Page 25 of Rekindled

I should have known better than to sit my ass at the bar to begin with. Journee and I parted ways after I left her in the bathroom. I told her I would join her in VIP with the guys after I grabbed our drinks. Attendance wasn't high at the lounge, but the space still bustled with energy. For a bar that had three bartenders serving the area, it sure was ridiculous one hadn't approached me yet.

"I'm Tevin." The stranger extended his hand beside me. I dropped my eyes to his palm and cringed.

Gosh, he was ashy.

It was winter in Aspen, but dammit, if you're going to make a move on a woman at least double check you've covered the basics.

You know...

Breath fresh? Check.

Face cleared? Check.

Finger webbings, not ashy? Check, check, check.

This brother was failing on all.

I forced an even wider smile. "Maven."

"Maven," he cooed, then smiled big. He had something with parsley earlier in the night. A piece of the green leaf still stuck between his two front teeth made that clear.

I ran my tongue against my teeth in reaction.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

A familiar scent invaded my senses a second later, a much better one. I blinked my eyes to calm myself and my body. It's amazing how no matter the length of time Kai and I were apart, I still knew when he was around based on his enticing natural scent mixed with his cologne oil.

I focused past the stranger I knew now as Tevin to find Kai standing a few inches away. His eyes were on me when he moved his view between Tevin and I and arched a brow.

"So, what are you getting into after this?" Tevin asked. He lifted his glass of brown liquor to his lips and sipped slow.

My view was still on Kai when I uttered, "Oh, nothing as yet."

"I'm new to Aspen," Tevin continued. "Is this your first time too?"

I shook my head. Kai had moved in a little closer, his eyes squared a bit when he switched his focus on Tevin.

"No," I answered. "I've been here a few times."

"Well, hopefully you can show me around."

I smiled politely. "I don’t think so, but I’m sure there’s another lady in the lounge who would be happy to show you around."

He scooted closer, and I scooted away a few inches in response. "But I wantyouand I always get what I want."

I cocked a brow, and he licked his lips.

"Tevin, I’m flattered but—"

"Shh…" Tevin placed a hand on mine, and I couldn’t help but to cringe at being touched and shushed by him. "I’m not really one to take no for an answer and I can be quite persistent, so—"

He cut his words short when Kai reached over the glass sitting in front of Tevin, brushing the rim with his forearm, and knocking the glass to the counter. The liquor in the glass spilled out and landed right on Tevin's lap.

"Shit!" Tevin yelped as he jumped off his barstool. "Aye, man, what the hell?!"

"Oh, my bad," Kai replied, casually. "Was reaching for a napkin."

"This is Armani!" Tevin fumed through his teeth. He grabbed a few napkins from the dispenser and dabbed at the brown stain on his cream-colored pants. "You need to watch what the hell you're doing."

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