Page 106 of Little Sunshine

“I don’t?—”

Ash took a cell from his pocket and tossed it onto a little table. “You’ve got my number, plus Cole’s and Marco’s. If you can’t get through to me, text one of them. Juliet Black’s number is also in there. She’s here today and driving me fucking nuts wanting to hang out with you.”

“What? Why?”

“I’m guessing she wants a friend who isn’t a goon.”

“What’s a goon?” I asked.

“Me.” He grinned. “And Marco and Cole, but I’m the best one.” Grabbing my wrist, he pressed my thumb to the scanner, touched a few buttons, and pressed it again. “If you don’t want to hang with Juliet, I’ll tell her to drop it. But I think you’d like her. You have a lot in common.”

I didn’t know what I could have in common with his boss’ pretty, glamorous wife other than possibly our ages.

“I’ll text her,” I said because the idea of staying cooped up all day made me claustrophobic.

My motives were selfish, but the pleased smile Ash shot me would’ve made me agree to it anyway.

Because I was an idiot.

Needing to break the spell, I turned and studied the kitchen like it was the most interesting one I’d ever seen. It didn’t last long, and Ash wrapped a hand around my hip to turn me back.

I’d heard wild, mystical tales that there were some people who were just comfortable with physical touch. Ash was definitely one of them. Usually, I didn’t mind it.

Fine, I liked it.

But things were different.

“Did you forget that I said I could move myself?” I snapped.

“Nope, I remember,” he said, though his hand stayed right where it was. “Your print is in the system now, so you can come and go. Text me before you leave the room. And if I text you, I expect an answer.”

I tried to twist away from him, but he grabbed my chin. Since I was still in the process of moving, his fingers squeezed my cheeks, forcing my lips to part. He bit out something that was rough and quiet, but I couldn’t hear what over the blood rushing in my ears.

I’d literally spent the night harshly reminding myself that my crush on Ash was stupid and a disaster waiting to happen. The mean voice in my head had helpfully added that I was pathetic for misconstruing his pity in the first place.

After everything, I would’ve thought some sense of self-preservation would kick in.

It didn’t.

I held my breath. Waiting. Hoping.

Needing.

And again, I felt like a silly little fool when all he did was drop his hand and say, “I mean it. I don’t care if you’re just running down for a coffee and a hand of blackjack. You text me, sunshine.”

Since distance wasn’t possible with his firm hold still on my hip, I crossed my arms to put some space between us. The fact it also hid my hardened nipples was just a bonus. “Adding a cute nickname doesn’t undo your bossiness.”

“Get used to it, little girl.”

“And that not cute nickname definitely isn’t helping.”

“Get used to it, too.” Letting me go, Ash stepped into the elevator.

“Maybe instead of owing me lobster stories, I’ll go back to junk punches.”

A smirk curved his mouth. There was an edge to it that kind of scared me. But mostly, it thrilled me in a way that definitely scared me.

As did his rumbled, “Can’t wait.”

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