There’s a buzzing sensation when you have chemistry with someone. It’s like there are invisible threads connecting your bodies and igniting into sparks, and the residual pulse bounces back in shockwaves, growing stronger with each second.
I felt that with Reno. He stepped so close to me that I remembered how good it felt when he’d held me in his arms. The animalistic look in his eyes captured me like he was a predator and I was prey. He felt it too. I could tell by the soft breath he took before he spoke.
“I’ve always liked hazel eyes,” he said. “Yours look like a sunset over sea-green waters.”
I hit pause. This was a scene I’d be replaying in my head for weeks to come, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment by saying something inane. I let him graze his thumb across my mouth. He pulled my lower lip down just enough that his thumb glided across the fleshy inside. Then he rolled his wet thumb across my lip, making what seemed like a casual gesture become the most intimate moment I’d experienced with a man outside of sex.
His eyes hooded.
I wanted to do something bold to get a reaction, like suck on his thumb. But that’s something my prostitute mother would do. So I became immobile and just let him touch me.
And that was enough. Staring into Reno’s chocolate eyes up close was like riding on that motorcycle. Intense, sexy, and addictive. When I felt his hand leisurely traveling down the curve of my back, my icy walls began to melt and I warmed to his touch.
I waited for him to make another move, but it never came. He looked at me like something unattainable—the same way I coveted the expensive perfume bottles behind the display counter, or the chocolate macadamia nut cookies at the gourmet shop.
I whirled around and he captured my wrist, gently tugging me back. “Something wrong with the way I touched you?”
“It’s nothing,” I breathed.
But Reno didn’t let go. He stepped closer and lifted my chin. “Did you want me to kiss you?”
“No.”
Reno grinned. “Liar.”
“Do I seem like the kind of girl who would kiss a guy by a trash can with about fifteen cars watching us?”
His face reddened. “I wasn’t trying to insult you.”
“I know you weren’t. I had a nice time, but I need to go home so I can take care of some errands and get ready for the party.”
“Only if you save a dance for me.”
I sniffed softly as we walked to the bike. “I can’t dance.”
“Good,” he said. “Then I won’t have to worry about someone else stealing that dance.” He handed me the helmet and threw his leg over the bike.
“I’m not dancing with you, Reno.”
“Climb on, April. And get used to holding on to me as tight as you can, because you’ll be in my arms before the night is over.”
Chapter 10
“Holy smokes, Trevor. You look like one of those hot, swanky models in the magazines!”
White dress shirt, slim grey tie, dark wash jeans with fading in the front, and instead of a pair of oxfords, he wore black Converse sneakers with white laces. It was an outdoor thing and he didn’t want to ruin his good shoes. Trevor smelled amazing, and his hair was combed forward in that every-which-way style that made him devilishly handsome.
“Who were you talking to on the phone?”
“No one important,” I lied. “Just a friend.”
Whose name happened to be Maddox. He had agreed to loan me what I needed, which would cover the business account and pay off Sanchez. I didn’t disclose what the loan was for, and true to his word, he didn’t ask. Maddox said we still had an appointment to discuss the details of our arrangement, and that this loan would be tacked on in addition. He seemed like a reasonable man in comparison to Delgado.
An hour after our call ended, a knock sounded at the door and a delivery truck sped away. The package on my step looked like an ordinary yellow envelope with bubble lining.
Inside it was my lifesaver. Sanchez’s cut was stuffed in a letter envelope in my purse and I put the rest in my bedroom drawer to be deposited at the bank. Trevor knew I wanted to head back no later than nine o’clock and he seemed content with my request. Then again, it didn’t seem like he was overly excited about going in the first place.
I, on the other hand, was looking forward to a night of music and fun. My nails were polished lavender, and I’d spent an hour washing and styling my hair. I swept my bangs to the side and away from my eyes, securing them with a few pins. My hair barely tickled my shoulders and I liked the no fuss aspect. Plus, it suited the shape of my face. As I put on my dress, I wondered if I had gone overboard. I felt as if I didn’t deserve something so beautiful. A few stretchy bracelets covered my wrists and completed the outfit. I debated wearing perfume and finally decided against it since the barbecue grill would be going. I couldn’t think of anything else, and so I declared myself ready.
Trevor was thick with compliments from the moment I emerged from the bathroom. We sat at the table staring at each other, genuinely impressed by how nice we cleaned up. All we needed were horses and a carriage.
“I’m your date,” he announced.