Page 10 of From Nowhere

“Why not?”

“I made a promise.”

“Like a fitness goal? Or a promise to the environment?” I shake my head. “Don’t answer that. It’s none of my business. Just be careful. It’s dangerous when the roads are wet, and drivers can’t see you.”

“I appreciate the offer.” Ozzy smiles with rivulets of water sticking to his short-trimmed beard, a few shades darker than his chestnut hair, which was a thick, chaotic mess the day I met him. He probably can’t wear a helmetandgive a shit about his hair.

After a final nod and smile, I hop back into my vehicle and continue along the road. Cielo Aviation is next to the airport, so I pull into the parking lot and wait.

Ten minutes later, Ozzy arrives. Since I’m pulled right next to the back entrance, I know he sees me, so I climb out of my RAV and rununder the red awning, catching him right before he scans his ID card to enter the building.

“Hey,” I say with a smile, immediately losing my nerve. I want to ask him out. “How old is your daughter?”

Ozzy lights up, white teeth peeking through his full lips. “Lola’s ten.”

“Lola is a great name.” I squint when the wind blows rain in our direction.

Ozzy glances around. “You coming inside?”

“No, I’m headed to the airport. I’m flying someone to Chicago today. It’s my offseason job that’s coming to an end after this trip.”

Ozzy nods slowly while eyeing me with an unreadable expression. “Did you just want to know my daughter’s age?”

Flirting is my thing. I know how to do it and get men to ask me out, except with this man. With Ozzy, I’m a word-fumbling fool. “I was also going to ask what grade she’s in.”

His lips bend into a smirk. “Fourth. Too smart for her own good.”

I nod several times. “My brother, Brandon, was smart like that. He never had to study. When our mom would make him help me with my schoolwork, all he did was sigh heavily because he didn’t understand why I didn’t get everything the first time. He would have been an awful teacher.” I scrape my teeth along my bottom lip several times. “I rarely talk about my brother, but it felt good to tell you that.”

Again, Ozzy surveys our rainy surroundings with his deep-brown eyes just as another employee runs under the awning. He gives Ozzy a quick “Hey” and swipes his ID card to enter the building.

Ozzy grabs the door to keep it from shutting and props it open with his back while unzipping his jacket.

I stare at his fitted black T-shirt and admire his broad, defined chest. “How would you feel about going out sometime?” My heart races. Did I really just ask him out while ogling him?

Ozzy’s lips twist. “Can I get back to you on that?”

What am I supposed to say? No. He needs to give me an answer right now.

“Sure.” I smile. “No pressure. It’s okay to say no. Maybe you’re not dating yet.” I narrow my eyes. “Or you might not want to go out with me. I’m clearly a hot mess. And by hot, I don’t mean I think I’m hot. I mean ...” I press my lips together and close my eyes. “I’m going to shut up now. Just forget I asked. I should get to the airport.”

By the time I open my eyes, his grin has doubled.

“I’ll get back to you after I consider your offer and decide if you are, in fact, too hot for me. Which, I can already say, you are,” he says.

Oh my god. He’s flirting with me. Will was wrong. I didn’t blow things with what will forever be called The Period Fiasco.

Ozzy fishes his phone out of the inside pocket of his rain jacket. “What’s your number?”

“Five. One. Nine ...” I spew my number without sounding too desperate.

He slides his phone back into his pocket. “Have a safe flight.”

“Thanks,” I say with no control over my grin. “I hope you call me.”

For the record, I have never said those five words aloud.

Ozzy’s smile is all kinds of sexy. “I hope so too.”

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