Page 2 of Wild Tangled Hearts

“Uh, yeah, Alex, right? He’s...um, friendly.”

She laughs. “Oh, ‘friendly’ is one way to put it. I’d say he’s more like ‘interested.’ I think you’ve brewed up some romance in your caramel macchiato today.”

“Well, in that case, I hope he likes his coffee with a side of quirky art teacher.”

“He sure seemed like he did.”

I shrug, knowing the whimsical world of romance is just that...whimsical.

With my steaming cup of liquid comfort in hand, I make my way to my favorite corner of the cozy coffee shop. It’s the spot where the soft, golden sunlight filters in through the window just right, casting a warm glow on the worn wooden table. This is my haven, my sanctuary, where creativity flows as freely as the coffee.

I pull out my beloved sketchbook, its pages filled with a mosaic of memories and inspiration. Flipping to a fresh, blank page, I’m absorbed in the world of lines and shades, bringing my thoughts to life on paper.

My two favorite things, coffee and art, intertwine as my pencil dances across the sketchbook. But as I draw, my thoughts drift back to Alex. Could he join the ranks of my cherished favorites? The thought lingers in the corners of my mind, a reminder that life is full of surprises.

In my haze of sketching, a strange sensation tingles at the back of my neck, like the prickling awareness of being watched. It’s intense enough to draw my attention away from my sketchbook.

My heart skips a beat when I spot him — tall, dark, and impossibly handsome. His leather jacket screams bad boy, and the motorcycle helmet he holds casually in his hand adds to the image. But it’s those piercing ice-blue eyes of his that capture me completely.

I can feel my cheeks flush as he gives a small, subtle nod in acknowledgment. There’s no smile, just an intense, smoldering stare. And then, as if the moment never happened, he pulls his gaze away.

He strides over to the counter, a confident swagger in his step, and orders an espresso with an intensity that leaves Sarah blushing. It’s as if he’s radiating charisma, and the air around him crackles with an irresistible allure. I can tell he’s the kind of guy who should have a warning label. There’s an undeniable sexiness to him. Definitely not boyfriend material. But on the flip side, I don’t doubt for a nanosecond that he’d be an absolute rock star in bed. I mean, those bad boy vibes practically come with a “Certified Sex God” certificate, right?

Just as I’m about to ignore the sexy stranger and lose myself in my art once more, fate has other plans. With his espresso in hand, he saunters over to my table, and those piercing, ice-blue eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart race.

“Mind if I join you, gorgeous?” he purrs, his voice sending a sultry shiver down my spine.

I swallow hard, tongue-tied. “Uh, sure,” I stammer out, shifting in my chair.

He takes a seat across from me, his leather jacket creaking softly as he settles in. “Damien,” he introduces himself, extending a hand.

I take it, and a jolt of electricity passes between us at the touch. “Bella,” I reply, feeling a flush of warmth in my cheeks.

“Bella.” He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “You’ve got a smile that could stop traffic.”

I chuckle, my heart pounding in my chest. “Thanks.”

His eyes twinkle with mischief as he reaches for my phone that’s sitting on the table.

“No passcode,” he says, one brow raised in disapproval. “I’d like to see that smile again. Mind if I add my number to your contacts?”

Unable to tear my gaze away from his intense stare, I reply, “Go ahead,” my voice barely above a whisper.

As he hands my phone back to me, our fingers brush, and more heat pools inside of me.

“Call me,” he says, standing and grabbing his coffee in one hand and his helmet in the other. “And think about putting a passcode on your phone.”

“Okay,” I reply, not entirely sure which part of his request I’m agreeing to.

It takes a full minute after he leaves for my breathing to return to normal. But the heat in my cheeks is still burning hot, a lingering reminder of our brief encounter.

Sarah catches my gaze and she mouths, “What was that?”

I shrug in response because, truthfully, I have no idea what just happened. Or if I’ll even consider calling him. I mean, maybe…if my reliable vibrator stops working.

Stop.I warn myself, shaking my head to clear the tempting thoughts. The last thing I need is to stumble into a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Because that’s all a guy like him is good for.Right?

As I leave the cozy coffee shop, my mind is still entangled with thoughts of the two handsome strangers. There’s Alex, the boy next door type, exuding rugged charm, and then there’s Damien, the undeniable bad boy radiating sheer hotness. They couldn’t be more different, and yet I’m drawn to both of them.

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