“Booze. I’ve never gotten into wine. It tastes okay, kind of bitter.”

She smiled like that was the right answer. “Then I just have one question to see if this can ever be more than friendship.”

I stared at her serious expression and wondered for a moment if I’d read her and this whole situation wrong. “I’m ready.”

“Jack or Maker’s Mark?”

In that moment, I thought I might’ve been half in love with her. “Maker’s Mark of course.”

She kept her face emotionless as she reached below the counter and pulled a bottle up. “This is the 46 but I think you’ll like it.”

“My mouth is already watering.” A grin lit up her face as she poured two fingers into two hexagonally shaped glasses.

“Perfect. Let’s toast to good friends, great booze and great kisses.”

Fuck. “Hear, fucking, hear.” Damn that hit the spot. “How’d you know?”

“I didn’t. I work and live here, so I like to enjoy different things. Like cocktails. Bars aren’t exactly my scene, but I like to drink.”

Her face, that’s why she didn’t go out a lot. I could only imagine the assholes she came across, especially with the model beautiful Teddy at her side. “Nothing wrong with that.” But I would try to do what Teddy suggested and taking her out. Next time.

“So, your day?”

“It was good. Productive.” I told her all about my trip to the club and getting back to it. “It felt weird because I’ve been, I don’t know, vacant for so long. But everyone greeted me like I never left. It was weird.”

“You loved it,” she accused, lips pulling into a smile around her glass.

“I think I did.” It felt like things were just back to normal. They weren’t but for a short period of time, I remembered who I used to be. “It was nice.”

“That’s good. You look like you’ve been sleeping.” A timer sounded and she turned, bent to look into the oven, giving me a great view of her ass cupped in blue denim. Heart shaped and more than a handful, I wanted to just fucking sink my teeth into it. “Damn,” I groaned a little too loud.

I blinked and looked up into big, laughing brown eyes. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. So, sleeping?”

“The night we kissed, I slept like a baby,” I told

her honestly.

She smiled and her pale skin turned bright pink. “Me too.”

I let those words sink in, but more importantly their implication. “I couldn’t think about anything but you all night, Jana.”

“I know,” she admitted and fanned her still reddening cheeks.

I couldn’t help but laugh at how easily she blushed. “I can’t say I’ve ever reacted to a kiss like that before.”

“Like what,” I asked, curious if she would answer. I knew I shouldn’t push her but I knew she could take it. I could tell.

“All hot and bothered,” she answered honestly. Her skin still burned but she spoke plainly. “It was weird. Hot but, I don’t know.” She shrugged and turned towards the fridge, sticking her head in the freezer for a few seconds. “Okay better. Ready to eat?”

I stared at her for a long time, letting my gaze rake over her until her skin pebbled with desire and her nipples peaked behind her t-shirt. “Oh, I can’t wait to eat.”

She sucked in a breath and I grinned. “You’re bad.”

“You have no idea.” She really didn’t, but I hoped this thing between us burned out before she had a chance to realize it. I liked the idea of being a good guy, a good memory for her.

“No,” she said, tilting her head to the side and looked at me. “But I’m starting to think I might want to find out.”


Tags: K.B. Winters Reckless Bastards MC Romance