Page 16 of Hyde and Seek

“Actually, no. Not at all. I’m pretty much the opposite. Running this place is more than a full-time job, which means I’m busy. I’ve gotta make decisions on the fly and trust my instincts. What I don’t do is fuck around saying shit I don’t mean, especially when I want something. I already asked and know you don’t have a man, at least not one anyone knows about.”

As my brain was trying to catch-up, I belatedly realized Rhys was waiting for my confirmation. “Nope, no man.”

“I want the chance to spend some time together, get to know you better, and see just how sweet you really are. And darlin’? From what I see tonight, I’m betting your sweet comes with a whole hell of a lot of mischievous. Now I’m wondering which one comes out more. Think on it.”

I stared up at Rhys, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to ask if he was out of his mind. Who talked like that?

I mean, I got it, I wasn’t the best judge of normal. Most of my life had been spent in what I liked to call Repressed Land, a dull as hell place where emotions weren’t discussed and faces were so botoxed you couldn’t tell how anyone felt.

However, even I knew this was taking blunt to a whole new level.

Which was why another part of me wanted to take Rhys up on his offer. I might not be used to straight talk, but that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate it. I’d take blush-inducing honesty over game playing any day. Not to mention, his confidence majorly upped his sexy vibe.

Afraid of what I’d say, I kept my mouth closed and nodded up at him.

Unlike Rhys, I wasn’t one to make decisions on the fly. I dug him as a person so far and could see myself spending time with him. However, there was something about Jake that pulled me in. I didn’t fully understand it but that didn’t matter. I knew it’d be wrong to start something with him when I was lusting after his friend the way I was.

Thankfully, Jake had good timing, walking up to us and saving me from saying something stupid. “Bike has a couple loose wires. Bring it in to Z.”

Rhys gave him a chin lift. “Thanks, Brother.” He looked back to me. “Alright, darlin’, I got shit to take care of. Think about what I said. Alright?” He ran his knuckles across my cheek before leaning in to brush his lips across it. “Fuck, he wasn’t kiddin’. She smells like cake,” he said quietly, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

“What’re you supposed to think about?” Jake asked.

I looked around to avoid his all-knowing green eyes. “Oh, nothing really.”

“Yeah, ‘cause you look like someone who just had a ‘nothing really’ kinda discussion.”

“He, uh, wants to spend some time together,” I mumbled, pretending to be very interested in the drunk chick dancing to a beat only she was hearing.

“He wants to spend time together,” Jake repeated.

“Yeah.”

“He said that?”

“Yup.” I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted that he found it so hard to believe.

“He said those words?” Jake asked. Controlled. Quiet. And scary as fuck for some reason.

“Yeah. Why?”

“No reason.”

Before I could push for an answer, an arm was slung around my shoulder. An arm that just so happened to be wearing a very nice dress shirt.

I knew he wore GQ.

“Hey.” I smiled up at Z.

His pompadour was fully pomped, his black slacks and gray dress shirt nicely pressed. He didn’t fit in at a rock concert in a dive bar, but it was totally working for him.

“Doll Face. Everything good?”

“Awesome.”

He dipped his head to my soda. “Want something stronger?”

I glanced back at the unusual gyrating of Drunky McDrunkerson and shook my head. “No, I’m good.”

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