She nodded and smiled, seemingly equally relieved. “I like spending time with you.”
He exhaled shakily at the unexpected intimacy, how it felt to lay himself bare without the fear of consequences. He’d never experienced that with his father or his team. Or even Kendall, because their relationship had a shelf life and an unspoken angle.
But with Brinton, it felt different. He was out of his depth but refused to get out of the pool.
“I like spending time with you too, Bee.”
The hostess dropped off their drinks. Brinton lifted hers, examining the icy glacier poking through a burnt-orange sea.
“Tell me how you like it,” she said.
Although he knew exactly what she meant, he could’ve cut the sexual tension between them with a knife.
Or, even better, his lips.
“First, two fingers of bourbon,” he started. He leaned closer and rested his pointer and middle fingers horizontally against her glass.
“Only two, huh?” Her eyes flashed, completely as surprised—and charmed—as he was. “I’m sorry, that was?—”
“Hilarious,” he countered, laughing softly. “And, yeah, two fingers.”
When her teeth sank into her plush bottom lip, desire scalded his cheeks.
“Better to ease into it.” She laughed.
“Exactly,” he answered, volleying the mischief in her eyes. “Then, a fat cube of ice. Melts slow enough to cut the burn and make the flavors bloom. I like to taste everything.”
They clinked their glasses and each took a sip.
“Mmm,” she moaned, innocently enough. His mouth watered anyway.
“It’s smooth as caramel.”
He nodded, but not about the liquor. Jamie set down his glass, enchanted to watch Brinton continue. “Hey, you should slow down?—”
She drained it in three gulps, then casually licked the lingering sweetness from her lips.
Lordy.
Did she want him to know how she’d like to be licked? Did she know he’d do it on command? The sheer fantasy of her tongue zigzagging across his sensitive, tingly skin made him shift in his seat.
The building pressure bit against his zippered fly.
“You should catch up,” she said, laughing. It was gratifying to see her so carefree and to know he brought it out of her.
“Big words from a woman who’s gonna feel that shot in about two seconds.”
“I can handle my liquor. Can you?”
He cocked his head, then drained his glass. Jamie unleashed a hoot as he slammed it down on the table. “Darlin’, you got no idea.”
Flirting was fun—albeit, an understatement—but he also wantedmore. She was a labyrinth, and he wanted to learn every blind curve. “Can I ask you something? If it’s too personal, you don’t gotta answer.”
She nodded, expression so warm that his heart melted like butter in a hot skillet.
“Besides helping me, what do you wanna get out of this article?” he asked.
Her eyes dipped to her clasped hands. “I don’t want to be the girl who vomited on the internet anymore. So, this article is the first step.”
