Page 95 of Nobody's Girl

He was met with a napkin that Ethan held to his chin. “Watch out, lover boy.”

“She’s hot!” was all Griffin could say.

“Go after her, stud,” Phoenix said as he caught Cait’s eyes. “I’m reeling mine in next.” With a wiggle of his finger, he found the adorable redhead getting up and coming his way as Griff vacated his chair, going after Jess.

Phoenix patted the empty seat near him. “Have a seat, gorgeous.”

Cait gave him a smile and took the seat. “So. Did you like the Superman I sent you?” Her Irish accent was obvious.

He nodded. “What did you think of the Rob Roy I sent you, Cait?”

“It was sweet in more than one way,” she said as she found herself falling into the dark depths of his milk-chocolate-colored eyes. “You have a distinctive look, Phoenix.”

He scooted his chair closer and leaned in close to whisper, “I have a lot of distinctive features. I’d love to show you them all.”

A giggle erupted from her, and she found herself blushing, a thing it was hard for anyone to get her to do. Cait was a woman who wasn’t easily impressed. But the man in front of her was the most impressive man she’d ever seen in her life.

“You’re probably a man I should run away from. Sure to be a heartbreaker.”

“Nah, I could never break your heart, Caity-cat.” He ran one finger along her collarbone, making chills flow through her.

“Where’re you from?” she asked him as she found herself allowing him to touch her—and she never allowed such a thing.

“Texas. A little city called Corpus Christi. But I have some land in a little place called Karnes County too.” He leaned in even closer, taking in a sniff of her perfume. “Is that cloves I’m smelling?”

“It might be. It’s a new perfume my mom gave me for my birthday last week.” Cait moved back a little as he was so close and the heat between them was growing intense.

“Birthday?” he asked as he closed the distance between them again, feeling the connection that was forming quickly. “And how old is my Caity-cat?”

“I’m twenty-three,” she answered. “And you are?”

He moved his fingers up the side of her neck as he said, “Thirty-five. I love the dark shade of auburn your hair is. It’s amazing.”

“Thanks. I get that a lot.” She settled back in her chair, making his hand leave her neck as it was making her want to kiss the man she’d barely met.

“I bet you do.” Phoenix wasted no time touching her again as he ran his finger across the bridge of her nose. His eyes went from her pale green eyes to the freckles on her nose and upper cheeks. “The dusting of light freckles is adorable. You’re utterly adorable. How’ve you not been snatched up yet?”

“Maybe because I’m not looking to get snatched up. I’m busy with work and college. I go to MIT. I’m majoring in food engineering. You’ll probably think a lot differently of me when I tell you this part. I’m into making meals out of insects.”

“Nope, I still find you fascinating,” he said, then let his finger move over her plump red lips. “So, a few bugs have passed through those lips, huh?”

“A few,” she said as she fought not to suck his finger into her mouth, which was watering for the inexplicable man.

The sound of her sister’s voice broke the spell she was under as Phoenix held her eyes with his. “Cait! What the hell are you doing?”

Cait looked away from Phoenix, finding her older sister standing with her hand on her hip, glaring at her. “What? This is Phoenix, by the way, Miss Rude. Phoenix, this is Kellie. A nosy person.”

“Nice to meet you, Kellie,” Phoenix said as he sat back a bit with the arrival of the protective woman.

Relieved to hear another Irish accent for him too, Ethan watered at the mouth. “Leave them be, gorgeous,” Ethan said as he got up, taking Kellie’s hand and leading her to the bar. “I gestured for you to come over here for a very different reason than for you to come and chastise my friend’s new acquaintance.”

Kellie looked over her shoulder, giving her younger sister the eye that told her not to go too far with the man no one knew a thing about. Then she turned her attention to the handsome Scot who towered over her. “I can tell you now, Ethan Southern; there will be nothing that you think might happen that will happen. Not with me.”

“Aww, come on,” he said as he let her hand go and ran his arm around her narrow waist. “I don’t want a thing more than to hear your sweet voice as you tell me all about yourself and what makes a darling woman like yourself tick.”

“Please,” came her sarcastic reply. “I’m no fool, Mr. Southern. Your accent won’t sweep me off my feet. I’m Irish. I’ve heard plenty of accents like yours. So, what has you in our small town?”

He took a seat at the bar and lifted her up to sit on the stool next to his, facing him. She was tiny—just the right size for him. Her hair was shoulder length, straightened, showing off the caramel highlights in her light blonde hair. The blue of her eyes was so dark, he could swear he’d never seen that exact shade before.