Sawyer (Carolina Reapers 2)

“Relax,” I said, holding open the passenger door for him and waving him in.

He eyed my fingers on the door, my nails a polished midnight. “Is this where I get initiated into your cult or something?”

I snort-laughed. “What, you don’t trust me?”

He took a few steps closer, towering over me as he held my gaze. “I don’t really know that much about you,” he said the words with an edge of hunger like he wanted to remedy that fact as quickly as possible.

My pulse spiked, his scent and warmth covering me despite him being inches away.

“Your friends know me,” I said, my voice softer than it was moments before.

Sawyer held my stare a few more seconds before nodding and sliding into the car.

I shut the door a little harder than necessary, cursing the desire churning through my veins. It’d been too long since I’d had anyone in my bed—so long that I wanted the boy next-freaking-door. Not my usual type, not by a long shot.

“You want to tell me where you’re taking me, Echo?” Sawyer asked once I was behind the wheel.

“To get something healthy to eat, of course,” I said, pulling onto the street.

A low sigh left his lips, one that almost sounded like disappointment.

I navigated the streets with ease. I’d lived here my whole life and could drive the route in my sleep if I had to, but I never grew tired of the trip into historic downtown Charleston. I loved the unique mish-mash of old buildings and new, and the amount of history seeped into the foundation supporting them.

“Wow,” Sawyer said as we parked in front of my favorite seafood restaurant. He stuck close to me as I led him toward the white and blue building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows boarding the entire structure. A wooden patio wrapped around the place and hovered over the water hugging the edge of land the restaurant sat atop.

I flashed a grin at the girl behind the bar as I beelined it toward the back patio.

“Your friends are already here,” she called.

“Thank you, Kylie!” I hollered over my shoulder.

“What friends?” Sawyer asked.

“Ours,” I said, reaching back to grab his hand and hurry his pace. “You don’t mind, do you?” I asked when he’d stopped dead in front of the glass doors that showed the entire back patio had been taken over by the Reapers and their girlfriends or wives.

“I…” he shook his head. “Echo, I—”

“You’re nervous,” I said. “I get it. Trust me. It’s a huge epic life-changing thing you’re doing. But,” I said, glancing at the tables outside. “I think being around your future team will help.”

“Future team,” he said, cocking a brow at me. “You know I can’t afford to think like that.”

“Well, I can.” I winked at him. “Besides,” I continued, pulling him through the door and sighing slightly when he actually came with me. “You said you wanted fish. This is the best place within fifty miles.”

“Better than Scythe?”

“Better fish than Scythe,” I said. “I’ve still got the best drinks in town.”

“That she does!” Langley walked up to me, followed by Harper and Faith, and squished me in a group hug. It’d only been a week since I’d seen them last, but it felt long overdue. What could I say? We all worked too damn much.

“How is my favorite bartender?” Faith asked as I settled into a chair across from her, Sawyer electing to sit next to me. Lukas, Axel, and Noble completed our table, with Connell MacDhuibh, Cannon Price, Hudson Porter, and Logan Ward dominating the round-top next to us. Outdoor heaters were scattered across the wooden patio, chasing away the crisp bite in the air so customers could enjoy the view of the glistening water lapping at the patio’s base.

“You know me,” I answered.

“I do,” Faith said, eyeing me. “Which is why I’m shocked you cut your shift early to dine with us.” She glanced at Sawyer, who’d fallen into an easy conversation with Noble.

I shrugged, leaning closer to my girls. “He needed to get out of his head for a bit.”

Harper smirked, and Langley raised her brows at me. “Is dinner the only way you’ll be distracting him?”

Faith playfully smacked Langley’s arm, and I rolled my eyes.

“Absolutely,” I said, holding my hand over my heart. “Scouts’ honor. I have no intention of corrupting this one,” I jerked a thumb toward the clean-cut Sawyer, who just so happened to be eavesdropping on our conversation, just like the other three hockey stars at the table. They were as bad as high school chicks.

Sawyer flashed me a challenging look. “Corrupt me?”

I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, West Coast,” I said. “Your innocence is safe with me.”

“Why does everyone always assume Sawyer is the innocent one?” Lukas asked, eyeing the girls.

“Yeah,” Noble said. “You four didn’t see him in Vegas last year with those two blonds—”