And yes, I know I said we.
Holy Grilled Cheese Jesus.
“Let’s go.”
He exhales in relief as he stands up, throwing a few twenties on the bar. “For hers and mine,” he calls to the bartender as I turn to Jaylin.
“We’re leaving,” I say because I don’t know what else to say. The excitement on my best friend’s face makes me feel like an idiot, but I don’t care.
I want to fucking live.
“Okay. Call me tomorrow?”
“I will.”
“And have fun.”
I feel giddy. “I will?”
“You will,” she says with a nod.
As I stand, I glance back at her. “Can you drive by the—”
“I’ll text you if anything is wrong.”
I swallow hard just as Nico’s fingers thread through mine. I look up at him, and I’m out of breath. How in the world did this happen? I’ve never even noticed a guy before, but this guy… I see and I want. Badly.
“Do you want to run by the shop? We can do a drive-by to check on things.”
My heart is pounding like a drum. One of those big steel drums they use in the symphony. “Yes, please.”
“No problem,” he says, and it really doesn’t seem like a problem. It’s almost like he wants to. Like he cares about Callie, but I guess I know he does. Before he can turn away, I grab his tie and pull him toward me. I don’t know what I am even thinking, but I rise up on my toes and press my mouth to his. The hand that is holding mine wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him as he grasps my face. I fall into the kiss as my insides clench, and every single inch of me is set on fire. He tastes like beer and everything naughty. His lips are soft, inviting, and when his tongue meets mine, I’m in utter heaven.
I swear, it’s like an out-of-body experience.
When I pull away due to the intense catcalls from my so-called best friend, I look up at him through my lashes. His lips are curved, his eyes playful as he whispers, “Hey, no fair.”
“What?” I ask breathlessly.
“I was supposed to kiss you first.”
I swallow hard. “I couldn’t resist.”
He smirks. “I know. It’s hard to resist me.”
Oh, I’m in big trouble with this one.
Chapter Eleven
Nico
“I know it’s silly that I wanted to check on her.”
I shut the truck door behind her and shake my head. “No, it’s totally cool.”
“I should be fine with all the cameras and the new security system, but she makes me nervous.”
“You don’t leave her much.”
I feel like there is more to the story, but Aviva just nods her head. I could tell how important it was that we checked on Callie. Thankfully, everything was fine, and it seemed Callie was already in bed. The apartment was dark. I almost thought Aviva would want to stay, but she was the one to ask where we were going. With everything closing and the weather a bit chilly, I suggested my house. I thought she’d say no, but here we are.
“I really don’t,” she laughs as she walks beside me up the sidewalk. “This is a really beautiful home.”
“Thanks.” I dig my keys out of my pocket. “I actually bought it from Amelia’s grandparents. She used to live here, but when she and Chandler got together, she moved in with him. The place was for rent for a while, but then I had a few stalkers, so they let me buy it.”
I could have left out most of that, especially the stalkers.
“Stalkers?”
I nod. “Yup. Bad choices lead to bad women.”
“It’s easy for that to happen nowadays. Especially with your profession.”
“Yeah,” I agree, and then I laugh. “But I really seem to attract the crazy.”
She grins. “I’m not crazy.”
I wink. “The jury is still out.”
She laughs as I open the door for her, and she steps in. I lock the door behind us, and then I walk through the house, turning on lights.
“Wow, this is a nice place.”
“Wasn’t what you were expecting?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Expected it to be a bachelor pad.”
I chuckle as I kick off my shoes and set my keys in the bowl by the door where I always put them. As I unbutton my jacket, I notice she is looking around. She looks damn good in my house. I like her here. “Do you want something to drink? I have beer and cider. We can go out on the deck or the beach if you want.”
“A cider would be great, and the deck looks awesome.”
“Coming right up.”
I watch as she kicks off her heels and throws her jacket on the couch. Her back is fucking sexy, and I want to run my tongue along all the muscles that make it up. I usually don’t notice things like that on women, but her back is fucking magnificent. All that slinging of sub dough does a body good.