“You could always admit I know you that well and have the burger,” she sang, pretending to look at the menu.
“I’m having the salad.” And stopping at McDonalds on the way back to work.
“Great, I’m having the burger.”
“Of course you are,” I said, resigned to being tormented.
Ten minutes later a plate of rabbit food was placed in front of me, while Oakley received a large cheeseburger and fries. Why did I always have to win? This wasn’t even winning. I should have just admitted it, and I would be munching on a juicy cow sandwich right now.
Oakley popped a chip in her mouth and sighed, “Mmm.”
I glared. Why did lettuce have to taste of nothing?
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “You have no idea how much. Don’t forget your tomato.”
“If you’re not careful I’m going to throw it at you.”
And then inevitable – she broached the event looming on the horizon.
“So you’re coming over at one tomorrow?”
“Yep, unless I can get off any earlier,” I reassured her.
Then just as abruptly, she shut down the topic: we ate lunch, and chatted about everything but the start of the trial tomorrow. If she wasn’t going to talk about it, then I wouldn’t bring it up. I didn’t feel like I needed to start a conversation about it any more. If she wanted to talk, she would come to me.
“So, you gonna call me again tonight for some more naughty time?” I asked, leaning against my car as we waited for Jasper to pick her up.
She blushed, shaking her head and grinning.
“Shut up, Cole.”
Trying not to laugh, I placed my hands on the glass, either side of her body. Oakley took in a shaky breath as I stared down at her.
“Sure you don’t want to?”
Whatever she came back at me with, I knew she wanted to, her eyes gave her away.
She gripped a fistful of my shirt and pulled me closer, so our chests were touching. I reminded myself that taking her in a public place would get us arrested.
“What if I do?” she whispered, her voice sounded even more husky than usual.
My heart hammered in my chest. Every single part of my body was screaming out for her. I pressed my forehead to hers and tried to control my heavy breathing.
“Then call me. I really don’t mind.”
Oakley grinned and ran her finger along my bottom lip. Self-control, Cole. Don’t grab her.
“I bet you don’t mind.”
My eyes wandered down to her lips. There was nothing I wanted more in the world than to kiss her.
“Thing is, I’m not that easy,” she said, pushing my chest away from her with both of her hands, making me stumble back. I’d been so focused on her I was surprised I didn’t fall over.
“That wasn’t nice. You need to make it up to me. And not with ice cream,” I added quickly.
“Bet I can guess what you want,” she replied sarcastically.
I pulled her back into my arms: “Me. You. Bed. Whipped cream.”
“Apart from the whipped cream, that’s pretty much what I thought.”
She pushed her entire body against mine. Usually I would prevent certain areas from pressing against her and but this time it was her fault. Oakley ran her index finger along the collar of my shirt, and I shuddered.
“Jasper’s here,” she said, grinning at me just as I was about to kiss her.
“Hands,” Jasper growled at me.
Oakley laughed. “Will I see you later?”
“If you want to. Good. You can come over and play dress up with me and Leona.”
I had promised Leona that I would play the stupid game, and I couldn’t let her down so I would just have to include Oakley.
“Dress up?” she asked, looking up at me and failing miserably to try to keep a straight face.
“Not my idea.”
“Of course not.”
“And you’re done,” Jasper said. “Enough flirting, we need to go.”
She smiled sheepishly and stepped away from me. I hate Jasper right now.
“See you later then. For dress up.”
She wouldn’t find it funny when she was covered in pink glitter make-up, wearing fairy wings and a feather boa.
“I’ll see you later.”
I watched them drive off before getting into my car. Thankfully, I had a few minutes’ drive to calm myself down before I got back to work. Being around her was getting harder. She had to see we belonged together. I wasn’t going to rush her though. She already had too much to deal with.
The rest of the working day went by smoothly and thankfully, fast. The second I stepped in the front door Leona was there, holding up the damn fairy wings. Smiling, which probably looked more like a grimace, I picked her up.
“Shall we get your dress-up box then?”
“Yeah!” Leona shouted and squealed in excitement. Great!
Oakley arrived soon after Leona had forced me into some wings. As soon as she laid eyes on me she giggled, slapping her hand over her mouth to try and stop. Yeah, I looked like an idiot but dressing up like a purple fairy was what uncles were meant to do.
“Wow, you look… pretty,” she teased.