Page 76 of Heatwaves

It’s almost like I can’t escape them, and part of me doesn’t want to.

So, yeah…I’m a fucking mess, still unable to decide if I can move past the hurt.

But, fuck if all their gifts aren’t softening me toward them.

“Are you ready, Lil?” Wyatt’s voice jerks me out away from my thoughts, my eyes meeting his in the mirror.

“Ummm…yeah. Almost. I just have to finish my makeup.“ I hold up the eyeliner before leaning back in to finish it up. A few coats of mascara, and I’m ready to go.

It’s Friday night and Wyatt is taking me out on our first official date. I told him it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted, and who am I to tell him no?

I pull on my heels and straighten my barely there black dress before turning to face my lover. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re the hottest woman in the realm.” He leans down to kiss me, pulling me flush against his body. “Maybe we should stay in. Who needs to go out? I can just rip this excuse of a dress off your body and make you feel good all night.”

I’m slightly out of breath. The kiss might have been brief, but he’d infused it with his incubus magic, setting my entire body on fire.

“Uh uh.” I push against his chest until he steps back. “It was your idea to get dressed up andgo out tonight. I put in all this effort, so we’re going out. Plus, you look hot as hell, and I need to show off my man.”

Wyatt grins, waggling his eyebrows at me as he runs his hands down his black button-up shirt. He’s paired it with a pair of black pinstripe slacks that look amazing against his tanned skin. His blond hair is styled messily, making him look like he just climbed out of bed, and this motherfucker is wearing eyeliner.

Hot damn. Why is that so hot?

“I have no problems with you showing me off, babe. But know this, I’m going to be showing you off just as much. We look good together.”

“Hell, yes, we do. Now, let’s go get some dinner. I’m starving.”

We end up at our favorite steakhouse, and I’m practically salivating by the time we’re seated. There’s just something about a good steak.

Wyatt is just about to push my seat in when I hear a familiar voice call out. “Lila? Wyatt?”

I jerk my head to the side to find the four men I can’t get off my fucking mind—mainly because they won’t allow me to—sitting at the table next to ours.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter, glancing up at Wyatt, whose eyes are onthe other men. Forcing a smile to my face, I scan my eyes over the four of them. “This is unexpected.”

Carter nods. “We love this place. All we’ve been doing since we made it back to Quion is work and hanging out at the house, so we figured we’d have a night out on the town. See how things have changed in the last ten years.”

“We’re doing the same thing,” Wyatt says, leaning over so he can shake each of the guys’ hands. “Well, not seeing what’s changed in ten years, but the night out. We’re having dinner and then heading to a club that a buddy of mine owns.”

“It’s our first date,” I say sharply because it sounds entirely too much like Wyatt is about to ask them to join us, and that’s not how I want this night to go.

Wyatt shrugs. “That’s kind of true, but the more the merrier, right? Would it be okay if we joined the tables?”

The host looks between him and the other guys before nodding. “Of course, sir. It would be our pleasure.”

Wyatt helps me out of my seat as the host waves over someone else to help him move our table to connect to the guys’ table.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss, digging my elbow into his side.

“Hey, now. There’s no reason to hurt me. They’ve really been trying, babe. What’s the harm in spending some time with them?”

Narrowing my eyes, I consider just walking out. If I wanted to spend time with them, then I would. I feel like he’s forcing it on me, and I’m not okay with that.

“It’s really good to see you, Lila.” Ty’s voice is soft, and I can’t help seeking him out. He’s sitting at the end of the table where they’ve just joined ours.

He doesn’t seem quite like himself, but he looks a lot better than the almost catatonic state he was in when they left my house a few weeks ago. His mouth quirks up at the corner in some semblance of a smile before he turns back to his menu.

Damn it.

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