The blonde jerked her chin toward the couch. “That sexy guy has been hanging out for over an hour, hoping you’d show.” She flicked her fingers in the direction of Skye’s usual spot. “He’s had me make a fresh cup whenever the previous one gets cold. I just walked the fifth one over. It’s piping hot.”
Skye twisted toward the fire, and sure enough, someone was sitting in her spot. He had on a familiar ball cap and goofy mirrored sunglasses. His head bobbed to whatever music filled his earbuds, and two cups sat on the coffee table.
She covered her mouth, surprised. “Oh my God.”
The barista lowered her voice to a whisper. “It’s so romantic.”
“Did he pay?”
The door opened, and customers filed in line behind her.
The barista’s face pinched with confusion. “He’s running a tab.”
Skye did a quick calculation and slapped down some cash. “Here.” She couldn’t let a stranger pay for such a large bill.
“I don’t really think?—”
“I don’t care.”
Spencer's ring slipped around her finger. She stared at it and all the possibilities it represented. He loved her, and despite their problems, she cared deeply about him. But, if she was going to live the rest of her life with him, she needed to know he was the right choice. She slipped the ring off and zipped it into the inner pocket of her backpack.
With a deep breath, she went to greet Ash.
He sat with an ankle kicked over the opposite knee, hands clasped and head bowed, rocking to his own beat. He wore black jeans, well-worn hiking boots, and another faded T-shirt stretched tightly over his chest. A black leather jacket was draped over the arm of the chair. With the hat and glasses, only his lips and jawline were visible. It was a shame because he had the handsomest face.
In fact, the glasses covered much of his cheekbones, and she couldn’t make out the cut under his eye.Had he taken care of it, like he’d said he would?It would scar otherwise, and it would be a shame to mar such perfect features.
She swallowed away her nervousness, remembering how he’d held her, the way his lips had felt against her skin, the way her insides had melted, and how her body had responded to him, like it never had with Spencer.
“Hello,” she said.
He didn’t react, probably because he had the noise turned up too loud.
She nudged his shoulder, shaking gently.
His attention shifted from his hands to her. His entire body stilled, except for the smile sweeping across his face.
While she couldn’t see his eyes, the intensity of his gaze pinned her in place. He stole all the oxygen from the room, and she could barely catch her breath.
He lowered the sunglasses, revealing the iridescent deep hue that matched the scales of the dragon tattoo wrapping up his neck. He regarded her with a look of wonder. His pupils dilated as he devoured her. Two Steri-Strips held the wound closed beneath his eye. Someone had taken care of him.
“You’re here.” The awe in his voice rushed over her in waves. In one fluid movement, he moved to his feet. “After you stood me up, I thought I’d never see you again. I know this is a little stalkerish, but…I just had to see you again.”
“I didn’t stand you up. You weren’t there.”
“No way in hell would I stand you up.” He pulled her down onto the couch and settled beside her. He leaned forward, grabbed two cups resting on the coffee table, and handed her one. “Your drink.”
She took the steaming cup, her hand a bit shaky. Hell, her entire body trembled in his presence. “The barista told me that you’ve been waiting.”
He hung his head and chuckled softly. “Damn, that makes me look pathetic.”
She put a hand on his arm. “No, it’s really sweet.”
She loved the way his hair hung down to his shoulders and curled around his ears. The dragon tattoo on his neck peeked out between the strands, as if it were measuring her and not the other way around.
“Where were you last night?” she asked.
“Waiting out front.”
