“Not even the first one?” Mountain Man’s eyebrows rose. Not mockingly. More like Danny had just admitted to never tasting chocolate.
“Nope. I’m unique that way.” He became aware of how close they were standing. Of how the guy’s scent was wrapping around him, inviting him to lean in and just inhale.
“I’m Ash, by the way.” He extended his hand.
His palm was warm and calloused, the grip firm but not crushing. “Danny.”
“Danny,” Ash repeated, the deep timbre making his name sound filthy. “Well, Danny, this is a situation that needs fixing. You should come over tonight. We’ll watch the first movie.” He paused, eyes glinting. “I’ll provide dinner and the butterbeer.”
“That…sounds both delicious and disgusting.” Danny fidgeted with the hem of his work shirt, glancing at the woman opening a cooler door, while feeling the heat of Ash’s steady gaze.
“It’s a Harry Potter thing. You’ll understand after.” His smile had to be illegal in at least forty-eight states and a few Denny’s parking lots. “So? You in?”
Say no. Say you’re busy. Say literally anything except—
“I could bring my wand,” Danny offered. Yeah, that. Literally anything but that. You don’t even own a damn wand.
Ash’s smile was slow and soft and devastating. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Why? Danny didn’t understand half of what Ash was saying, but the lumberjack was definitely flirting. A gorgeous guy was standing there flirting with him in the middle of the grocery store, and Danny wasn’t doing anything to stop this train wreck.
“I don’t even know where you live.” Literally anything but that too. Just…stop talking.
“Give me your hand.”
Danny’s arm immediately obeyed, palm up like an offering. Ash pulled a pen from Danny’s shirt pocket—one of the cheap ones from the customer service desk—and reached for his hand. Danny let him take it, too stunned to resist. Ash’s fingers were gentle as he wrote an address in neat black letters across Danny’s palm. The pen tip tickled.
“There.” He capped the pen and slid it into his own pocket. “I’m keeping this hostage until you show up.”
“That’s store property,” Danny said, wondering why he cared about office supplies.
“Then I guess you’ll have to come get it.”
Danny stared at the address on his palm. At the numbers that unexpectedly felt like life had hit the accelerator.. Ash’s scent clung to him now, pine and smoke and want, and he breathed it in before he could stop himself.
This is a terrible idea. You know this is a terrible idea. Remember Brad? Remember what happens when you fall for gorgeous men who smile at you like that?
But Ash was already walking away with his cart, and Danny couldn’t make himself care.
“Seven o’clock,” Ash called over his shoulder. “Don’t be late.”
Unable to move, Danny stood there, his skin tingling where Ash had cradled it.
“So.” Isaac appeared beside him wearing a smirk. “You gonna tell me why you’re standing there looking like someone hit you with a stun gun, or was the conversation too private to share?”
“Shut up.”
“Wait.” Isaac glanced toward the deli. “Was as that the guy I saw you falling in lust with? Did he just give you his number?”
“His address.”
Isaac whistled low. “Damn. You work fast for someone who was just contemplating petty crimes for pat-down purposes. Major upgrade from Skull.”
Danny looked down at his palm again. At the ink warming his skin.
“I’m so fucked,” he said.
Isaac gave his shoulder a light squeeze. “Yeah. But like in a fun way. Now go take your break before Pike comes back and busts a blood vessel and I have to actually come up with an alibi.”
