Turning to leave, I’m stopped short when I see the smallest, hottest little body walk through the front door. Her rustic red-brown hair curling around her sweet cherub face. Her lips look moist but stained a bright red that almost looks natural. Her vibrant blue eyes would be too big for her face if not for her ridiculously long eyelashes. Lashes that curl just the tiniest bit to make her eyes glow.
“You made it!” I hear Sophie come rushing from behind me and the stunning new guest smiles shyly. Hesitant to show any emotion. When her gaze slides over to me, her cheeks heat, and if I’m correct, her breath catches.
Fucking delicious little morsel she is.
“Still wanna tell me you’re not interested?” Nico slaps my back as he walks past me to join his wife. “Miss Parks, how are you?”
I wait with anticipation for her sweet voice to reach my ears. “Fine, Nico, thank you.” Timidly, she pushes hair behind her ear at my friend’s intense attention. Her voice is like sunshine and peaches. Which makes no fucking sense, but goddamn, has she got my full interest.
Walking closer to the trio, I see her shrink back and have the feeling it’s because of my size. For as big and intimidating as Nico is, I’ve got a couple inches and about twenty pounds on the man. Her gaze flickers around the room before Sophie grabs her attention.
Marina
I don’t know why I’m here. I shouldn’t be. I can hear the kids’ laughter from the street as I stand beside my small, sunshine yellow Volkswagen Beetle with the long eyelashes over the headlights. The parents from my class organized a collection for those as a Christmas gift because of my long eyelashes. It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
“Come on, Ari, get in there.”
Great. Now I’m talking to myself.
Shaking my arms at my sides and up through my shoulders and back, I step forward, walk up the path, and knock.
No answer comes after a few minutes.
Probably because of the children.
Pushing back my nerves, I test the handle to find it unlocked. Opening the door, I tell myself if I don’t see Sophie, I’ll just leave.
Once I enter her house, two things hit me at once. A surrounding sense of home and warmth, and the gorgeous man across the room on the back patio with Nico. His ash-colored hair and whiskey eyes draw me in.
“Marina!” Sophie’s ecstatic voice breaks my gaze from him, thankfully. Though, my body is completely aware of his presence. “I’m so glad you could make it!”
Pushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear as Nico makes his way over, my eyes meet the stranger’s, who is oddly more intimidating than Sophie’s hulking husband. The couple speaks to me, but I barely register my response as the mystery man comes over.
Tattoos peek out onto his hands from his forearms, and my body hums. The artistry in the act has always piqued my curiosity.
Stepping back the closer he gets, my back hits the door, and Nico and Sophie share an obviously knowing look that I can’t interpret. “Detective Arsen Daniels, this is Marina Parks. The new kindergarten teacher for Talon this past year.” My friend’s face lights up with triumph as she introduces us.
I’ve never been one to talk to strangers or be outgoing, so when he smiles at me with a crooked grin and dimples appear, I find I want to talk to him just as much as I want to run away. His jaw is strong, square, with enough stubble to say he hasn’t shaved in a few days.
I squeak and jump back at the rough timber of his voice, and he reaches a hand out to shake mine. “Nice to meet you, Marina.” The deep rumble of his words rushes through me like a freight train, making me tingle in places that have been long dormant.
“Pull yourself together, Ari,” I mumble under my breath.
“Ari?” His voice sends a shiver up my spine.
“Crap,” I mutter again. He heard me. Mortified, I stick my hand out to hold his. “Nice to meet you, detective.”
“Arsen,” he says, his hot gaze roaming my body from head to toe. Scorching every piece of flesh with his inspection.
“What?” Is that my voice? All breathy. Belatedly, I realize he’s still got my hand.
“Call me Arsen, Ari.” My body pulses in tune with each word spoken.
“Arsen.” I try to take back my hand.
He pulls me forward slightly so my body presses to his, murmuring “good girl” as he leans down to lightly kiss my cheek. His soft lips set my skin on fire with his brand. The rough stubble on his face scratches me, and I close my eyes briefly.
“Nico, Soph, thanks for having us,” he says, and I’m upset to realize he came with someone. “But we’re gonna go grab dinner.”