Page 17 of His Ex's Little Sister
7
Robin
This partof town is getting way too small for comfort. Of all the motorists driving by, Reid has to be the one to see me and stop. As he jumps out of the driver seat, the desire to hop in my truck and leave comes over me, but I stopped here for a reason. This very spot is supposed to be one of the best places to get a picture-perfect shot of the sun setting over Mount Charleston to the west of us. Barclay and I want to capture that image for the cover of our demo of a song called Stars and Sunsets. I’m not leaving until I get what I need, even if it means putting up with Reid yetanothertime.
Putting my phone into my pocket, I turn toward Reid, who’s striding over to me with his usual air of cocky arrogance. He stops a couple feet from me, sporting a smirk I’d like to slap offhisface.
“Have you finished your gig at Whiskey Jacks already?”heasks.
“Yes. We had an early time slottoday.”
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this, darlin’,” he croons, looming over me at a time that I should be focused on gettingmyshot.
“I’d say it’s pretty easy to make thathappen.”
“Yeah?How?”
“You could start by getting back in your car and driving away as though you neversawme.”
“I was just thinking that I’d like to do something else entirely,”hesays.
Stepping closer, he raises his eyebrows, and the red hues of the remaining sunlight start to cast shadows across his perfectly straight nose and sharp jaw. Dammit, why does he have to be so distractingly gorgeous? And why does he smell like he just slaved away at a barbecue? And hell, why am I picturing him without a shirt? Good lord, I need to get a grip. Taking a step backward causes my upper back to hit the tailgate of my truck. He smiles, as though he has me here he wants me—cornered, boxed in, and semi-paralyzed by his charmingsmile.
“You should go,” Isqueak.
“I stopped to see if youneededhelp.”
“Idon’t.”
“You’re notstrandedhere?”
“I’m not, so please don’t expect me to give you a medal for having a hero complex. You’re not my white knight. I don’t need anything fromyou,Reid.”
“Are you sure about that?” He stretches his hands out on each side of me and grips the tailgate. Now I’m reallyboxedin.
Swallowing the massive lump in my throat, I crane my neck to look up at his face. “Positive,” I say in as firm a tone as I can manage. “Please just go. All I want to do is take a picture and be onmyway.”
“Fine, but I think I’ll wait for you to leavefirst.”
“Why?”
“In case you change your mind. Or if you needmyhelp.”
“Like hell I will,” I mutter under my breath as he turns to go back to his SUV, but it must be loud enough for him to hear. And he does, because he looks back at me with an ever-broadening smile, as though I’ve just given him achallenge.
Reid stops short, pivots around and returns to face me. This time, he comes in close. Too close. He’s inches from me, with a devilish gleam in his eyes as he leans toward me, giving me another dizzying whiff of his aftershave that smells like citrus and woods, and smoky barbecue. Christ, if he stays here for another second I’ll end up doing something I regret for alongtime.
Then he steps even closer, causing my knees to weaken. My breathing becomes even more shallow. I’m frozen in one spot, my core spreading heat and need through me as his large, calloused hand slides up my arm, glides over my shoulder, and comes to rest at the nape of my neck. My eyes drift closed. Reid’s lips brush against mine for a split second before I find my strength and push his smoldering hotchestaway.
“Don’t ever try that again,” I bark. “Why the hell did youdothat?”
It’s a dumb question, like asking why birds fly. He’s a dog. But the truth is I shouldn’t blame him. I’m the one who stood there long enough to let himkissme.
“Because you wanted me to,” heanswers.
“You dated my sister. Don’t you see how wrong thatkisswas?”
“It felt right to me, and I’m sure if we didn’t stop, it would have felt even moreright.”
