“Turn around.” He gestured for me to spin on the stool.
I shot him a suspicious glance but did as instructed.
From across the bar, he touched each lock of my hair, one by one.
I craned my neck, trying to see what he was up to. “What are you doing?”
“Still no gray hairs.” He dropped my hair and patted my shoulder. “You’re good.”
“Well, that’s something, at least,” I said, turning to face him again.
That gave me a perfect view of his grin.
My stomach flipped at the sight.
“You sure know how to keep life interesting, Emersyn,” he said.
I’d already told him about the pawnshop escapade. He’d laughed so hard that he’d drawn the attention of a few nearby patrons. Thankfully, they’d since gone back to minding their own business.
“But,” he continued, “when I asked you to take someone with you to Vinny’s place, I wasn’t talking about senior citizens.”
I sighed. “Sometimes you’ve just got to work with what you’ve got.”
“And you do,” he said, his magnetic gaze locking on mine. “Work it, I mean.”
The room temperature spiked as electricity sizzled in the air between us.
Without breaking eye contact, Bodie tipped his head to the side, indicating a door markedStaff Only. “Come on. There’s something I want to show you.”
Intrigued, I slid off the stool.
“Hey, Gina,” Bodie called to the lone server working the floor. “I’m taking five.”
He came out from behind the bar and took my hand, leading the way through the door.
My skin buzzed, especially where his hand held mine.
As the door swung shut behind us, Bodie stopped. I did a quick visual sweep of our surroundings before focusing my attention on him.
“This is what you wanted to show me?” I asked. “A dimly lit corridor with unsightly stains on the floor?”
“Not the ideal atmosphere, I admit. And it’s not what I wanted to show you.”
“Then what?”
He took both of my hands in his. “I want to show you how I feel about you, Emersyn.”
The hum of electricity running along my skin intensified as he held my gaze.
He let go of one of my hands so he could cup my cheek. He searched my eyes, as if looking for permission.
I drew in a sharp breath, my lips parting.
His eyes darkened with desire.
Then his mouth was on mine, gentle at first, then hungry, more insistent.
I rose up onto my toes, leaning into the kiss, seeking the tipping point that would send me over the brink.
