”
“I do?” She tilts her head, a shy smile blooming on her glossy lips.
“Insanely pretty,” I breathe out.
