Her ego could pass up the stroke of hearing the cookies were pretty. A sugary shortbread topped with white icing and black piping to draw the June calendar, the treats had come out well.
“I’m good.” Bristol shook her head. “Jamie and I are going now.”
If he seemed surprised by her proclamation, he didn’t show it.
When her mother scowled in disapproval, Jamie glossed over that sour expression. “She promised to spend some time with me since we’re still getting to know one another.” He reached across the table and snagged a cookie out of the red plastic container. “Nice to meet you all.”
With that, he grabbed her purse from the table and all but pulled her out of the restaurant, taking a big bite of the pastry as they hit the door. Just outside, he stopped completely and moaned. “Oh, my god. This cookie is a foodgasm. You’re amazing.”
She raised a cocky brow and grinned up at him. “Did you doubt me?”
“No, and now I never will.” He moaned again. “No wonder Jayla manipulated you for cookies. I may have to steal her strategy.”
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be around long enough for that since she only did temporary relationships now, but that was all right. He could flirt all he wanted. “How about an ooey-gooey cinnamon roll? They’re what I’m truly known for. I’ll make you a pan…” She took a deep breath and decided to shoot her shot. “If you’re still with me come morning.”
He froze altogether—everything except his eyes. They came absolutely alive. Dark, focused, demanding as he scanned her face to see if she was serious. God, he really was hot. She couldn’t wait to see him without the black skullcap, without the clothes that hid what she felt sure would be a breath-stealingly hard body. Not to mention that he was funny and nice and…seemingly on her same wavelength.
“Your place?” he asked.
“Is that a yes?”
He grabbed her shoulders, pressing their foreheads together. “That’s a hell yes. Lead the way. I’ll follow you on my bike.”
Bristol didn’t wait for Jamie to change his mind. She dug her keys from her purse and leveled him with a stare full of come-hither. “Keep up.”
“I will,” he vowed. “Once I have you naked and under me, I’ll take my time learning exactly what makes you come undone. And when I’m deep inside you, I’ll make you forget Hayden—and every other man who’s ever touched you. You won’t regret a damn thing.”
Bristol refused to regret anything. In fact, she was determined they would make this a night to remember.
She hopped in her car, and he followed her on some sleek black-and-chrome motorcycle. Watching him lean over the machine, his thighs hugging the bike as it roared and purred, seeing him handle it with an enticing male grace and agility, totally revved her desire. She’d always dated seemingly good guys…who never turned out to be quite as good as she’d thought. Jamie was all bad boy.
And Bristol couldn’t wait.
A few miles shy of Lewisville, Jayla called, so she answered the call right away. “Hey!”
“I tried to save you, but your mama wouldn’t listen.”
“Save me?” Her stomach tightened with worry. “Uh oh. What does that mean?”
“She wants you to come to dinner on Tuesday night—and to bring Jamie.”
“I can’t. He’s my Saturday night fling.”
“Well, your mama thinks he’s your new man.”
“And whose fault is that?” Bristol groused. “He and I will have to ‘break up’ before then.”
Jayla got quiet. That was never a good sign.
“Spit it out. What’s the issue?”
“Your mama invited half of Lewisville, and the townsfolk are starting to wonder out loud if you’re even interested in hanging onto a man.”
Bristol gripped the steering wheel. “I’m not—not anymore.”
“But you know how they think. You’re either a good girl looking to get married or a ho-bag who doesn’t deserve their business.”
“Damn it. So if I don’t pair up with Jamie until death do us part before he dumps me horribly—much later—I’ll lose their sympathy and no one will buy another mushroom omelet or peach cobbler from me?”
