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Work had been a bitch. It was a typical bustling day, but our general manager was in an unusually sour mood. She’d made it clear that everyone was in her line of fire today, with me seemingly at the forefront.
I didn’t know there were so many things I could do wrong in a single shift, and I was teetering on the edge of walking out. But just when I thought my patience couldn't be stretched any further, I sawhimat the entrance of the restaurant…
Ari.
He ambled inside with the casual grace of someone accustomed to public attention, dressed in jeans and a tight Cobras t-shirt that accentuated his muscled chest. Like last time, it seemed like everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at him.
Once again, it was crazy to me that the only personhewas staring at…
Was me.
His steps didn’t slow at all until I was in his arms. Maybe I should have been embarrassed this was happening at work, but he hungrily kissed my lips, parting them with his tongue. There was an immediate ache between my legs, like my body had been asleep all day and just remembered what was missing. Him. I could feel him harden between us as his tongue slid over mine.
He only stopped after some of the patrons started freaking clapping.
“Forgot we weren’t alone for a moment,” he said with a wink.
I swooned. Because honestly…same.
“Hi,” I squeaked.
He grinned in response, just a subtle upturn of his lips that danced in his eyes. My stomach fluttered, the sensation like a swarm of fireflies dancing in my belly, He was a sun-kissed god. Like a dream, everything about him had a heroic, almost ethereal quality to it. Intense, enchanting, and utterly captivating.
He held out his hand. "I think we have an issue we need to remedy, sunshine. I need some digits."
The world seemed to slow for a heartbeat, as relief rushed through me. I hadn’t realized until then how much I needed this connection. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket, my fingers trembling as I pulled up my contacts so I could add his number. “Okay, what’s your number?”
But Ari slipped my phone from my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. The brief touch sent a jolt of warmth into my veins, and I swallowed hard as my heart somersaulted.
"I'll do it," he quipped with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He inputted his number and a few seconds later held up his buzzing phone. His playful grin broadened as he handed my phone back to me.
"Now it's official. We’re besties," he declared, his voice a husky croon that had that spot between my legs growing…achier. “Besties” didn’t have quite the same charm as it had when I’d first met him.
He leaned forward, his lips brushing against his ear. “Would you rather me say, “it’s official. You’re mine?”” he murmured.
A grin lit up my face.
“I see you, sunshine. I’ll ace every test.”
A throat cleared, and my manager—who obviously didn’t know what the beginnings of true love looked like based on the prune looking snarl on her face—popped up behind Ari like one of those whack-a-moles.
Ari glanced back and jumped, pressing a hand against his chest. “Jump scare!”
Rachel did not appreciate this, but she was well versed in sucking up to celebrities. Ari definitely qualified as one, especially since the Cobras were on a five game winning streak, their first in four years.
“Blake, dear, how about you get back to work?” she asked in a tone that broached no argument.
“Yes, of course,” I murmured. “I’ll see you later?” I asked Ari, hating how desperate I sounded.
Way to play it cool, Blake.
He didn’t seem annoyed by it at all though. “What time do you get off so I can count down the hours?” he murmured.
“Blake!” Rachel snarled, her patience lost. Probably because there happened to be an A-lister in my section at the moment and it was the dinner rush.
Whoops.
“Eleven,” I said regretfully, and his face fell. I braced for him to make an excuse, to say he had better things to do.
