“Ember. That’s a pretty name.”
Ember faces me, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth. “Thank you.”
“You look familiar. Have we met before?” I decide to play dumb and let her think I don’t remember every minute detail of our encounter this afternoon. All so I can gauge whether she had the same visceral reaction to me I had to her. If she did, I’ll be familiar. If not, I’m just some random guy on the street. Not that either way is going to change my desire to take her home tonight.
“Once.” She smiles softly. “I literally ran into you on the street.”
“Yes, that’s it. Outside that little diner.”
She nods. “Looks like I should probably buy you a drink.”
“For running into me?” I chuckle. “Truth be told, it was the highlight of my day.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You must have had a shit day.”
“In fact, I have, and I could really use another drink. You?”
“I’d like that.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” I ask her friend, whose name I still don’t know.
“The name’s Hazel, and all I want is for my girl here to meet a nice guy to rock her—” Ember slaps her hand over Hazel’s mouth.
“You’ll have to excuse her. She lost her mind—and her filter—in a skiing accident.” Ember’s eyes are glued to me.
I extend my hand to Hazel. “Mr. Nice Guy at your service, but you can call me Ryder for short.”
There’s no denying what Hazel had been implying or what I’m offering. Ember’s cheeks flush, and she makes the adorable shade of pink sexy as fuck.
“Excuse us for a minute,” Ember says, ushering Hazel away.
I look back at Mark and Jackson, who are cracking up. Mark stands, miming someone swinging a baseball bat while Jackson plays the umpire and calls a strike.
Let them laugh all they want. This isn’t over yet.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Ember
Oh. My. God.
Not only is the hottie from the street here, but I’m also pretty sure he just asked me to have sex with him. I pace the bathroom as Hazel stares at me.
“I don’t see the problem,” she says.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for… that.”
“You mean sex? Considering the way you were drooling over the guy when we first walked in—I’m pretty sure you are.”
He had caught my eye immediately. How could he not? He is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. Dark brown hair, green eyes, and those dimples. I swear, they’re going to be the death of me. I tried to be nonchalant, act as though I didn’t see him, but when he said I looked familiar? My heart did a little flip-flop, knowing he remembered me, just like I remembered him.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then tell me. That man is fucking gorgeous and clearly wants you.”