Imagine With Me (With Me in Seattle 15)

“That’s a hobby. Some people are voracious about cycling.”

She shrugs a shoulder. “I wouldn’t say I’m that. But I prefer it to driving in the summer. We get a lot of snow in Minneapolis, so I like to get fresh air the rest of the year. And riding around Lake Harriet is beautiful.”

“Not a snow person, huh?”

“I know, it’s weird, right? I like the cold, but I hate the snow. I’m an odd duck, Shawn.”

I frown and nudge her sideways to face me.

“You’re not odd at all.”

She laughs, sending shivers through me. “Yeah, I am. But it’s okay, I accepted it a long time ago. I figure it’s the artist thing.”

We hit a spot of choppy water, and she bites her lip.

“I’m sorry the ferry scares you.”

“We’re almost there, right?”

I don’t have the heart to tell her that we’re only halfway into our journey. I brush a lock of hair off her cheek and let my fingers linger on her jawline.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Lexi.”

She blinks rapidly, and before she can reply, I lean in and cover her lips with mine. I’ve been dying to kiss her pouty lips for days. The light brush I intended quickly turns into something much more when she grips onto the sides of my shirt and leans into me, our bodies pressed together from hips to chest. I’m always in a constant state of low-grade arousal around this woman. Even her temper turns me on. But against me like this, with our mouths tangled, it turns to full-on arousal in two-point-six seconds.

She purrs low in her throat, and I accept the invitation, sinking into her. My hands dive into her soft hair, and I nibble the side of her mouth.

“Delicious,” I whisper before plundering her once more. I don’t give a fuck that we’re surrounded by people. Now that I’ve tasted her, I don’t know that I can ever stop.

But she plants her hand on my chest and takes a small step back, and I reluctantly let her go.

“Well, then,” she says before she swallows hard and stares out at the water. “I wondered what that would be like.”

“Me, too.” I blow out a breath and grip the railing before I pull her back to me.

“It was way better than I expected.”

I let out a soft laugh. “Yeah. Me, too.”

She grins up at me. “But we’re professionals, remember? We work together.”

Fuck that. I want her in my bed. Now. I want to taste every damn inch of her delectable little body. I want to make her sigh and whimper and pull my hair as I give her the best orgasm she’s ever had.

But I just nod and do my best to keep a straight face. “Right. Sure.”

She nudges me with her hip. “Don’t pout.”

“I don’t pout,” I reply. It’s true. I don’t. “I also usually get what I want.”

“Oh? And what is that?”

I look down at her and lean in to press my lips close to her ear so I can whisper, “You. Naked. Beneath me.”

Her cheeks flush beautifully.

“Most likely not going to happen, Mr. O’Callaghan.”

I grin. Challenge accepted.* * *It’s busy, even for a Saturday night, so I’m relieved to have Lexi in the kitchen with me. She’s proven that she’s not underfoot at all, but rather a huge help. She knows her way around knives, the stove, and works quickly.

Efficiently.

I should have known her work ethic would be impeccable, even when she’s not being paid for her services.

Lexi Perry doesn’t do anything halfway.

“I need some Irish nachos and some chili cheese fries,” Maeve, my older sister, announces as she walks into the kitchen. “And two bowls of stew.”

“We’ll be out of the stew within the hour,” Lexi informs her. “It’s going fast.”

“There should be another pot in the fridge,” Maeve says and hurries over to the walk-in. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you went through the backup stew already, too?”

“It’s been the favorite tonight,” I say with a nod. “I’d say we can take about six more orders for it, and then it’s done for the evening.”

“Wow. Okay, I’ll let Mary Margaret know.” Maeve’s eyes turn to Lexi. “I know we met when you arrived, but we haven’t had a chance to chat yet. I’d like to before the night is out.”

“I’ll be here all night,” Lexi says with a wink. “I need to grab more fries from the freezer.”

She wipes her hands on her apron as she hurries away, and Maeve turns her attention to me.

“I like her.”

I nod and fill a basket with hot wings. “She’s a likeable woman.”

“No, I like her. For you.”

I roll my eyes. “Stop matchmaking and get to work, Maeve.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing.”

Lexi comes back into the room before Maeve can keep asking annoying questions.

“I’ll be back for the nachos,” she says as she bustles out of the kitchen.