“Oh, I didn’t say that.”
She tries to hide her smile behind her cup, but the dimple in her cheek gives her away.
“So, what’s your book about?” I ask.
She hesitates, swirling her drink. “Uh… this one’s about a woman who’s never experienced true love. Never thought it would be in the cards for her, and then she meets someone who… challenges that.”
“Challenges it how?”
“It’s complicated to explain.”
“Complicated, or you don’t want to tell me out of fear that you think I’ll judge you?”
She shakes her head, smiling, cheeks still rosy. “Okay, okay. The book’s about unexpected chemistry. Meeting someone who’s not part of the plan. Someone you can’t easily forget.”
My jaw tenses. That hits a little too close.
“Sounds like it’ll be a good book,” I say.
“It’s… something.” She ducks her head. “People want to escape reality. They want a safe fantasy. They don’t want—” She stops, the heat on her face rises. “Never mind.”
“Don’t do that,” I chastise. “Finish your thought.”
She sighs. “They don’t want the messy stuff. Real life or complicated people.”
My voice comes out lower than I intend. “Some complicated people are worth the trouble.” Her breath catches. Just enough for me to notice.
She sets her cup down, fingers tapping nervously on the lid. “You always talk like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you know exactly what to say to make someone blush.”
I smile slowly. “Did it work?”
She looks at the table, but I see the way her mouth twitches. “Maybe.”
Something in the air shifts. We both lean toward each other a little more.
Hope lets out a breath and finally asks, “What about you? What do you do, Frost?”
I look down at my hands, leather gloves resting beside my cup. “I ride. When I’m home, I work for my club’s towing company. Nothing special.”
“Sounds fun.” She takes another sip of her latte. “I bet you meet a lot of interesting people.”
I jerk my chin. “You could say that.”
“How long are you in town for?” she inquires.
That’s exactly why I shouldn’t be sitting here. She’s looking at me like I hung the moon by accident, and I’m starting to think I’d drive fifty miles out of my way just to hear her say my name again. I open my mouth to respond, but before anything comes out, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, having an idea who it is.
Vegas: ETA? We have a fight lined up tonight.
My stomach drops. Right, time to head out. Hope takes another sip of her peppermint mocha, oblivious, humming softly to whatever Christmas song is drifting from the speakers. She looks… content. Like this is normal, two strangers sharing a drink and flirting with each other. I guess in her world this is. My cell buzzes again.
Chaos: Where are you man? Still heading to SOMC? You’re not checking in enough. We’re getting worried.
My smile slips from my face as I read Chaos’ message.
