I turn in the small space between the back of my chair and his body. I let my eyes take their time as they crawl up his chest, clad in a soft, slightly clingy black and gray striped dress shirt, strong neck to his biteable full bottom lip, to his kissable top lip, to his perfect nose to his warm eyes. “I can’t. You shouldn’t pay.”
“I asked you here, didn’t I?” When I nod, he continues. “In case I didn’t make it clear earlier, I’m telling you now—it’s a date.”
Okay, now we’ve officially changed the trajectory of our relationship. Officially. Oh, God. Those crazy, out-of-control feelings are filling me up again. I feel like a helium balloon getting lighter and lighter. And that’s completely terrifying.
Avery dips his head, his eyes still glued to mine. “Don’t look so uneasy. I’m the one who doesn’t do this, the monk as your brother and everyone else nicknamed me, so I should be the terrified one.”
“Yes, well, I’m accidentally on a date with God’s gift to hockey and women,” I snark, and try hard to smile and start toward the door.
“It’s not accidental,” he whispers back, his face still incredibly close to mine. “It’s on purpose.”
The walk to the bar where Ty and Maddie are is short—about half a block. We walk in silence for a few feet until Avery looks over his shoulder and back at me. “I bet he shows up at Alibi.”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
“What? No. Why would he do that?” I ask.
“Because he heard me mention it and he knows you’re going to be there and he checked out your ass when you walked away.” He’s leaned down to say this in my ear, and his breath tickles the back of my neck. I’m suddenly thrilled I wore my hair up tonight.
I quicken my step to pull away from him a little bit—it’s either that or turn around and start to rip his clothes off. “Daniel is not going to follow me to the bar.”
Avery takes one step with his long muscular legs and is back in step beside me. “He’s going to show up.”
“Nope.”
“Wanna bet?”
We’re a few feet from the bar. I stop and turn to face him. Avery smiles down at me, his caramel eyes mischievous and his lips curled into a smile that I want to kiss right off.
“You’re on,” I say, and extend my hand. Avery wraps his hand around mine and holds it more than shakes it. His grip is solid and warm and it makes me feel tingly.
“What’s the wager?” I ask.
“If I’m right…” He stops talking and we stare at each other for a long, sexually charged minute that has my panties getting damp and sucks the air from my lungs. “You have to come home with me.”
Did he just…? Does he mean…? “I live next to you. I always go home with you.”
“I mean into my house, up the stairs and into my bed home with me,” he clarifies without blinking, which is fine because I’m blinking enough for the both of us.
“You’re really good at clarifying things,” I can’t help but chirp, which is so silly it makes him smile.
“Years of media training finally comes in handy.” He cocks his head and I realize we’re still shaking hands. And I just agreed to sleep with him if I lose this bet. When I take my hand back from his, I’m amazed it isn’t shaking. “Deal.”
I force myself to turn and walk toward the bar. It’s like trying to drive a car with the parking brake on. My body does not want to leave him behind. But I have to or else the bet will be off and we’ll be naked in an alley. And I mean that, which is why I need to stay away from him until I get myself together. I will sleep with him. I know this without a doubt now, whether Daniel shows up at Alibi or not. I will, because I want to, but I have to somehow keep myself from drowning in him, because drowning in anything is too scary for me.
I slip into the bar and slide past Larue, who is standing near the open door. He winks at me. “Ty said you were joining us but I didn’t believe him.Tu sais que le plusieurs temps que to prends avec nous…”
“Shut it, Alex,” I say before he can finish his sentence that started withthe more time you spend with us, but he finishes it anyway.
“The less time you spend between the sheets!”
“I said shut it!” and for good measure I repeat it in French.“Ferme ta gueule.”
I go straight for the bar to order a mojito and find myself praying that, even though it would creep me out, Daniel shows up here tonight.
Chapter 13
