glare making me more frustrated by the second. I twisted my wrist, checking the time again, fifteen minutes. I was leaving early; I couldn’t take the eagle eye anymore.
“Okay, Chase, Dad has to get to work. Come give me a hug then go put your gear away.” He scurried over to give me a half hug.
Over his head I watched Beth walk off the porch. “You’re leaving early.” She crossed her arms in front of her.
“I have an errand to run before I get to work.” I hoped she didn’t ask what, because I didn’t really have one.
“Are you ever going to talk to me again, Mitch?”
I shook my head, not believing she was going to bring this up again. “Beth, we’re talking right now.” I walked past her towards the house to get my things.
“That’s not what I meant. Don’t walk away from me.” She followed; I turned when I reached the porch.
“Beth, I’m not getting into it with you right now. I have to go, and this conversation is not something we need to have minutes before I walk out the door.”
“When, then?” she put her hands on her hips. Why did women do that?
“I don’t know, Beth, but not right now.” I walked away from her to get my keys and gun.
I managed to get out of the house without another verbal battle. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about what had happened between us. I just wanted it to go away.
Heading into work, I stopped at the Wawa to grab a cup of coffee. In my rush to get out the door, I had forgotten about the pot Beth had brewed. I parked next to a brand new black Camaro, the windows so heavily tinted that you could not see inside. Nice, I thought as I climbed out of my truck. What I wouldn’t do for a ride like that.
“You like it?” a female voice broke into my thoughts and my neck whipped to the front of my vehicle where Corey stood.
“Is this yours?” I pointed at the Camaro to stress the point.
She smiled, “Yep, sure is.” She stepped closer, a twenty-four-ounce coffee in her hands. The smell of it mingled with citrus, and I wondered if that was her scent.
“Nice. How long have you had it?” I examined the car as I heard the doors unlock.
“Couple of months, I guess. You ever seen the inside of one?” She reached for the door handle, pulling it open. I shook my head and leaned down to peer in.
“Wow, that’s awesome.” A smile spread over my face as I turned to her. Her dark Oakley shades blocked the color of her eyes from me. I wanted to take her sunglasses off.
“Have a seat; I’ll start it up for you.” I didn’t hesitate while she walked to the driver’s side and climbed in. I watched her close her door and put the key in the ignition after she set her coffee cup into the holder. The passenger seat was soft, plush leather. I leaned back, finding it reclined further than expected.
The vibration of the motor tore through me with almost as much force as the smile on her face when she turned. Her face was less than a foot from mine, our arms inches away on the center console. The memory of the dream came back to mind, reminding me of how much I had wanted to taste her lips.
A sweet citrus sent wafted gently over me. Yeah, that was her scent, how perfect for her.
“Like it?” She slid her glasses onto the top of her head.
Liked it? Hell, no, I loved it; right along with the intricate color of her irises and her sexy face.
“Yeah, I like it.” My voice was husky. I knew she noticed, when she peeked at my mouth, and the tip of her tongue flicked out to wet the soft skin that surrounded hers.
I needed to get out of this car—and fast.
“I guess you’re on your way into work?” I shifted in the seat to get out.
“Yep, too busy to make coffee at home, so I stopped to grab one here. What about you?”
“Yeah, me, too.” We locked stares again, her citrus scent attempting to lure me back into the car. A horn from another vehicle in the lot broke the moment. I climbed out.
“Sometime, you will have to take me for a