Page 28 of Whiskey & Wreckage

His gaze locks on mine, fierce and unwavering.

“I never plan on letting you go.”

My chest squeezes. I nod, eyes suddenly blurry. “Okay.”

He kisses me once more, gentle, lingering, then eases me off his lap, both of us a little unsteady.

Eventually, he stands, brushing his hands over his thighs like he’s grounding himself.

“I’ll let you get some rest,” he says, his voice gruff again. “But I’m seeing you tomorrow.”

I raise a brow. “So it’s a date?”

His lips twitch. “Damn right it is.” He leans in, brushes a final kiss to my cheek, and heads for the door. And this time, when he walks out, my heart doesn’t crack open.

It just races. Because tomorrow? I’m seeing him again.

I’m scrolling through TikTok when Thomas texts me.

Thomas: Having a BBQ today at my place.

Thomas: I want you to meet my people.

Thomas: I’ll pick you up at 3?

I stare at the screen for a second. Blink. Re-read. Is this… a thing? Like athingthing? Meet his people?

Me: Define “your people.” Like coworkers? Friends? Secret biker gang?

Thomas: Yes.

I snort and text back.

Me: Fine. But if I show up and it’s a cult, I’m stealing your dog and leaving.

Thomas: Bear would go with you. Traitor.

Chapter Ten

THOMAS

At exactly 3:01,I’m at her door.

I don’t even knock.

I just stand there for a beat, sunglasses on, heart doing that quiet, relentless pounding it’s apparently started saving just for her.

It’s not nerves. Not really. I don’tgetnervous. It’s just… her. And then she opens the door. Jesus Christ.

She steps out like she has no idea she’s the hottest damn thing I’ve ever seen,and somehow, that makes it worse. Or better. Depends on how close to death I feel like getting today.

Her blonde hair’s down and wavy, catching the late sun like gold. Sunglasses pushed up on her head like a crown. Short jean shorts that should be illegal, hugging her ass like they were custom-made to kill me personally. And that black tube top?

Forget it. I’m a dead man.

She smells like vanilla and something a little wild, like summer and chaos and everything I’ve been trying not to want.

I let out a low whistle and grab her hand, spinning her slowly. “You’re gonna be the death of me, you know that?”

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