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“The same way I feel about all carbs. Total love affair.” I smile and look at the ground as we walk to the elevator, not wanting a repeat of last night. No, scrap that. I wouldn’t mind falling into those strong arms again.
Tension stretches between us as we ride the elevator to the underground parking lot. Xander’s not much of a talker, and I find myself babbling to fill the silence.
Xander’s hand finds mine, and I grind to a halt. “You’re nervous. Don’t be. I don’t bite. Unless you ask nicely.”
My laugh is slightly hysterical. Jesus, Chastity, get a fucking grip.
He keeps hold of my hand as he leads me to the passenger side of his vehicle. “This is us.”
I blink at him. “Us?”
“The car,” he elaborates. I wasn’t about to use the band’s vehicle to take you to lunch. We don’t need the paparazzi trailing us.”
I nod. “Makes sense.”
Xander opens my door and helps me in before walking to the driver’s side. We’re only in the car for a short time before he parks at a small pizza joint.
The cozy aroma of pizza surrounds us as we settle into the booth by the window. Xander's eyes never seem to leave mine for long, creating a magnetic connection that sends a shiver down my spine. The tension between us is palpable, a blend of excitement and uncertainty.
A server approaches, and Xander confidently orders a large pizza with a variety of toppings. As the server walks away, he turns his attention back to me, his dark eyes intense. "So, Soul Obsession, huh?”
I grin. “Don’t tease. Sad, I know, but they were my whole world in my early teens. We were devastated when they broke up.”
“We?”
“Ireland, Dani, Brielle, Daisy, Luna, Resa, and me,” I say, ticking the names off on my fingers. “Oh, and Shelby, of course. She’s Ireland’s sister and the tour manager. Which you already know, obviously.”
“So you’re all close?” Xander asks, looking genuinely interested.
“Yeah. We met through our love of the band, but somewhere along the way, it became about the friendships. We had such a great time together at the concerts. Then, as time passed and the band broke up, we all went our separate ways. We talk often, but I miss my girls.” I shrug, swallowing the ball of loneliness in my throat.
“Friendships like that are hard to come by. So what do you do when you're not caught up in the whirlwind of a Soul Obsession music tour?"
"You mean you don’t know?” I ask innocently. “I thought you knew everything about me.”
“Only the necessary details. Not the, uh, good stuff. You fascinate me, Firecracker. I want to know what makes you tick.” He lifts his hand to my face, sliding his knuckles over my cheek.
The simple caress works its way down my spine and lands in a pool of heat between my legs. I take a sip of water, grateful for the distraction. “I’m a teacher for children with additional needs. It's a different world from the chaos of concerts and events, but I love seeing my kids blossom with the right help."
“Your kids?” Xander teases.
I laugh. “I know. I think of them as mine in a sense. Some of them haven’t had a great start in life. I like to think what I do helps in some small way.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t seem small to them.” Xander leans back, his expression thoughtful. “Shakespeare once said, ‘The eyes are the window to the soul,’ and your eyes shine when you talk about helping others.”
I blush. “It’s not totally unselfish. I get something out of it too. It’s rewarding to see them achieve little victories. I love being part of their journey, helping them find their voices.”
Xander's gaze softens as he listens. “Takes a special person to do that kind of work.”
"Thanks," I reply as warmth spreads through me. “So, what about you? How did you get into your line of work?”
His face closes up, and his laugh is hollow. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.”
“You’re wrong. I want to know everything about you,” I blurt, the words out of my mouth before my brain catches up.
One side of his mouth tips up in a smile. “It’s mutual.”
The molten heat in his eyes almost incinerates me. I clear my throat. “So, uh, let me guess. You were a… snake milker?”
