“Do you often stare up at the sky with a smile like that?”
That voice.
“Hi, Dean.” I blinked my eyes open, a blip of panic rooting deep in my stomach. Shit. He wore a cutoff shirt, showcasing his ripped arms, and black running shorts. His damn backwards hat and Ray Bans perfected his look of utter sexiness. He was like an ice cream cone ofmy type.I wanted to lick him.
“What’s with the grin?” His lips quirked up, and he took off the sunglasses and put them on his hat.
“The scent.” I inhaled again, my skin prickling as his gaze moved from my face toward my legs. “I love it.”
“Is someone having a bonfire or something?”
“No. It’s the scent of summer,” I said, really homing in on my crazy. “It’s like sunscreen and grass and swimming pool andheatcombined into this perfect concoction. It makes me happy. That’s all. I’m sure you have a favorite scent of something.”
“Uh, I don’t think I do. I mean, I love the smell after they take care of the field. Or that immediate change of air walking out of the locker room.” Dean ran a hand over his jaw. “I’ve never thought about scents like that.”
“It’s my strongest sense. I know people by their smells.” My face flushed, and I winced. “Not in a creepy way. In a… I recognize Lo’s perfume and Mally’s lotion or Callum’s laundry detergent. It’s just a thing I have.”
Stop talking about smells. Talk about the weather.
“Man, is it gonna rain?” I squeaked.
“How do I smell then? Do I have one?” He stepped closer, his lips parted with interest.
“Everyone does.” I gulped. He was close. Near enough I could see the lines of sweat dripping down his bicep. Did he just work out? Probably. He smelled of sweat and leather, woodsy too. He reminded me of a summer camping trip, only no fire yet. Could I tell him that? Absolutely the hell not. “But you smell fine.”
“Fine.”
“Yes. Totally fine. Good, some might say.” I gripped the fabric of my dress, desperate to stop this. “Anyway, I’m off. Great seeing you, Romano.” I quickened my pace toward the house, but not a second later, he was next to me. I eyed him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m walking to where I live. What areyoudoing?”
“Also walking to where you live.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I figured. Luca texted us that the girls were coming over for some dumb chat about a dumb list and that if Callum added anything about Lo on the list, he would punch hisdumbface.”
“That sounds all on par.”
We walked side by side, our fingers brushing for a second. A jolt of electricity burst through me from the small touch. An awkward, squawk-like sound escaped my throat, which I had to turn it into a cough and pray Dean assumed I swallowed a bug. This was where my life was at, that Iwantedmy crush to think I’d inhaled an insect rather than freaking out about our pinky fingers touching.
No wonder I need this list.
I sent anotherfuck youto Coach Emily to have me spiraling about a pinky touch. Was this her fault? Probably not this specifically, but I was mad at her all the same.
The house was in sight! I only needed to act chill and cool and sexy for twenty more seconds. Less, if I ran. But that would draw attention.
“You do any more dares since Tuesday?” Dean asked, his voice holding a twinge of amusement. “Ask to buy shots for more men?”
“Why the laughter, Romano? Is the idea of me doing that funny?”
“I’ve seen you try and wink, Mack, so yes.” He nudged his arm with mine. “You were cute though. That helps.”
“Wow, a compliment from you.” I rolled my eyes, but holy shit, he said I was cute. Me! Dean Romano! My insides did back handsprings while my face was as hot as a damn fireball.
He never responded because Callum sat on their porch, nursing a beer and wearing a smirk made for mischief. “Damn, Mallinson, you look good. It’s gonna have to come off though.”
“What?” Dean asked, his voice lower. “Why…what did you say?”
“Why am I taking my clothes off?” I hopped up the stairs, thankful for the distraction from being near Dean. It was weird, how we’d been alone more this week than we had in years. My heart raced per usual, but there was a comfort with him that was hard to explain. He seemed… focused when he spoke to me, like he was really listening when before I was just a blob of a person who he spoke to when needed.
