Sterling (Carolina Reapers 6)

“So the description says.” She folded up the map and stuck it in her back pocket.

Worry spun my stomach. “I’m guessing it’s in the dark.”

“Yep, read that, too.” She stood up from the table. “Let’s try. What’s the worst that happens? I shut my eyes for all four minutes and seventeen seconds?”

She had a point there. I hated the idea of pushing her, but if she was the one stretching her limits, who was I to argue? “Let’s do it.”

We cleaned up our trash and started down the path. The park was at its peak and packed with people, but I kept her as close to the edge as possible.

“You’re sure about this?” I asked as we found the entrance to the ride.

“Are you going to ask me that every time we try something new?” She paused at the board that described the attraction.

“Yep. Every time.”

She shook her head, but there was a slight tilt to her lips. “See, it's a single boat on a track, and it might be dark, but I know it has an end. I can do this.” She nodded, and I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or herself.

“Okay,” I agreed, taking a breath like I was the one being challenged here. “I just want you to be comfortable.”

She turned and looked up at me with the same look she’d given me in the elevator like she was trying to figure me out.

“What?” I asked gently, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head so I could see her eyes.

“You. You’re just so…” She sighed.

I pocketed my Ray-Bans and grinned. “Sexy? Charming? Irresistible?”

She scoffed. “Cocky much?”

You haven’t even seen how cocky I can be. I opened my mouth but let the comment go unspoken. “You know what? I’m going to let that one go. Just know that I had the perfect line.”

“Then deliver it.” She folded her arms under her breasts, lifting the creamy swells to the top of her neckline, and my mouth fucking watered. She might be a tiny little thing, but her breasts weren’t. They’d fill my hands perfectly, and my mouth…knock it off.

“It’s highly inappropriate, and I’d hate to be accused of workplace harassment,” I teased.

“Seriously? We’re not even close to work and I’m pretty sure I can handle any of your harassment.” Her gaze drifted down my chest, lingering where my T-shirt stretched tight across my muscles.

If she’d been anyone else, I would have kissed her right there. I would have crushed her body against mine, picked her up so she could wrap those sun-kissed legs around my waist and take her mouth exactly like I’d fantasized about—hot, hard, and hungry.

But she wasn’t anyone else. She was London, and I wasn’t even sure she was free to be kissed. I couldn’t go another minute without at least knowing.

“Look, I know we promised not to talk about Maxim,” I started. Her gaze snapped to mine and her shoulders tensed, but I pushed on. “But I have to know…how close are you?”

Her brow furrowed. “You’re right. We promised not to talk about him.”

I laced my hands behind my neck and blew out a slow breath. “Then at least just tell me if you’re together. Put me out of my fucking misery, please.”

“What?” She did that fast blink thing. “Together like…”

“Like dating. Sleeping together. Whatever.” Please say no.

She laughed. “Are you being serious right now?”

My stomach clenched. “You know what? Forget I asked. Let’s go on the ride.” It wasn’t my business, and if she was sleeping with my—don’t even go there—whatever, then maybe I didn’t want to know. Thinking about his hands on her would fuel my fucking nightmares.

I started down the fast track part of the line, and London raced after me.

“Jansen!” She tugged at the back of my shirt just as we reached the shade of the giant building that housed the ride, and I slowed.

“It’s really not my business,” I muttered as she moved to keep pace beside me.

“I’m not dating Max. He’s my brother’s best friend.”

“Really?” I studied her just long enough to see the honesty in her eyes, then looked forward so we didn’t walk into a steel railing. We were inside the building, and though we were skirting the massive, twisting line, the noise level was exponentially higher.

“Really.”

We reached the end of the lane, and there was one other couple ahead of us. I turned slightly, wishing the lighting in here wasn’t so dim. “The way he puts his hands on you says something else entirely.”

Not to mention he’d made his intentions perfectly fucking clear in the locker room.

She shook her head slowly. “Friends. Seriously. He’s just…Maxim. That’s why I laughed.”

“Huh. Well, okay then.” That was a huge relief. It didn’t mean the guy wasn’t actively trying to get her, but at least she wasn’t taken yet. I didn’t share. Ever.