That Hot Night

“Chill out, Jase. I’m kidding.”

Jase glanced down at his watch and groaned. “It’s getting late. I think I’ll grab enough for two and go have dinner with Bo.”

Rafe stared at his friend’s retreating back, a look of betrayal and confusion on his handsome face. “Looks like I’m down a dinner companion. Mind if I join you?”

Hell yes I minded. “Not at all,” I told him and motioned for him to sit. “I’m just going through some photos from my shoots today.”

“Anything cool?”

“Hot twins and a couple celebrating fifty years of wedded bliss.” Neither of which would appeal to Rafe, once he learned all the details.

He took a seat on the other side of the booth, leaving a good three feet of distance between us, which he quickly broke by leaning as far forward as he could without leaving his seat. The midnight blue in his eyes was slightly lighter today, almost a royal blue that made his dark hair and sun kissed skin look even darker. More intense. “Tell me more about these hot twins.”

I stared at him for a long moment, soaking up his movie star good looks before I let out a loud, too amused laugh. “Eighteen year told twins,” I told him and leaned forward with a stage whisper. “Aspiring models.”

He was intrigued, but to Rafe’s credit, not too intrigued. “Tell me more.”

“I’ll do you one better,” I told him and flipped the laptop around so he could see the blond cuties with eight pack abs. “Check ’em out.”

He groaned and sat back in his seat, like the guys might reach out and touch him. “I guess I deserved that.”

“You did, but it was fun.”

“Did they hit on you?”

I nodded, enjoying the way his nostrils flared. A small part of me thought it was jealousy, but I squashed the feeling of glee that gave me. “They’re beautiful eighteen year old kids who want to be models, of course they hit on me.” It was flattering, but that’s all it was, not that Rafe needed that.

“Well I guess you really never can tell,” Big Mama said vaguely as she dropped off my order and oddly, Rafe’s too.

“Never can tell what Big Mama?” I knew I would regret asking, but I couldn’t not ask. Right?

“Which two people will end up being a couple. You two were low on my list, but like I said, you never can tell.” She shrugged and took a step back to survey the table. “Anything else?”

“Some of Reese’s barbecue sauce, please?” He batted his lashes and not even Big Mama could resist. “I know you have some, because I brought it over myself.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I’ll be back with it. You two stay out of trouble, I mean it.”

“Yes ma’am.” He saluted Big Mama and she walked off, mumbling under her breath about the Lord saving her from handsome men.

“You love to fluster people.”

He shrugged off the accusation. “Not all people. Big Mama, sure. You? Without a doubt.”

“Why?”

“I already told you why,” he said, his voice deep and seductive, thick with arousal. “But I’m happy to tell you again,” he threatened and I raised my hands up as if I could block his dirty words from entering my mind.

“No, I remember. Thanks.” I felt the blush heat my cheeks and throat, and looked down to grab a sip of my tea. “You totally love it.”

“You just make it so darn fun. But if you want, I’ll stop.”

I snorted out a very unladylike laugh. “You couldn’t, even if you tried.”

“Is that a challenge?” He leaned forward, a confident smile curling his lips into a crooked smile.

“Does it need to be?” I didn’t want him to stop teasing me. I liked it as much as he did, it made things exciting between us. Fun and thrilling too.

Rafe opened his mouth to answer just as more visitors arrived at our table. This time it was Eddy and Betty.

“Ladies. To what do we owe this particular pleasure?”

Eddy fluffed her hair and preened at his question with a smile. “We’re here to see you, handsome devil that you are.”

He blinked and flashed a worried glance my way. I shrugged in response, having no clue what they might want with him. “How may I help, Eddy?”

Eddy stood a little taller and smiled over at Betty before both women smiled down at him. “We are here to help you, actually. We’ve found the perfect girl for you.” She clapped her hands together like a little girl and I couldn’t say why acid settled in my gut.

Rafe frowned, and I was grateful he didn’t spare me a glance when he looked up and spoke. “I’m not interested.”

That was good to know, if not a little obvious. The man was gorgeous and he had a great job, if he wanted to settle down there would be no shortage of women lining up for the job. Not me, but plenty of other women. Betty glanced down at me and I kept my expression neutral before trying to tune them out by focusing on my food.