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I didn’t understand whatever was churning behind his scrutiny, and I told myself I didn’t care. It wasn’t any of my concern anymore.

Rake spoke again, cutting through the strange energy sparking the air between me and North. “But she isn’t wrong, man. This town’s needed someone like you for a long-ass time. I know they’re excited, but at the end of the day, you’re still the new guy in town. It wouldn’t hurt to come out, mingle with everyone. Let them get to know you.”

By the time he finished talking, I was downright giddy, bouncing up and down in my seat. “Exactly. It would be so much fun.”

“The diner could cater.” I whipped my head around and let out a little squeal of glee to find Bea and several of the townspeople in the diner had tuned into our conversation. Pretty much every one of them looked as stoked at the idea of a town-wide party as I was.

“My grandson Teddy’s been learnin’ to do all that DJing business,” Frank Hartford, who owned and operated the local hardware store, chimed in. “Boy’s not the handiest kid out there, but he’s damn good on those spinny things. Bet if I asked him to DJ a huge party like that, he’d jump at the opportunity.”

Even more people chimed in with ways they could help from spare scrap wood for bonfires, to tents and canopies. As they talked, I whipped the journal I always kept on me from my purse and started jotting everything down. What was left of my food was cold by the time we finished, but at least I had a firm outline of what this campaign party would look like.

“This is really great,” North said, that penetrating stare once again looking way too deeply into me. “I can’t thank you enough.”

I offered him the sincerest smile I could muster. “It’s no big deal, honestly. We all have to do our part, right?” I wanted him to think this was something I’d do for anyone else in his position. It was a bold-faced lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Darlin’, you want a table or a booth?” Bea asked, placing her hand on North’s shoulder to draw his attention.

He did that blinking thing again before pulling his focus from me to Bea. “I’ll just sit at the counter. Thanks.” He cut those eyes back toward me, causing my gut to churn. That hopeful little voice in the back of my head that wanted to remain positive piped up, suggesting maybe he didn’t want to walk away from me. Luckily, I ball-gagged that bitch silent before she could get my hopes up.

“It was good seeing you,” I offered with a friendly smile. Oddly enough, the sentiment wasn’t a lie. It hurt, sure. The death of a dream was something to grieve like any other kind of loss. But I was pretty sure there would always be a part of me who’d want to be around him. I only hoped the desire would eventually fade to a dull pulse.

His only response was to nod in our direction before turning on his heel and heading for a vacant stool at the long eat-in counter that stretched between two glass pastry cases.

I made sure not to look in his direction, but that didn’t stop my body from being very aware of his location. That pull I’d felt from the first moment, that magnetic draw, was still very much there, and it was taking everything I had to push it way down deep.

“He’s tasted you, hasn’t he?”

At Rake’s unexpected (and highly personal) question, I choked on the sip of iced tea I’d just taken. I didn’t miss the way North’s head whipped in our direction at the sound, or that his body looked like he had to lock it up tight.

“Sorry,” I croaked once I was able to breathe and speak again. “What?”

“Man watches a woman the way he’s watching you, he’s tasted her, gorgeous, and he wants to come back for more.”

Sweet goddess. My cheeks had to be a bright, neon red if the heat I felt in them gave any indication.

“I’ll take that blush right there as a yes.”

If it wouldn’t have been so damn obvious, I would have slapped my hands over my face, attempting to hide my traitorous cheeks. “It isn’t . . .” I paused, swallowing around the sudden dryness in my throat. “It isn’t like that. Truly.”

He arched a single brow and leaned back in the booth. His fully sleeved arm stretched across the back of the seat and he rested his other hand on the table, tattooed fingers drumming a steady beat against the plastic laminate top. “So you’re telling me you two haven’t slept together?”

I hadn’t thought it possible for my cheeks to get any hotter, but I’d been wrong. “No. We did. But . . .” I managed to get out, though I hated the way my voice trembled as I cast my gaze down to the table. “But he actually didn’t want a repeat.”

I was jolted from my melancholy thoughts by the pressure of Rake’s fingertips as he tilted my face back up to his. “First off, don’t do that.” My brows drew together, my head canting to the side in confusion. “Don’t hide yourself away or make yourself small like that. Ever. You’re too good to let some fuckin’ guy make you smaller. And second, bullshit.”

The confusion that had melted away came right back. “What’s bullshit?”

“The thought that that man doesn’t want to come back for seconds. And thirds. Fuck, and fourths from the looks of him.”

“No, Rake. He really doesn’t. He said⁠—”

“Might not realize it yet. Or hell, more likely, he’s lying to himself. But it’s there, gorgeous. Believe me. I’m a man, and I know men. The look on his face, I imagine it’s the same look I’d have if I got a taste of you then lost it.”

Oh, wow. That was incredibly sweet and ultra-sexy at the same time. I wasn’t sure how that was possible.

“Though, from the look on your face, I’m not going to be nearly as lucky.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching up to wrap my fingers around his wrist, holding onto him as he continued to tenderly cup my chin.