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I glanced across the yard toward the apple trees. Jaeg had picked him up and put him on his shoulders so he could reach for an apple up in the tree.
Vic was with them, a bottle of water in his hand and an apple in the other. He tossed the apple into the wicker basket and raised the water bottle to his mouth.
He tilted his head back and swallowed the liquid.
How the hell could anyone look sexy drinking water? But somehow Vic made it look sexy, and I was heated and covered in tingles as I stared at him. And as if he knew I was staring at him, his head turned and his eyes settled on me.
And that gaze settling was breath stealing.
My heart stuttered and my belly flipped as if I’d just bungee jumped off the CN Tower.
I tore my eyes from him and nearly had a head-on collision with Addie who was walking across the yard toward me. Shit.
“Oh. My. God. You like him,” Addie said as she gaped at me while holding a pile of plates. “Like, like him, like him. I knew it. I knew something happened at Zero Crow.”
I laughed, but it was high-pitched and wobbly. “Don’t be ridiculous. Nothing happened.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Then why is he suddenly letting you guys stay in the cabin?”
“Because he doesn’t like Callum, and Jackson loves the cabin.”
She walked toward me, shaking her head, which made red ringlets fall over her shoulder and settle on her chest. “No, it’s more than that.” She set the plates on the picnic table and met my gaze. “You’ve been here, what, over four months, and I’ve never seen you look at a guy like that. Not even Welland. And Welland is panty melting.”
Welland was an inked up, six-foot-five muscled biker who owned Black N Heart Ink. I’d met him a month ago at Mason Auto when he brought his bike in for Jaeg to look at. I’d also seen him last Friday night at Zero Crow when I’d been onstage.
Addie didn’t know the full story about Jackson’s sperm donor. No one did, except my father. And even though I’d dated and had sex with tech-guy Kyle, Vic was the first man I really felt something for. Okay, it was more than something. It was desire. Crazy, uncontrollable desire. Everything about him made me feel this raw need.
I shrugged. “He’s good-looking.” Pathetic, Mac.
“You were drooling.”
I barked out a laugh. “Oh my God, I wasn’t.” I totally was.
I leaned over the table and grabbed the forks, keeping my head lowered because my cheeks were burning. I was thinking of Vic Gate’s hands on me. His lips. His mouth on my—
“You’re thinking about what he’ll do to you.” Addie crossed her arms and cocked her hip. “You have the hots for Vic. I can’t believe it. Well, I can, but I can’t. I mean, it’s Vic and he’s hot, but the man is untouchable. Like, literally.”
I bit down hard on my lip, trying to think of the pain instead of Vic naked on top of me. It didn’t work.
I picked up one of the plates and set it on a placemat.
I didn’t say anything. Mostly because I wasn’t sure what to say. Because I did. I liked Vic—a lot. And he wanted to kiss me. That was crazy. I was crazy for even thinking about a man like him. A man that dangerous. Who would leave. Who had a job that was dangerous and kept him away for months. No, years.
Addie put her hand on my forearm. “Mac, I’ve known him since I was a snotty-nosed kid, and I’ve never seen him with a girl. Yeah, he’s been gone a while, but I’ve never heard about him being with a girl. And I sure as hell have never seen him look at a girl like he wants to strip off her clothes like he just looked at you.”
I glanced toward the house, making sure Hettie wasn’t within earshot. I caught a glimpse of her through the window, washing something in the sink. “He’s really good with Jackson. Protective. And Jackson really likes him.”
Addie put out the last placemat. “I love Vic more than anything. Well, I hate that he doesn’t visit more often, but I understand why.” She sighed, looking at me. “He will never make a promise he can’t keep, Mac. But that means when he leaves, he’ll never promise to come back.”
Why did I know that already? But it didn’t stop how I felt about him.
I grabbed another plate and went to set it on a placemat, then realized there weren’t enough. “I think we’re short one.” I counted them. “Wait, there’s an extra plate.”
The side gate clanked, and I heard a rustle of fall leaves as someone walked along the stone walkway.
Addie grinned. “Oh, that must be her.”
I frowned. “Her? Who else is coming?”
