Page 44 of Hooked
He made his pectoral muscles jump. One side, then the other. “Better?”
Tayla nearly had to grab her napkin to cover her snort. “You didn’t just do that.” She laughed into her napkin.
Jeremy started laughing too, his deep chuckle filling the booth. “You were the one staring.”
“You are… impossibly cute.” She curled her finger at him to come closer, and he did. Slowly she ran her fingers along his jaw until he leaned far enough forward that his lips touched hers. She kissed him, enjoying his lips like dessert.
Jeremy Allen was very fun to kiss. If she wasn’t careful, she could get addicted.
He licked the edge of her mouth before he sat back. “Spicy.”
“Me? I’m sweet as sugar.”
“You’re sweet and spicy.” His smile reappeared. “I bet you’re even a little sour sometimes.”
“Maybe.” She sipped her drink. “Do you like sour candy?”
“It’s my favorite. Makes my mouth water.” He licked his lips.
“Oooh.” She narrowed her eyes. “You know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you?”
His smile slipped just a little. “Most of the time. With you, Tayla, I’m never sure.”
“I’m going up to interview at SOKA next week.” She didn’t know why she blurted it out. “They asked me to come up and meet their team.”
Jeremy nodded. “Cool. That’s exciting.” His warm brown eyes didn’t waver from her face. “You’ll kill it. I’m sure of it.”
Tayla couldn’t speak. Her heart was racing. Why was she nervous? What was it about this man that made her break her own rules? She was out with him on a night she’d planned to stay home, riding a bicycle, for God’s sake, eating messy food and kissing him in the middle of a restaurant.
“Come on.” Jeremy rose and held out a hand. “I love hanging out with you, but I can’t lie—I’m beat and Pop’s going to be home soon. He’ll start calling me if I stay out too late.”
“Is it totally weird living with your grandpa?”
“Uh… Yeah. Sometimes. But he’s a pretty good roommate and a decent cook. Plus if I didn’t live with him, he’d have to move up to the mountains with my parents and leave his house and all his buddies. My sisters are both married, so my living with him is the best solution.”
She couldn’t make a joke about that. Not even a little bit. “You’re a good guy.”
“I’m lucky.” He twisted their hands until they were knit together, palm to palm. “I have a really great family. You gotta take care of that.”
Tayla and Jeremy unlocked and hopped on their bikes, waving at the people outside who lifted a hand to wave goodbye.
Farewell, unknown people. I don’t know who you are, but you seem friendly.Everyone smiled in Metlin. It had creeped Tayla out when she first moved here, but she was starting to get used to it.
People smiled in San Francisco too. Maybe not as much, but they smiled.
Kind of.
They rode back to Main and turned right, going against traffic as they biked single file. Tayla stayed behind Jeremy. Not only did he know the town better, but if she stayed behind him, she got to enjoy the view of his tight little butt.
It was an excellent view.
The streetlamps were on and the sun was down when they got back to the bookstore. Jeremy leaned across his bike and gave her a quick kiss. “I can already feel my phone buzzing. Apparently it’s past my curfew.” He grinned. “See you on Friday.”
“See you!” Tayla was smiling as she waved.
You have become one of the waving people. What is wrong with you?
She sighed when she locked Emmie’s bike on the street and unlocked the door to INK. It was late and she wanted to sleep. Too bad all she could think about was Jeremy Allen.
