“Not that much,” I hissed, pulling my shirt away from my chest and smelling it.
“Whoa, who hit the mall perfume counter?” Vicky asked when she came around the island to greet me.
My palms started to sweat. “Is itreallythat strong? I swear I didn’t put much on. Well, I didn’t mean to, but the bottle tipped over.”
“Go stand outside quick before she comes,” Vicky said, pushing me toward the back patio.
“Why? Then I’m going to smell like Max does when he comes in from outside,” I answered. She was stronger than I thought because before I knew what was happening, I was out the patio doors.
“Just stand out there for a few minutes. Promise, it will help.”
I looked at Niko through the window with a pitiful face like a beggar asking for more porridge in a Dickens novel.
He shrugged and gave me a thumbs-up. Walking around, I tried to calm myself before the rest of the group arrived. It was still warm, the sun having just gone down. I sniffed my shirt again, checking whether the smell had diminished.
Just as I expected, I smelled musky, but not in a good way. Defeated, my shoulders sagged. “Great, now I smell like Max with expensive cologne on.”
“Who’s Max?” Ren’s voice made me jump and spin around. “And why are you in time up?” She was holding back a huge smile, and I feared what my friends had told her.
“Oh, hey,” I said with a laugh that sounded like I was a maniac. Clearing my throat, I added, “Max is my husky. And I think the term you’re thinking of is timeout. And I’m just out here checking the…weather.”
Her head tilted, causing her thick curls to move, exposing her neck. “You’re a scientist and a weatherman?”
My knees buckled at the sight. This was getting out of hand. It was like a regency novel I heard Leyla and Vicky talking about recently, where grown men fainted at the sight of a woman’s ankles.
Don’t look at her ankles. Don’t do it!
“You’re a funny girl,” I choked out.
She shrugged and walked around, looking at the red and orange sky. “So I’ve been told.”
I enjoyed banter, and she seemed to be a worthy opponent. I fisted my hands to keep them from reaching out and seeing if her curls would bounce back if I pulled one down.
Get it together, man.
Ren was wearing worn-in jeans and a floral off-the-shoulder shirt. She was beautiful in all her understated form. Luckily, no sign of her ankles.
“Were you coming to check the weather, too?”
Her head tilted the other way, and she smiled. “Nah, I’m out here for you.”
I choked on air, and she walked up to me, slapping me on the back. “You alright?” Her grin was wide, her hand warm. But neither of those was the reason I was trying to inhale enough air. It was her floral fragrance that filled my senses. I wanted to ask if it was perfume or her shampoo. And where she got it from.
That wasn’t weird, was it? Better keep it to myself.
“I’m fine. I might’ve swallowed a mosquito,” I blurted out, making her laugh loudly.
“You’re a funny guy. Need some water to wash down your appetizer?” she asked, her eyebrows high in amusement.
“Nah, no need. I don’t like to get too full before I destroy the rest of those losers at Catan. Looks like you and I are on the same team, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure we win.”
She stepped back, and I wanted to follow her to keep her close. “Don’t get too cocky, Data Boy. My American friend taught me everything I need to know to win.”
“Data Boy?” I asked, laughing loudly.
“Yeah, Vicky said you deal with data all day. Seemed appropriate.” She was still smiling; not flirting, but definitelyenjoying this back and forth. I was so here for it. Wow, she was gorgeous.
“Hmm, asking about me then?” I said with a smirk, leaning toward her, my voice deepening.
