“It’s okay,” I say, even though it comes out grumpy and full of angst. “My fault.”
She hands me the boxes carefully, our fingers touching just long enough for a zing of electricity to race through my fingertips the second her skin connects with mine.
She doesn’t move her hand. We just stand there staring at each other for what feels like eons, even though it’s only a few seconds.
“Thank you,” she says breathlessly. “I’m going to be honest. I thought I was going to have to close up my shop already. I know you are just being nice, but I truly appreciate you buying me out the way you did.”
“I’m not nice,” I growl, doing my best to subdue the attraction that’s building inside of me. “Far from it, actually.”
She giggles. “Okay, okay. You’re not nice. I get it.”
Her hand’s still there, her touch burning through me like a racing wildfire, trying to keep up with my unsteady pulse that’s desperately chasing my rapidly beating heart.
She clears her throat, gulping nervously as we connect silently through our eyes. Then her cheeks burn a bright pink…
Maybe there is a chance for me after all.
The door bursts open, extinguishing the flames roaring between us as Gremlin and the rest of the prospects come marching in, grabbing some more boxes.
It’s only then that she removes her hand.
“Sorry, VP, just grabbing some more sweet treats. What are we going to do with all this stuff, anyway?”
“Eat it,” I growl, my tone only softening when she looks my way. “Take a few boxes and distribute them to people walking along Main Street. Get the word out about her shop.” My focus never wavers from her eyes. “Got any business cards or pamphlets?”
She grins. “Plenty!” she says with a squeak. “That’s one thing I did invest in.”
“Good, give some to Gremlin. He and the rest of the prospects will distribute them around town.” My eyebrow raises as I shoot Gremlin a firm look that says:‘Do as I say or else!’ “Wear something nice when you do. I don’t want you to scare off potential buyers by wearing your cut.”
Gremlin frowns. “Chicks dig the cut, though.”
“Just do as I say, Prospect.” Her eyes remind me of Spanish moss, the kind that you find deep in the forest attached to large rocks and trees that has hints of yellow fading to bright forest green, or maybe even a freshly polished stone of andradite garnet, the kind that twinkles when the light hits it just right. Fuck, they’re all I can focus on. “Do it for Mindy.”
Blush invades her cheeks again and, at the moment, it feels like we are the only two people in the room.
“Got it. Make an impression. A good one. For fuck’s sake, the man has lost his goddamn mind.” Gremlin leaves the room, cussing under his breath, making Mindy giggle.
“He’s never going to stop cussing, is he?”
“Probably not.”
“That’s okay, I understand. That’s the kind of life men like you lead.”
“Is it off-putting?”
She shakes her head. “No, bikers don’t scare me.”
“Not even someone who looks like me?”
Her fingers swiftly move a piece of stray hair that’s fallen into her eyes. If she hadn’t moved it herself, I would have done it for her, needing to stare into that blissful hazel and lose myself in her gaze. She lays a friendly hand on my arm, melding it perfectly to my bicep like she’s a part of me. “Especially not you, Krampus. You’re one of the good ones. I can tell.”
Great, I’m losing my touch.
“There’s nothing good about me, Mindy. I was born an asshole, and I’ll stay one the rest of my life.”
She laughs. “Keep telling yourself that, Krampus. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I won’t let anyone know that underneath all that leather and bad attitude is a man with a huge heart.” She pats my bicep and winks. “Come on, there are more boxes to be loaded up. You haven’t even gotten to the pies yet.”
Her eyes flutter flirtatiously my way, knocking the breath from my lungs.
