Luigi snorted. “It would almost be tempting to take her off your hands—but Dommy-boy there might shoot me.”
Rae flicked a glance at me, rolled her eyes, and then baited him further. “Yeah, probably a good thing you don’t try. I’m not sure where I would store another car.”
“Big talk, little girl.”
Rae drew herself up straight. She was tall, and that was without those chunky boots. “How do you think I got a ’69 in the first place? It wasn’t saving pennies!”
Luigi let out an appreciative whistle. “Damn! Well, I’m going to decline racing you now—and ever.”
“Smart boy,” she grinned.
“Get your fucking and shit, and let’s go,” I barked in Italian.
Luigi shrugged and darted into the house.
That left the two of us.
I took a pointed step forward, cutting Rae off before she could avoid me—again.
“How’ve you been?” I asked, searching her face for signs of fatigue.
Rae shifted, trying to move around me, but stopping when I blocked her. “Fine. You?”
I’ve missed you.“Fine.”
“Good.”
“It’s been a crazy week.”
She rolled her eyes. “Cut the small talk. What the fuck am I doing here?”
Swiping the pad of my thumb against my lip, I murmured roughly, “That dirty,filthymouth of yours, cherry-bomb.”
Rae shoved me with both her hands. “Nico! We are not doing this.”
I caught her arms and tugged her close. The scent of coconut and tropical flowers washed through me, making my blood buzz. “Why not? I’ve been aching to pick up where we stopped.”
Those hazel eyes flashed wide. Bits of green shimmered in the myriad of browns.
“What happened that night isn’t up for discussion. In fact”—she laughed harshly—“you need to forget it ever happened.”
“See, here’s the thing…I can’t.”
“Try harder.” She stomped her foot.
Her little, tiny foot.
I swallowed a groan. Too fucking cute.
“I can’t, because it’s seared into my brain.” I slid my touch to capture her fingertips. Lifting them, I drew her touch along the sides of my skull. Then down my cheeks. Then across my lips. “I know you haven’t forgotten.”
She opened her mouth, but I was faster. I darted forward. My lips found hers. The exhaled gasp was sweet.Divine.Rae would have kissed me back.
If Luigi didn’t crow from the door to the house. “I knew I didn’t stand a chance with her!”
Breaking the kiss with an outraged growl, I crowded Rae, backing her up to her bright red beast. It was a mistake to introduce her to Luigi. If we didn’t leave now, it would sign his death warrant.
“Get inyourcar, Magnolia Rae,” I ordered.
