“Be over in five.” The line went dead.
What the hell?
She called Elsa. After several rings, Elsa answered.
“How’s my angel?” Elsa asked.
“In a heated conversation with the devil,” Slash replied. “Were you napping?”
“I’m doing a word game on the computer while my chocolate cake bakes in the oven. Why are you talking to the devil?”
“I’m having dinner with your grandson tonight,” Slash said.
“You and Luciano are good friends,” Elsa said.
“Not Luciano.”
Silence.
“Carrera. I’m having dinner with him.”
“That’s a surprise.”
“It’s for work.”
“I hope you can get through the meal without swearing at each other,” Elsa said.
“I thought you should know in case I get murdered.”
Elsa laughed. “He’s not going to kill you.”
“Do you need help with anything tomorrow?”
“I’m good, dear. Come by for chocolate cake. Oh, there goes my timer. Love you, Amanda May.” Elsa hung up.
Slash slid her phone into the armband, grabbed her switchblade, and left through her garage. While waiting for it to close, she started stretching.
Carrera pulled up, parked at the curb. When he exited his truck, she gave him the once over. A ratty T-shirt and running shorts covered his perfect physique.
With more swagger than one man should have, he stalked over to her, her heart pounding faster with each step. Then, he shot her a smile that lit her insides on fire.
“Hey,” he said.
She hit the timer on her sports watch. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”
“I’ll do my best,” he replied.
They started out at a brisk pace. While she normally ran alone, she didn’t mind having a running partner. Her issue with this one? They were too close, he was too damn sexy, and he smelled phenomenal.
It was an overload to her senses and a big distraction. She ran to clear her head, to sort through work issues, to think about whatever. Now, as they fell into a steady rhythm, he was interfering with her ability to think at all.
Just one big, muscular magnet pulling her closer and closer. Their arms brushed. A zing skittered through her.
“Which way at the corner?” he asked.
“Left,” she replied.
More silence as their breathing fell in line.
