Page 25 of Don't Remind Me
“Does it have to be a boat?” he asked.
“A new car would work too,” I said, only half serious.
“Motor vehicles. Got it.”
I sent him a sidelong glance. “You know someone with a hookup?”
He flashed his brow. “That’s me. I exclusively hang out with luxury car dealers and yacht owners. I just choose to walk everywhere for the exercise.”
My gaze swept over his broad chest and shoulders, traveling down his torso to what I was sure were incredible abs. They were hidden beneath his chef jacket, but I remembered how firm they’d been against me the day before, how strong his arms had felt wrapped around me. Only his forearms were visible now, but the sight of those along with his hands were enough to make me shiver.
I dropped my gaze, swallowing mySeems to be workingcomment. That would officially be flirting, and while I was willing to let myself fantasize about his stupidly hot body—because, come on, there was no stopping that—flirting felt like taking it too far.
My phone rang, saving me from myself.
“Sorry,” I said as I dug through my bag. I found my phone on the third ring, catching sight of Robin’s name before I silenced it.
“No worries, I should get back down.” He grabbed the side of the doorframe as he turned to leave, a muscle in his forearm flexing in a way that shouldn’t have made me want to rub my legs together. And yet...
“Right,” I said, dragging my attention to shutting down my laptop. “I’ll get out of here.”
“Oh no, that’s not…” He held up a hand. “You can stay as long as you want. You’re not in the way.”
My phone buzzed with a text.
Robin:Drinks tonight. Nonnegotiable.
I flashed him the phone. “I’m being summoned anyway. You know of any good bars around here?”
Robin had a favorite spot—or jawn, as she called it—a few blocks north of the office, a trendy sort of dive bar decorated with an eclectic variety of lamps that featured live music, but it was on the opposite side of the city from my apartment, and I didn’t have my car with me. It had been nice enough weather, and Ardena was close enough to my place that I’d decided to walk. Public transit was an option, but I wasn’t super familiar with it yet, and right now, the idea of taking it at night had me more anxious than going home. There was always a ride app. The weekday fares might even be low enough for me to justify using it for a single drink.
Jase’s brow furrowed. “You realize there’s a bar downstairs, right? You sat at it for eight hours today?”
I gave a dry laugh, shaking my head. “I’m not drinking here. That’d be…”
His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, shifting his weight to lean against the doorframe. “Go on. That’d be what? You got something against my restaurant?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Of course not. I just…don’t want to be in the way. During the day is one thing, but I’d feel like I was overstepping by being here while you were open.”
He tipped his head back slightly, studying me.
I met his gaze for a moment but shifted away, my chest growing warm under his scrutiny. Not with shame, but something similar to that exposed sensation I had with the note. Like he could see right through me. Only this wasn’t scary. At least not in the same way.
Before I could overthink things, my phone rang again. Robin.
Jase stepped into the hallway and pointed at my phone. “You should stay for a drink. Dinner too. I’ll give you the employee discount, seeing as you work here now.”
I rolled my eyes, ready to argue, but he was already gone, his footsteps heavy on the stairs. I looked at my phone for one more ring, then answered.
“Hey,” I said. “You interested in getting dinner too?”
“This isthe only place I’m ever getting drinks from now on,” Robin said as our server, Neela, set down our second round.
I smiled in thanks as Robin took a sip of her fancy cocktail and moaned loud enough that the older gentleman at the table beside ours looked over. Neela suppressed a grin as she turned away, and I brought my own fancy drink to my lips.
I couldn’t remember what was in it, but tart sweetness exploded on my tongue with the first sip, dissipating into a tingly warmth that burned just enough to be alcohol but also might have been magic. It turned out the right bartender could do as much with tequila and pomegranate juice as Jase could with a carrot. And he could doa lotwith a carrot.
Why did that sound so dirty?
