Page 79 of Wrecked

“What is the logo?” I ask.

“A woman’s mouth. The product is called Cupid’s Bow.”

My hand juts up to my mouth and the little peaks at the top of my upper lip. Brad used to say I had a Cupid’s bow.

“Through the years, Nico’s taken over the family business. He’s the head now. His cousins were put away a long time ago. I just hope he stays in jail. Wouldn’t be the first time I put him away, and he got released.”

I place my palm on Adam’s arm. His skin is hot to the touch, and when he looks at my hand on him, his mouth parts.

“Brad would have been proud,” I whisper, my hand sliding down to his.

“Leah,” he breathes.

His knuckles rub against mine, and a jolt of electricity zings from my fingers to up into my heart.

I turn my hand around and offer him my palm. With a long, deft finger, he traces the lines of my skin. It’s a touch so small and soft, yet it is more powerful than any touch I have ever received from any man in my life.

“Food looks awesome over here! Who’s ready to eat?” Rory slams down one hand on each of our shoulders and gives us a little shake.

“Me!” I sing. I turn back to the table.

I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to deny myself Adam.

chapter EIGHTEEN

We change out of our wet clothes, and the five of us take our seats around the fire. Adam brought a gas grill, which, to me, seems like cheating. I serve the macaroni and potato salads I brought and even whip out the special no-froth margaritas and the bottle of sangria I made at home with rosé, rose petal-infused rye, maple syrup and house root bitters.

With music playing on my speakers in the background and the drinks being passed around, it’s a great party. Rory even comments on how awesome the food I prepared was, and Adam agrees. Suzanne, Jessica, and I tell stories, laughing and giggling while Rory and Adam talk.

“And he’s like, ‘You shouldn’t be a teacher. You should be a librarian because I’d love to check you out.’”

Suzanne and I laugh at the terrible pick-up line Jessica got from some guy at the supermarket.

“You should have given him Ron’s number. That’s what Leah does,” Suzanne says, turning to me. “Did that guy from the other night call?”

“Yes! Ron said the guy went into a stutter because he was so nervous. Even if you don’t know what Ron looks like, his voice screams meathead who will fuck you up if you touch his woman.”

“What are you girls cackling about over there?” Rory asks.

Suzanne is covering her mouth with laughter. “Leah gives Ron’s number out to guys who are pervy. It’s pretty funny.”

Adam puts down his beer. “What about ones who aren’t perverts?”

Suzanne looks at me with curiosity. “When was the last time you gave out your real number?”

I twist my mouth. “Last fall maybe?”

“Speaking of last fall—” Jessica’s starts to tell a story, but I become distracted.

Adam’s eyes are squinting as he lifts his beer from the ground. He gets pulled from his thoughts when Rory hits his knee and starts talking. That’s my cue to give my attention back to the girls.

As engrossed as I am, I can’t help but sneak a glimpse across the campfire.

Adam’s hair is a rumpled mess. He laughs at something Rory says, and the curve of his jaw smiles with the action. Those crinkles around his eyes are back, and he looks so beautiful. His mouth surrounds the tip of the longneck as he takes a drink, his throat bobbing with each pull. I find the action mesmerizing, which is odd for a woman who literally watches people drink for a living.

But, on Adam, the simple movement of his mouth is intoxicating. God knew what he was doing when he created the Adam’s apple. Hell, it was named for him alone.

Jessica is going on about her summer students, but I can’t keep my eyes off my officer.