SIX MONTHS (A Seven Series Novel)

Reno held the burger up to his mouth and froze before taking a bite. His dark eyes were on me and a few pieces of diced onion spilled out of his bun. When he set the burger down, I put my hands in my lap.

 

Reno smiled wide, and it revealed lines in his face that were deep and wonderful. He had straight teeth. I couldn’t help it—I was one of those people who looked at teeth. Trevor had a crooked bottom tooth, but it gave him that edgy look. I just liked to know that a man thought enough about himself to take oral hygiene seriously.

 

It took me a minute to figure out what he was smiling about. Great job, my inner voice said. You just officially declared this a date. Desperation train, all aboard!

 

“It’ll be our secret,” he said in a humorous tone. “I know you didn’t mean it that way. Do you plan on moving out of the trailer?”

 

I frowned suspiciously. “What makes you think I live in a trailer?”

 

He shoved about six fries in his mouth and chewed slowly before answering. As his jaw moved, I got a chance to admire his sculpted face up close, right before he sucked the salt off his thumb and made me squirm in my seat. “You mentioned it a minute ago. I just assumed you’re still living there since we’re heading toward the parks.”

 

“Oh.” I tilted my head and shrugged a little. “I’m saving my money; it’s just temporary.”

 

Then his eyes squinted, and not because it was sunny outside. It was that look someone gives you when they know you’re lying about something.

 

“Aren’t you hot in that getup? It seems like every time I see you, you’re wearing long sleeves.”

 

“Not every time,” he said in a throaty voice that rumbled from deep within his chest.

 

A shiver rolled through me and I ate a few more tater tots.

 

I had once driven Lexi to Austin’s house. Reno had been standing in the hot sun without a shirt, his golden chest glistening with a sheen of sweat, and the muscles in his arms and pecs twitching as he turned a horseshoe around in his hand. I could hardly comprehend anyone looking as sumptuous as he did while looking as equally intimidating. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off him when I saw his thick arms and how his skin bronzed in the sunshine, whereas my pale skin just turned blotchy red. What I felt about him wasn’t curiosity or admiration—it was a fever. One that caught me off guard—I’d never been attracted to a man like him before. At least, not in real life. The guys I dated were of average build and much younger. Now here I was, sitting at Sonic with a man who made my toes curl just by looking at me.

 

I felt a blush rising, so I grabbed the empty ketchup packets and stood up to toss them into the trash. My feet tangled around the long strap of my purse and I stumbled awkwardly, grabbing the menu stand just seconds before I did a face-plant. I steadied myself and threw the ketchup in the wastebasket. When I turned around, it was with the full expectation of seeing Reno silently cracking up at my blunder. I wasn’t a graceful woman by any means, and most guys had no qualms about laughing at my antics. It was something I had grown accustomed to, but it still needled me.

 

Instead, he had shot around that table in a flash and was cupping my elbow, ready to catch me if I fell.

 

When he bent down to pick up the packet, I knew immediately that I wanted to see him again. He hadn’t made a big deal about my clumsy ballerina act, and that meant a lot.

 

“You still drive that toy car?” he asked, taking his seat again.

 

I cleared my dry throat and sipped my drink. “No, that was Rose’s VW and she took it with her to Arizona. I don’t have a car.”

 

Reno sucked on his banana shake and drew his brows together pensively. He set the cup down and folded his arms on the table. “You mean to tell me that you’re walking everywhere?”

 

“Work is close by and I can’t complain about the exercise. It’s the rain I’m not crazy about.”

 

Then he began rubbing his hands all over his jaw, as if he wanted to make that bristly sound your hands make when they rub against whiskers. But his face was baby-smooth and all it did was push his skin around.

 

“I’ll lend you one of our cars.”

 

“No.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I get the last word, Reno. Borrowing means you owe, and I’m tired of owing people.”

 

“Are you in some kind of trouble?”

 

“I barely know you. I can’t borrow your car. Look, I’m sorry to rush, but I need to get home. There’s something important I have to take care of before the party tonight. Would you mind eating a little faster?”

 

Reno stood up and dumped his food in the trash.

 

“Wait, I didn’t mean that you had to—”

 

He walked around the table and tossed mine in the trash next. I sprang to my feet to confront him, but before I could say a word, he tucked a swath of hair behind my ear that had slipped in front of my eye.

 

Then I forgot my name and how to speak.

 

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