A heavenly chocolate.
Sultry with a hint of . . .
Anger?
“Are you done checking me out?”
Clearing my throat, I stand and wipe my hand on my pants. “Sorry, you . . . uh . . . startled me.”
She walks to the kitchen and grabs the sponge from the sink. “Maybe because you’re snooping where you shouldn’t be.” Bending in front of me, her head mere inches from my crotch, she wipes up the beer. “Who are you anyway? Does Racer know you’re in here? He’s a private guy and doesn’t really like people in his house.”
When she stands, I tilt my head to the side, studying her. “You must be the brunette Racer was talking about.”
Tossing the sponge from her position, she lands it directly in the sink. Damn. “Avoiding my question, I see.”
“Not avoiding.” I stick out my hand. “I’m Hayden, known Racer since we were kids.” I nod at the cabinets in the kitchen as she slips her slight hand in mine. “I helped install those on one of the hottest fucking summers of my life.”
She quirks her head, a welcoming smile tugging at her lips. “Hayden Holmes? As in the man with the right hook?”
I roll my eyes and pull on the back of my neck. “How much was he talking about the fight?”
“Ever since we got here. He keeps trying to reenact it with everyone. When it was my turn, he told me to flop my tongue out of my mouth when he made fake contact.”
“Jesus Christ . . . did you do it?”
She shrugs. “I mean, I had no reason not to.”
I chuckle, loving her sense of humor. “So do you have a name, or are you just referred to as the brunette in the bathroom?”
“God, they have no class.” Shakes her head. “Brunette in the bathroom is unfortunately my nickname, but I go by Adalyn.”
Adalyn. Such a pretty name.
“Nice to meet you, Adalyn.”
We smile at each other for a few moments before Racer busts through the back door, chocolate on his face, beer in hand.
“There you are. We thought your ass got stuck in the toilet.” Racer comes up behind Adalyn and wraps his arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss against her temple. “Did you meet my boy, Hayden?”
“I did.” She scans me up and down, her little pink tongue barely wetting her lips.
“He didn’t give you any problems, did he?”
Still eyeing me, I grow a little nervous wondering if she’s going to call me out for snooping in front of Racer. I don’t want to embarrass him, so I pray she keeps our little interaction to just us.
“Nah, he did spill some beer on your floor, but I took care of it.”
“That’s my girl.” Racer presses another kiss against her cheek, and I wonder if they’re romantically involved. From the stiff set of Adalyn’s shoulders I’m going to assume no. Directing his attention to me, Racer says, “Addie Girl is one of my best friends and is untouchable, so don’t even think about making a move on her.”
“Untouchable, huh?” Adalyn asks, patting Racer on the stomach and pulling away, headed toward the backyard. “When did that happen?”
“When a professional hockey player, who just so happens to be one of my best friends, decided to grace us with his presence, that’s when.”
“Afraid I’ll get caught up in all his muscles?” She’s at the threshold of the door, waiting for his answer.
“Terrified.”
Laughing, she steps out into the cool night air, heading straight for the fire pit.
