He gives me the side-eye. “You are lit, Jas. You’re just damn good at hidin’ it.”
“Fuck you. I came, didn’t I?” Shoving my chair back, I push to my feet and wince as my right knee threatens to buckle. “You can go back to ignorin’ me now. See you in a year. Or…never.”
He doesn’t look up. The memories in that glass mean more to him than I ever did.
By the time I get outside, I’m halfway to forgiving him. Probably a side effect of the whiskey. AJ’s gone through hell for almost two years. He’s earned that stick up his ass. But would it kill him to take it out for five fuckin’ minutes?
My rideshare app claims the nearest car is forty-five minutes away. Shit. I knew I should have left hours ago.
I won’t make it home on foot. Not with my bum leg. My apartment is three miles from here. And goin’ back inside? Fuck that. The coffee shop on the corner is open late. At least there, I can sit alone and sober up. Maybe by the time I get home, I’ll be so exhausted, it won’t matter how much pain I’m in.
But when I push through the door, the first thing I see is a pair of crimson fuck-me heels.
Turn around, Jas. Right now.
But, I can’t. Slowly, I lift my gaze. Toned, tanned legs, red silk clinging to a tight ass, and long brown locks. Emmylou Marsh stands at the counter staring up at the menu.
“I’ll have a cappuccino with almond milk,” she says. “Make it a double shot.” A car honks out on the street, and Emi tosses a glance over her shoulder. All the color drains from her cheeks. “Mr. Blade? What are you doing here?”
Shit. I shove my hands into my Wranglers. “Waitin’ for my rideshare somewhere my brother’s foul mood won’t rub off on me. Don’t worry. I ain’t followin’ you.”
“Oh. I didn’t think?—”
The left side of my mouth curls up into a half smile. “You sure? That look on your face says otherwise.”
Emi blushes, her cheeks almost the same color as her dress now. “I’m sorry. It was a long evening, and it’s going to be an even longer night of work when I get back to the office.” Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Emi beckons me up to the counter. “You bought my drink earlier. The least I can do is buy yours now.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I do. What’ll it be, Mr. Blade?”
I sidle up to the register. Damn. She’s only inches away from me, and those chestnut eyes of hers are mesmerizing. “Call me Jasper. I’ll take a coffee. Black. No room for cream.”
“Now that’s the drink of a man who doesn’t believe in joy. Or doesn’t sleep much.” She passes her phone over the card reader. “Which one are you, Jasper?”
“Both, I reckon.” The urge to tell her why I don’t sleep shouldn’t be this strong. I barely know the woman. But there’s something about her. Or maybe that’s all the whiskey talking.
“Do you want to sit down?” Emi asks once the barista hands us our drinks. “The hotel valet was so busy, they said it would be at least twenty minutes before they could get to my car.”
“I’ve got some time.” I gesture for her to pick a table, and she leads me to one next to the window, angling her chair so she can see the front of the hotel—and presumably her car when it shows up.
Lifting the to-go cup, she takes a sip of the cappuccino. A spot of foam dots the corner of her mouth. Watching the tip of her tongue dart out to flick it away is practically a religious experience.
Fuck. Get your act together. You ain’t lookin’ to start something.
The scent of the dark brew grounds me. “Your boss sends you to a fancy party and then expects you to work all night? On a Saturday?” I ask.
Her laugh sends blood shooting right to my dick.
“I should go home,” she says with a little shrug. “But I have a big interview on Monday that I need to prepare for. At the office, I’m less likely to fall asleep mid-email.”
“What kind of interview?” I keep my tone casual—just making conversation—though I’m desperate to know more about her.
“That’s a secret. If it goes well, you’ll find out when the rest of Austin does. Monday night at 6:12 p.m. Give or take.” Her smile lights up her entire face. Lips parted, pupils dilated, a flush creeping up her neck… She’s genuinely excited. Giddy, even.
I raise a brow, aiming my own grin her way. “Are you good at secrets, Emi?”
Her top teeth sink into her bottom lip and she fixes me with a heavy-lidded gaze. “Secrets come with the job, Jasper. And I’m very good at my job.”
