Page 54 of The Rogues

Is that champagne?

“Hi!” I say, a little breathy due to my surprise. Then I notice the alpha that’s with him, the one I just accidentally ran into. I take a side step away from him and closer to Jamie, but still smile all the same. “Oh, hello.”

Jamie points at his friend. “Ethan, this is Josie. And Josie, this is Ethan. We grew up together in Kiss Cove.”

Ethan smiles at me and I return it. His hair is cut so short, I can see a birthmark just above his ear, and his tattoos are full of music memorabilia, including several guitar pics and an intricately detailed music sheet on his forearm.

“Oh, cool! Do you play music, too?” I ask, pointing at his arm.

Ethan confirms with a nod. “My band actually played tonight, too. I’m the guitar player for Wolfs and Heathens.”

My eyes widen. “I’ve heard of you! That song, what’s it called?” I pause to think. “‘Everlast Fanatic!’”

“It’s still in the top ten right now,” Jamie says proudly.

I can’t help but cheese at the revelation. “How cool is that? That you both get to do this.”

“Yeah, thankfully,” Jamie adds. “Our small town was so small, everyone knew each other.”

“Are the people there nice at least?” I ask.

“The nicest,” Ethan confirms. “In fact, that might have been a part of the problem. We were the ones with too much angst.”

They both laugh and I grin, watching them. I wish I could stay and listen to all of the old stories of their hometown, maybe even get Ethan to tell me some embarrassing stories about young Jamie, but I can’t. My friends are already waiting for me, and I don’t want them to be suspicious if I’m late.

“I have to go meet Lark at the restaurant,” I say, shooting Ethan a kind smile. “It was nice meeting you.”

I give Jamie one last look. His lips are flattened, like he wants to say something else, but I walk away before he can get the chance. When I get a few feet away, I hear him.

“Josie, wait.”

I halt my steps and turn to him. “Yes?”

He swallows nervously before saying, “Malaki gave me your number. He said it was okay.”

I bite my lip and give a shy nod. “Yes, he said he would.” I pause for a moment. “But you haven’t texted.”

It’s been a few days since my impromptu and incognito date with Malaki. When he asked if he could give my number to Jamie, I was excited. I was hoping I’d hear from him by now, but there’s been nothing.

“I wanted to.” He smiles. “But I wanted to hear from your lips first that it’s okay.”

His orchid scent blossoms now that we’re out in the open, and I can’t help the tiny whine that escapes me at the forbidden floral scent as it travels through my nose. I catch his eye, noticing the anxiousness there, and give him a soft look.

“I want you to text me. Whenever. Anytime.”

I try to say it casually, but my voice is husky. He must catch the desperation I try to hide, because his lips turn up into a delicious grin. “Good,” he says. “Be expecting one, then.”

It’s hard to walk away, but I find the strength to peel myself from his orbit and go on my way. With every step, I can still smell flowers on my skin, the dark bite of it so intoxicating that I have to fold my lip between my teeth to keep from giving a wanton sigh.

Lark and Nicola are seated at a corner table of the tiny restaurant, their glasses full of pretty liquid and a plate of bread between them as they quietly look over their menus. I take a step forward and greet them.

“Hey guys. Where’s Cleo?”

“She’s sleeping, I guess. She didn’t answer her phone.” Lark shrugs. “Do you guys want to get mozzarella sticks?”

“There’s always room for mozzarella sticks,” Nicola chirps happily, then gives a dramatic sigh. “I wish I smelled like a mozzarella stick.”

“No, you don’t. You’re just hungry,” Lark grumbles.