She takes another bite of her piece as I retrieve the second batch of mushrooms from the fryer. “Sorry, I got sidetracked,” Alex states when he rejoins us.
Oaklee looks over to the large group of people congregating around the food. “The blonde with her boobs hanging out?” she asks, smiling as she finishes off her first piece of fish.
Alex just grins. “See? Distracting.”
He jumps in, helping me finish battering the last batch of mushrooms, and while I continue to steal glances at Oaklee, something hits me. Not too long ago, I would have zeroed in on whoever it was he was talking to. I might have even gone over there and flirted a little too, leaving him standing at the fryer to cook.
My gaze returns to the woman standing close. She’s looking past the barn, the warm breeze gently moving the random hairs hanging around her ears. Suddenly, I want to finish this up and jump on my quad. I had already planned to take her for a ride around the property, and now, watching her stare out at the landscape, I want that more than anything.
More than I want to eat the delicious food over by the oak tree.
More than I want to check out the blonde with her boobs hanging out.
More than I want my next breath.
I’m ready to feel her arms wrapped around my waist and her thighs hugging me tightly, but more than that, I’m anxious to share my favorite spots with her and see them through her eyes. I want to hang out with my friends, share a few beers, and tell old stories around the fire, and I want to do it with her at my side, laughing along at the ridiculousness being shared.
Because there’s a lot of ridiculousness with this group.
“Yo, Cade. You’re burning the mushrooms.”
I glance down and grab the strainer, quickly scooping the vegetables out of the oil. They’re not burnt, but they’re a bit darker than I normally cook them.
Alex dumps them in the bowl and pats them down with fresh paper towel. “I’ll run these over to the masses and be sure to tell them it’s your fault they were burned.”
I snort. “I have no doubt you will.”
“You burned them?” Oaklee asks, returning to stand beside me as I start to clean up some of the mess.
“Not burned. I was…distracted.”
“By?” she asks, her lips curled slightly upward.
“You.”
“Oh.”
I step toward her, not touching her since I have greasy, gross hands that need to be washed, but close enough that our bodies are only a whisper apart. “You’re very distracting, beautiful Oaklee.”
She gazes up at me and licks her lips. I zero in on them, wanting to claim them with my own in front of God and everyone here. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault you’re completely gorgeous, and distracted me from what I was doing.”
And there it is. The light blush she gets every time I compliment her. She always seems so surprised by the compliments, which just pisses me off. What kind of asshole dates this woman and doesn’t tell her every chance he gets how amazing and beautiful she is?
A cheating asshole who doesn’t see her worth, that’s who.
I clear my throat and turn off the heat to my fryer. “Let’s go make plates. Then, when we’re done, I’m taking you for a ride.”
Humor fills her eyes once more as she grins up at me. “A ride, huh?”
“Damn right,” I reply, stepping back from the heat source, but wishing I wasn’t still feeling a little hot under the collar, if you know what I mean. “Now, let’s go grab some grub before the rest of the assholes eat it all. Then, you’re all mine.”
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Oaklee
