She gave me a small shake of her head. “Definitely not. I can’t remember the last time I had a boyfriend.” She took a sip of her water. “No, wait. That’
s not true. Tenth grade. Eddie Mayfield. He felt me up under the bleachers after a basketball game.” Her eyes widened as soon as the words were out. “I have no idea why I just told you that.”
I laughed, letting the tension relax and exist peacefully between us. “Well, Eddie Mayfield’s loss.”
She focused on her water. “My friend Drew is always telling me I need to take chances. Get out there and live a little. But look where that got me tonight.”
Fuck it. I stepped forward, entering her personal space as if I owned it. I braced my hands on the countertop on either side of her.
“I’m not complaining about where it got you tonight. Is it terrible that I’m happy you’re here?”
I waited for her response without breathing.
Her eyes flashed to mine and I saw it—lust, longing, wild, animalistic need that matched my own. Finally. I was starting to worry she was a robot sent here to destroy me.
“It’s not terrible,” her delicate voice answered. “Is it terrible that I was jealous of Tenzie or Kenzie or whoever in there?”
I shook my head, openly watching her mouth now. “Tell me why you were jealous.”
She hesitated as if carefully wording her response in her mind. “She seemed to know you. Really well.”
“She doesn’t. Not at all actually.” I let my thumb trace her lower lip. I wanted to suck it up in my mouth so badly. “You want to know me, Emersyn?”
After a sharp intake of breath, she nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
At that moment, I realized she was shivering. Her clothes were still soaked. I was inconsiderately lusting after her while she froze to death right in front of me.
“God, here you are freezing solid and I’m so distracted by your perfect mouth hypothermia is about to set in. Hang on.” I stepped away, briefly, to turn on the small space heater. “You want a shirt or some dry clothes to put on?”
“I’m okay,” she mumbled, suddenly shy again.
“You are more than okay,” I teased. “But let me grab you something.”
I stepped into the bedroom area and pulled open the bottom drawer where I kept extra sweats. Part of me wanted to keep a hand on her while I did in case, she considered bolting on me. But when I returned, there she stood, a vision of perfection I’d probably wake up believing I’d dreamed.
I handed her some black sweatpants, a white T-shirt, and a blue and white flannel. “There’s a small bathroom in there where you can change.”
I stepped aside, inhaling her wildflower and rain scent as she passed.
I didn’t have any coffee, but there were a few packets of instant hot chocolate on the counter. I heated some milk in two mugs in the microwave and was stirring the chocolate in when she came out, looking less damp but still like a wet dream in my clothes.
“I didn’t have any coffee,” I told her, “but this should warm you up a little.”
She took her mug and smiled. “I love hot cocoa. I usually have an el diablo at work—half hot chocolate, half coffee.”
“Sounds good. I’ll have to remember that next time I stop in.”
I walked over to the small booth-style table and pulled out the bench seat. It wasn’t that comfortable of a place to sit, but I didn’t want her to panic if I suggested we sit on the bed.
“How long have you been working at Octane?”
She sipped her drink then continued staring into it. “Um, just the past two summers. Camille works there, too.”
“Ah, the illusive Camille. Does she typically disappear on you?”
Emersyn shrugged. “I don’t hang out with her much. She’s closer with my friend Drew.”
We continued talking, sitting across from one another at the table and I realized I was going to wuss out on making an actual move.