Page 67 of Racing Heat
“How did you expect me to be?”
I turn my attention back to the road, like he is. I think it’ll be easier to say what I want to him this way—not having his eyes peeking over or make him feel a bit of pressure under my stare.
“Honestly, the first time I met you, I was sure you were just this broody and injured goalie who was here to coach and train Hendrix. I thought you would never speak to me, or her really. You gave off this vibe that said you were off-limits to us. That you had a job to do, and it certainly didn’t involve socializing with us.”
“Wow,” he says. But I’m not finished.
“But then I saw you out a few times with Danny and August, and I realized that it might not be true. It’s like I saw you relax. A different side of you came out, and I’m glad it did.”
“When I first got here, I was incredibly homesick. I don’t think anyone realized that except for August. He pulled me out of my shell. Scheduled our meetings in bars or restaurants so that I got out around people. At first, I didn’t realize what he was doing, and I resisted. I wanted him to meet with me during business hours and treat it like a meeting, not as a chance for us to get to know each other. But then I figured it out and stopped fighting him or asking for meetings during business hours. I enjoyed his company. And then Mac decided to butt heads with Danny, so then he came into our little fold, and it was nice. I had this little found family who was interested in making sure that I was truly okay over here. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what August did for me. He gets a bad rap, sure, and some of it is earned. But he’s a good guy deep down. You just have to find his deep down.”
“Do you still feel homesick?” I ask him softly.
He shrugs. “Sometimes. But being around you certainly helps things.”
“Why is that?”
I catch him sneaking a glance at me, and when we pull up to a red light, he turns his full attention to me.
“You’re going to miss it when it changes.”
“I don’t care. The world can wait. That’s what it feels like when I’m with you. The world can wait. And it will.”
I smile at him, unsure of what to say to that. A horn beeps behind us, breaking the spell, he’s cast on me. I sink farther back into the seat and sigh. I like being here with him like this. It’s nice to have him so unguarded and say whatever is on his mind.
We pull into the restaurant, and he turns to me before getting out of the car. “I’ll be right over for your door. Don’t get out.”
“You don’t have to…” But the words die on my lips. He’s already rushing around to the other side, opening the door for me.
He gives me his hand and helps me extract myself from the car. It’s certainly an adjustment from climbing out of the Jeep.
“You look so beautiful. Have I told you that?”
I flush under the heat of his stare. “If you keep looking at me like that, we’re not going to make it into the restaurant.” He opens his mouth to speak, but I place a fingertip over his lips. “And if you keep on treating me this well, I’m not going to ever want to let you go.”
We don’t say another word as we make our way into the restaurant. He gives the host our name, and we’re whisked off to a table outside on the patio with an amazing view of the ocean. Dealing with a man, and not the boys who I’m used to, definitely has its perks.
Chapter Twenty-Five
~CASSIE~
The view is amazing, and I’m not talking about the view of the ocean. Jase is sitting across from me, lit by the soft glow of the patio, wearing a navy-blue button-down shirt that’s rolled at the sleeves, showing me those muscular arms. There’s just something so hot about watching the veins flex in his arms while he moves. He’s looking at the menu with a smirk on his face.
I’m sure he knows I’m watching, but so far, he hasn’t called me out on it.
A waitress coming up to the table stops my ogling of him.
“Good evening to you both. Here is the wine you preordered. I hope you’ll enjoy.” She picks up his wineglass and passes it to him so that he can take a sip.
“Perfection. Thank you.” He may have called the wine perfection, but his eyes were on me the whole time.
If he keeps on wooing me like this, I’m not going to be able to wait until we leave this restaurant to mount him.
“My name is Erin, and I will be taking care of you tonight. I will give you some time to review the menu. If you should need anything else, please let me know.” Erin makes herself scarce, and I decide that I like her so much better than the woman from the fish and chips place.
“What are you hungry for tonight?” Jase asks me, waggling his eyebrows at me.
“Why do I feel like this is a setup to make sure I’m so wound up by the end of night that I fall easily into your bed.” I pick up my wineglass and take in the sweet liquid. “Because you know you don’t have to work so hard for that. I’d go pretty willingly at this point.”
