Steal My Breath (Elixir 1)

I throw it down on the table and drain the vodka from my glass.

“A new friend?”

My heart stumbles over itself as I look up to find Luke sliding into the empty seat across from me.

“Ummm, no… not really… no… God, no.” Good God, I am tongue-tied and my mouth needs to stop opening and words need to stop coming out of it.

He smirks. “I figured as much.”

I shift in my seat, squeezing my legs together. This man still affects me as much as he did when we first met. His cocky attitude is still in place, I see. Some things never change. “How did you figure as much?”

His smirk sits firmly in place and his eyes twinkle. “Baby, it was written all over your body the whole time the jerk was sitting in front of you.”

“Oh really? How?” He’s been watching me all this time?

“When you don’t like someone, but you have to spend time with them, your whole body stiffens into this awkward pose where you kind of lean forward with your back so damn straight it looks like the most uncomfortable position in the world. And you have this strained look on your face that makes me think you’re probably grinding your teeth. And then there’s the way you tap your foot. All dead giveaways.”

I stare at him.

My breathing is shaky and I feel light-headed.

I’m not prepared for this.

I thought I was, but I’m so far from prepared it’s laughable.

When I don’t respond, he leans forward a little. “How are you, Callie?”

I think I may have just moaned.

I hope it wasn’t out loud.

That voice, though.

God, how I’ve missed that voice.

“I’m doing okay. Things could be better, but I guess that’s life, right?”

He nods. “Yes, it is.”

“How are you?”

“Well, if you asked Avery, she’d tell you I’m still a moody bastard, and I guess she’s right. I don’t function well without you.”

Oh, God.

He’s not holding back any punches.

I smile. “Yeah, you always were a moody bastard when you didn’t have me keeping you in line.”

He grins and settles back into his seat. “I miss you.”

I sigh. “I miss you, too, Luke.”

He eyes my empty glass. “You want another drink?”

I quirk a brow. “You’re going to allow me to have another one?”

He stands. “Smartass.” Jerking his chin at the glass, he says, “Vodka?”