Page 18 of Instant Heat
Rae: Took you long enough.
Resting me elbows on the kitchen counter, I leaned forward and started typing me reply.
Griffin: I know. Funny story, though. When I left for work, I forgot me phone at home.
Not long after I hit send did the dots start doing their thing again. When her reply was nothing more than a thinking emoji, I knew she thought I was bullshitting her. Deciding that nothing less than the truth would do, me thumbs started moving across the screen.
Griffin: You've been on me mind every minute for almost two days. I work 24-hour shifts and didn't have access to me phone, that's why I couldn't tell you that.
It took a while, but the dots finally started moving again.
Rae: It's late. Why are you texting now?
I realized then that it was almost midnight and to her, it must seem like I wanted something. Well, I did. Just not what I presumed she suspected. I typed and deleted, typed and deleted until I finally settled with:
Griffin: I want to see you.
The message showed that it was read but the dots never started jumping again. I didn't like the feeling settling inside me chest. Making me way to the living room, I collapsed onto the couch and turned on the TV.
Flicking through channel after channel, I couldn't find anything to hold me attention long enough to keep me from checking me phone like a bloody idiot. Eventually, I just switched the damn television off and headed back to bed.
Hoping like hell I'd get a small reprieve from Rae constantly running through me mind.
Standing beside the bed, I reached over me head, gripped me shirt in me hand and pulled it off. I then curled me fingers around the waistband of me sweats but before I could yank the material down, a knock sounded from the front door.
Frozen to the spot, I tilted me head and concentrated. It could be that I was imagining things because who in their right mind would show up on someone's doorstep after midnight? The only people I could think of didn't even know where I lived.
When I finally convinced myself it was nothing more than the wind, I heard it again. Louder this time.
Breathing out a frustrated sigh, I stomped down the hallway to open the door. I was not even remotely prepared for what I found on the other side of it.
"Care for a midnight snack?" Smiling sweetly, Rae dangled a tub of ice cream and a bottle in front of me.
Me fingers dug into the wood to the point of pain. No, I didn't want a snack; I wanted the whole damn buffet.
Wearing a pair of denim cut-offs and a top that showed her shoulder and toned middle, this woman had me thoughts going in a million different directions all in the blink of an eye.
But as gorgeous as her body was, it was her smile that stole the damn show again.
"Are you just going to stand there and gawk or are you inviting me in?"
Grinning, I opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Please, come in."
Rae slowly made her way inside, stopping right in front of me. Her gaze dropped to me naked chest before steadily lifting to meet mine again. Nothing but heat shining in those pretty eyes of hers, and damn if I didn't feel it too.
She nibbled on her lip and moved closer. I tasted that kiss before our mouths even touched. Or I would have if she didn't pull back and saunter off in the direction of the kitchen.
With a sharp shake of me head, I closed the door and trailed behind her. Once we reached the kitchen, I propped me shoulder against the frame and crossed me feet at the ankles. Rae was opening cupboards and drawers until she found two tumblers and spoons.
Carefully setting them on the island, she unscrewed the cap of the bottle and removed the lid off the tub of ice cream. More than a little intrigued, I stalked to where she was standing.
"This is your idea of a snack?" I eyed the rocky road ice cream and bottle of raspberry vodka.
"What's wrong with it?" Rae reached for the ice cream, but I wrapped me fingers around her wrist.
"It's an unusual combination."
"Well, I'm an unusual girl."
