Page 29 of Burn With Me

One person shouldn’t make you this jittery, but he did. It was like I’d just chugged a dozen energy drinks all at once.

“I hope that it’s fine that I called. I don’t really believe in the standard rules when it comes to dating.”

“I didn’t know we were dating,” I said and then fanned my face. Glancing in the mirror, I was already going red.

Asher chuckled into the line, and the sound licked down my spine, making me squirm. “True, we aren’t, at least not yet,” he said but left the rest hanging in the air for me to figure out. “I was calling to see if you’d be interested in spending the day with me?”

“Really. What did you have in mind?”

“Well, since you’re such a daredevil, I thought we’d start with some alligator wrestling and end the day by feeding the sharks.”

“What?” I burst out laughing and he followed suit. “And you say I’m the crazy one.”

“Crazy…I’m rethinking that statement. Overly brave for your own good, most definitely. So what do you say? Hopefully, we won’t be interrupted by our very annoying arsonist.”

I contemplated all the things I should do today, like how I now had the paperwork to get items from my parents’ case examined, but Beck was right about one thing. I’d forgotten what it was like to live and have some fun. The other nice thing about Asher was that he understood my work life. As soon as that call came in, he was all business and helped me work all night and all day yesterday until we were both ready to pass out. It was nice not having to explain the importance of my job or apologize if a call came in. He already understood.

“Okay, let’s do it. What do you really have in mind?”

Asher chuckled again, and I was beginning to love that sound. “Do you know how to rollerblade?”

“I do, just not real well,” I said, my eyes going to my closet where my blades were stored.

“Excellent. Bring those, dress for the beach, and bring a change of clothes for a casual dinner. I know the perfect spot. I’ll be by in an hour to pick you up.”

I was utterly blown away. Of course, my mind instantly pictured the man in nothing but swim trunks, and my pulse skyrocketed. Oh fuck, he was going to look like one of those models doing a photo shoot, stepping out of the water like a damn god. My brain was never going to be the same.

“An hour, alright, I’ll be ready.”

“See you soon, Vi.” Asher hung up, and I stared at the phone a moment before Beck burst into the room.

“Oh my god! I’m so excited. Okay, let’s get you ready. Where did he say you were going on your date?” She pointed at the door. “I may have been listening.”

Oh dear lord.

* * *

An hour later, I looked like I was ready for a Caribbean cruise and had a bag packed. I looked down at the canvas bag and knew I could use it to weight lift. I shook my head. It was easier to go along with Beck then try to fight the tide. Why she’d insisted on me wearing these little white jean shorts that looked like my ass was trying to eat them was beyond me. I couldn’t wait to get changed as soon as I was out of her sight.

The sound of Asher’s diesel truck reached my ears before I could see it coming down the street, and the nervous butterflies took flight all over again. He pulled up the street in front of the apartment building, and I wanted to skip down the stairs like I’d just lost my mind.

Asher hopped out and came around, even though I didn’t need his help, and pulled open the back door.

“Here, let me. I’ll toss your bag in the back,” he said, taking the heavy beast from my hands. If he noticed how heavy it was, he didn’t say before turning to look at me.

“You look perfect. I love that you have these over your shoulder so casually.” Asher smirked.

He flicked one of the wheels on my rollerblades, making it spin, before taking them from me as well. His eyes glanced over my outfit before our eyes met, and even with the dark sunglasses on, I felt like I was melting under the intense stare.

Once more, I found myself completely tongue-tied.

“Thanks, you look great, too.” If there were an award given out for sounding lame, I would’ve won it fifty times over by now.

Asher leaned in, and I tensed, thinking he was moving in to kiss me, but he reached behind me as his hand went to the handle of the truck It was impossible not to feel the heat coming off his skin and smell the intoxicating scent of the ocean mixed with a hint of fire. That smell seemed to cling to him.

Unable to help it, I took a step closer to the truck, and he pulled open the door. The cool air hit my back, making me shiver. I felt stuck between wanting to leap into the vehicle and being frozen in place, completely trapped by the command of his eyes. It felt like I was waiting for his permission to release me when he hadn’t spoken a single word.

“Go on, hop on in,” he said, and I jumped into the truck like he’d shot me out of a cannon.