Page 130 of Dream Chaser
Jake catches the look on my face. “You ever ask Izzy to go out on it?”
“Not yet,” I say, still watching her. “Heard if I ever do, I have to take the fish off the hook.”
Jake shifts, resting his elbows on the table, that classic dad squint aimed right at me. “Tell you what—take me out sometime. Just us. You, me, rods in hand, no distractions. I’ll decide then if you’re good enough.”
Sarah pats his hand, amused. “You had your chance to play hardass already.”
Jake doesn’t deny it. Just looks at me and says, “We’ll see if you can gut a fish without gagging first.”
I smirk. “Fair enough. But I’m warning you, I fillet cleaner than I run a post route.”
That gets a chuckle from him.
“Love the shirt.” Sarah smiles.
When the girls have played their set, I expect her to walk past me, fully ready to do the whole chase Iz thing, but she comes over and sits beside me.
“Nice hat, Skinner.”
“You killed it up there.” I smile. “You off duty now?”
“I am.”
“How long before we can sneak out of here without raising suspicion?”
She laughs. “What makes you think I don’t have plans already?”
“What makes you think you haven’t missed me enough to find some time and place to squeeze me in?”
Her lips twitch up on one side. “That confidence is?—”
“A turn-on, just like yours is to me.” I take her hand and lift it slowly to my lips, expecting she may pull away, but she’s right about my confidence—if she does, I won’t run away with my tail between my legs. “Missed you, Izzy Ross.” I kiss her hand, and she doesn’t pull away.
“Yeah?” she asks, eyes fucking sparkling with … mischief, but sparkling nonetheless, “You do know what you’re asking for, right?”
“All of it,” I say, my voice low and certain. “I want all of it, Izzy Ross.”
She stares at me for a beat then blinks like I’ve short-circuited her sass. And maybe I have, because the smirk wavers, her breath catches, and damn if that reaction doesn’t make me want to push my luck.
But before I can, Lo calls out from the bar, “You two wanna say goodnight or just climb under the table and get it over with?”
“Lo,” Riley scolds, half-laughing as she rests her hand on her bump, “don’t give them ideas. That’s a terrible table for sneaking.”
Iz sighs dramatically and stands, tugging my hand so I follow. “Goodnight,” she says to the girls. “See you all tomorrow.”
London hugs her. “And you’re off the clock tomorrow.”
Syd pipes up, “She doesn’t need to lift a finger. We’ve got it all covered.”
Mag’s cackles. “We all wanna see the ‘I got rocked’ limp tomorrow.”
“Lexi!” Iz hisses.
Mags smirks, tossing her arm over Iz’s shoulder. “Don’t act like you won’t be glowing all day.”
Riley adds, “You two enjoy your … quality time.”
“Sweet dreams,” Ava sings from across the room. “Try not to break anything. Or anyone.”
