“You know, there is a group of oak trees I favor on the route I take when I’m running, so maybe I shouldn’t judge the man for his love of nature,” there’s a teasing edge to the man’s voice and it makes me swallow hard. Suddenly he sticks his hand out between us and offers, “I’m Joss, by the way.”
“I’m Syndal,” the words come out a little hoarse and a whole lot hesitant as I slide my hand into his and hope it’s not clammy. Knowing my luck, it’s downright balmy.
Joss glances at the sign hanging from my table which declares my treat business as ‘Synful Sweets’. I thought it was cute. Now I’m second guessing myself.
What the hell is this guy doing to me?
“I’ve heard a lot of talk about your treats,” he informs me, a hint of curiosity in his voice. “After seeing everything you have, I wish I would have stopped by sooner. I don’t normally have the time and you’re usually busy or sold out.”
“Maybe you’ve earned some good karma then since you’re getting the chance to check everything out,” I throw back at him, wondering why my tongue isn’t tied.
Normally it would be, even when trying to look at Joss as just another customer.
Nothing about this man is ‘just another’ anything. My hands tingle with the need to reach out and grip his shoulders. It’s the strangest fucking impulsive thought.
You can’t just go around sinking your claws into people’s shoulders. It would get you labeled as weird. Or worse.
When Joss’s dark eyes find me again, there’s amusement there. Then they sweep down over me to come back to mine and darken. Fucking darken.
I thought for sure that was just something you read about in romance novels. Or maybe see in a movie if you’re lucky. Is it happening to me? No way. Never could have seen that coming.
With a shake of my head, because my eyes must be playing tricks on me, I point toward my table. “I certainly have sold a lot of things, but there’s a lot to choose from still. What do you like?”
He reaches out and skates his fingers over one of my sign holders pointing toward the chocolate covered bacon and then some peanut butter and chocolate eggs. “I already know it’s going to be hard not to indulge in everything you’re offering.”
The way he says the words is so much…more. My heart starts to pound in my chest in response. Is he really flirting with me? Could it be?
“Maybe today,” I joke, “but just wait for the romance convention coming up. I’ll have chocolate cocks you won’t find as enticing. At least,” I tilt my head to the side, “I don’t think you will.”
Joss chuckles and the warmth of the sound wraps around me while I can feel my face getting hot. I’m sure I’ve turned an embarrassing shade of splotchy red.
“I do think I’ll pass on the chocolate dicks,” his words are puffed out as he chuckles.
Eventhough he’s laughing and his brown eyes dance with amusement, it doesn’t feel like it is at my expense. Even though it makes no sense, something settles in the middle of my chest and my shoulders relax.
Something crosses Joss’s face, but it’s there and gone so fast I can’t quite catch it.
“They’re not for everyone,” I muse and sigh as if he’s the one missing out.
And he is. He just doesn’t know it. But I’m not surprised about his ability to pass on the experience.
“I’ll be working that convention,” he offers the words to me gently, his voice dropping an octave and making the space around us feel intimate when it shouldn’t even be possible considering where we are. “You’ll be there?”
“Yeah,” the word slips past my lips, and something dances in his eyes.
Movement next to me startles me and I jump slightly. I’m more than a little disoriented when met with a woman in a face full of make-up which makes her look like a dragon. Then there are the wings which wrap around her shoulders like a cocoon.
I almost scream, but the warmth and weight of Joss’s hand on my shoulder traps the sound in my throat. When I glance at him, there’s concern in his eyes. All I can do is nod.
I forgot where I was for a moment, all because I got so lost in…him.
“Sell your treats, Syndal,” he murmurs softly before slipping a twenty in my hand and grabbing two bags from the table.
“Oh, dragon eggs,” the squeal of delight from the woman contemplating eating her own young pulls my attention.
I know Joss has walked away without even looking, as the heat and solidness of him eases slowly. While I miss it, I don’t get the chance to dwell on the sensation.
It doesn’t make any fucking sense anyway.
