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Snapping back into motion, Cortana handed the wolf her helmet, waiting silently as he hooked both of them over the handlebars. His cheerful, engaging smile made her heart pitter patter in her chest.
“Ready?”
Cortana nodded. “Where are we going?”
Riaz laced his fingers through hers, catching her so off guard that she didn’t have a chance to pull away before he’d secured them against her skin. “I’m taking you to a place where you can put those fingers to good use.”
“I’m sorry?”
Oblivious, he continued, “You may need to do some stretches, limber up beforehand. Do a few jumping jacks and practice your spirit fingers. It’s incredibly tedious work.”
“Where are we going?” She almost didn’t want to know.
“You ready for it, Bytes-A-Lot?”
He didn’t immediately disclose the answer, ramping up her curiosity as he strutted happily beside her. When he turned on her with an infectious smile, she couldn’t help but mirror it.
Then, he revealed their destination: “Pottery painting!”
Her anticipation crashed. “Pottery painting?”
“I even added it to your itinerary,” he added proudly.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I did!” he snapped back. “It’s in pencil on the printed-out version you taped to my door. It says: ‘Do something with Riaz.’”
“That’s hardly adding it to my schedule.” His incredulous look challenged her, and Cortana gave in. “Fine. It kind of counts.”
“Well, you’re kind of cute.”
She rolled her eyes, delighting in the way happiness bubbled within her.
“We take the kids here all the time,” he said, chuckling. “We also break half their shop when we come in, which means we’re simultaneously their favorite customer and the one they loathe. Don’t worry, we pay for everything we break.”
“That sounds—”
“—Awesome? I know! Let’s go, Danger Fangs!”
“Wait, are you serious?”
As her feet slowed, he stopped, finally turning and reading her hesitation. He leaned forward, his nose almost level with hers as his gorgeous brown eyes ensnared her. “While it may not be leaping over silver fences and outrunning bullets, I can promise you: it’ll be fun.”
Sucking in a breath at the promise, her skin pebbled with goosebumps. The deeply masculine scent of cedar brushed over her senses, bringing with it a new wave of desire.
She was his, as much as he was hers.
Trapped in his gaze, Cortana’s fingers itched to reach up and trace the line of his jaw. The barest traces of a smile hovered over his ruggedly handsome features, the effect of it making her preen toward him like a flower toward the sun.
She cocked her head, suddenly suspicious. “What are you doing? Trying ‘The Smolder’ on me?”
The somewhat guilty smile that bloomed on his face was ridiculously goofy, lightening his features. “Is it working?”
“I can assure you, it is not.”
Oh, but it was.
Abruptly, he pulled away. “Come on, the shop is almost closed for the night.”
