Something she’d definitely felt when she’d shaken hands with the ridiculously charismatic man from last night. But that’s what men with charisma did, wasn’t it? Charmed people. Made you feel like you were the only person in the room, and left you dazzled. And in her case, feeling a bit raw. What the hell had that been anyway?
Tamsyn shook her head, trying to put the man out of her mind. Elder had made her knees weak, and as much as she might’ve liked to swoon into his sturdy arms, she wasn’t here to be weak. She’d probably see him at Hive again and maybe they could be play partners but she was certain he’d find someone more his speed. A little. And then she could ignore him and his little girl who would blink big doe eyes at him while he gave her a bottle and dressed her in darling clothes. Put her over his knee because she’d been naughty.
Heat had started crawling up her neck into her cheeks and flooding her chest. It really wouldn’t do to get all hot and bothered at the grocery store, especially not while she was fondling the cantaloupes. They were lovely, yes, as were the neighboring honeydews, and sure she had some unusual kinks but molesting melons for sexual gratification wasn’t one of them. She kind of wished it was.
What she actually needed was some kale and a butternut squash for the casserole she’d make tonight and eat for the rest of the week. That was one thing she hated about living alone. Cooking for one meant leftovers for twice as long. Plus no one to thank her and tell she’d made a really yummy meal.
It had been funny to actually label herself a babysitter while she and Maddie had been at Rawhide since she’d often felt like a babysitter with her friend. Like she was simply a placeholder in between Josh and whoever Maddie’s new daddy would be. Well it was Reid, wasn’t it?
Tamsyn sighed in a way she’d almost call wistful and turned to head to where she thought she’d remembered seeing the leafy greens and came face to chest with—oh, shit.
Her gaze tracked up the corded neck, past the chiseled jaw that now featured a five o’clock shadow and straight to the light brown eyes she’d been certain awaited her. How had she committed that man’s features so thoroughly to memory? It was just an annoying crush and she’d get over it but in this second, the butterflies beat their wings in her chest and she had to remind herself to inhale.
She opened her mouth to say something clever, charming—so maybe she didn’t want to be with him but would it really be so bad to have someone looking longingly after her when she left a room? She thought not—but before she could, Elder frowned, a line forming between his brows and the corners of his shapely mouth turning down.
“Excuse me.”
And then he side-stepped her and walked away. What the hell?