Page 33 of Ricochet

“We are?” Her forehead pinched, and as she shifted, the creamer clinked in the coffee cup.

“Ready?”

“Sure, whynot?” She hadn’t spilled so far.

“Want me to hold anything?”

“Absolutely not.” Adelia squared her shoulders.

Colin snickered and picked up the coffee pot and flowers to go with the arm full of tablecloths. “What’s a nice word for stubborn? You’re a little determined at times, aren’t you?”

“I can be stubborn. Fair warning.”

“At least she’s honest,” he mumbled loud enough that Adelia couldhear, and they both laughed while they walked down the hall, passing two people who gave them odd looks but said nothing.

The hallway ended at a T. There were two turns for the restrooms and another wing of the community center, and they broke toward the bathrooms.

“Pit stop?” Adelia asked.

“Not quite.” They stood next to the water fountains, vending machines, and a ladder. “Your second challenge.”

“Is where…?” She looked around for a secret door as if Delta guys could make cool things appear out of nowhere.

He put everything down except the linens. “Let me double check that this will work.” He stepped to a ladder next to the water fountain, climbed up, and unlatched the ceiling panel. “So far, so good.”

“Um…”

Then Colin disappeared.

Adelia glanced over her shoulder as though they weregoing to get in trouble—ironic since so many people would say she grew up in a life of crime. Mayhem sold weapons. Technically, she was a human trafficker. But, oh no, she couldn’t climb onto the roof at the community center. There had to be a rule against that posted somewhere.

“Colin,” she whispered with sudden butterflies bouncing in her veins. “Hey! Colin?”

Suddenly, his feet were visible,and her quick pulse slowed. If her hands weren’t full, she’d have slapped one over her mouth for how ridiculous her relief felt. Colin slid down. “Let’s go, beautiful.”

“Up there?”

“The stars and coffee.” His blue eyes gleamed as he stepped closer, and his palms wrapped around her waist. “You and me.”

“Have you always been this amazing?”

He rolled his bottom lip in thought. “No. It’s somethingI’m trying on for size.”

“I like it.”

The lip he’d sucked on had her attention, and when he released it, she wanted to kiss him. All of this was new to her. It wasn’t that she’d avoided dates. But this wasn’t even a date. It was simply thoughtful and sweet. She wasn’t sure she knew that calloused men who made their livings as a warrior in their world, be it Mayhem or Delta, men knew how to maimand move on, could have a sweet, romantic side. Or if she had seen it, she didn’t believe it to be true—just a means to an end, an act to get laid.

“After you.” He took the coffee cups from her hands, setting them down, and let his hands graze her shoulders then cage her against the ladder.

Shivers erupted as goosebumps rose on the back of her neck. Her nipples beaded. The shallowness of herbreaths shouted so loudly she was convinced the whole community center could hear how Colin made her blood race.

Colin nuzzled her ear, her neck, and the quietest whisper purred from her lips. Warm heat tickled against her skin, and her mind raced to say something but stalled.

“Ready?”

She nodded, quivering as he backed away, and placed the toe of her high heel on the ladder. “Do you wantme to carry anything?”

“No, I’ve got it.”

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