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“No,” I finally whispered, leaning forward, my lips just brushing his, “because I think I’m a bit obsessed with you, too.” I nipped at his bottom lip, and he growled, his fingers tightening on me. I barely resisted the urge to dry hump him. “Did you know you’re almost nonexistent on the internet?”
He barked out a laugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re something else,” he rumbled. “So, I assume you know my name. What’s yours, baby girl?”
My entire body heated at the term of endearment. I smiled and ran my fingers along his beard, unable to go long without touching him.
“Athena,” I said softly. “Athena Larson.”
He released one of my cheeks and curved his hand around my throat, his thumb pressing right beneath my chin. My lips trembled when his gaze dropped to them for a moment before locking back on my eyes. “Athena, I’m going to kiss you. Do you have a problem with that?”
I shook my head. “Please kiss me,” I begged.
He slid his hand from my neck and into my hair, angling my head just right before he covered my lips with his, giving me the hottest fucking kiss I’d ever had in my life.
And that beard burn he left on my chin?
It was everything I’d imagined it would be and more.
three
Seb
Elliot reached up and handed me the impact drill. I turned back to face what I was doing, grunting in thanks. We hadn’t even gotten to our lunch break yet, but the day already felt too long.
“So, a little birdie told me you’ve been spending quite a bit of time with a certain black-haired beauty at the club,” Elliot began.
I rolled my eyes. Here we fucking went. Chelsea just couldn’t seem to keep her damn mouth shut, I swore. She talked too damn much for her own good. She was a bigger gossiper than some of the older generation in this small town.
“What—no comment?” Elliot teased. He already knew I wasn’t going to say anything, even though I knew he was trying to get a rise out of me. Though I loved Elliot like a brother and he was definitely family, he really got on my fucking nerves more often than not. He was an instigator through and through. Still, I’d do anything in the world to protect him.
“Leave him alone,” Harlan commanded, shooting Elliot a disgusted look as he stepped into the room we were working in. “Seb, there’s a girl here to see you.”
I frowned. Who in the world would come to a job site specifically to see me?
I slowly climbed down from the ladder before pushing the impact drill against Elliot’s chest. “Finish the job,” I muttered before I walked away, heading out of the house. Elliot just cackled behind me, amused by my annoyance with him.
Athena was standing at the bottom of the porch, a wicker basket clasped in her hands. She was wearing a pretty, red sundress that complimented her fair skin perfectly, and her inky, black hair was pulled back into a French braid. Shades were perched on her nose, preventing me from seeing her stunning, green eyes. Immediately, I hated those damn sunglasses.
“Hey,” she greeted, smiling warmly at me. My heart skipped a beat in my chest at her beautiful smile. “I wasn’t sure when you guys take lunch. Adler said it depended on the day when I called Cecily to ask where I might find you.” She held up the basket, her smile now nervous, though she was trying to hide it. “I was wondering if you’d like to share this with me. I brought ham and cheese sandwiches, some apple slices, and a couple of sodas and bottles of water.”
I smiled at her, and immediately, she relaxed. “Give me a minute.”
Beaming, she eagerly nodded her head. I walked back inside the house we were working on and whistled, drawing the guys’ attention. They looked at me in question. I simply tapped my watch, signaling to clock off for lunch. Then, I went back outside.
Grabbing the basket from Athena, I grabbed one of her hands in my other one and led her around the side of the house to a large oak tree that would offer us plenty of shade. She dug around in the basket and pulled out a flannel blanket, spreading it out on the ground. Then, she kicked her flip flops off and sat down, her legs curled beneath her. I took a seat as well and set the basket in front of us.
“Here,” she said, handing me a container divided into two sections. One side had two sandwiches cut into eight neat triangles, and the other side had apple slices. I took it from her with a grateful smile before setting it on my lap. Curving my hand around the side of her neck, I pulled her lips to mine, softly kissing her in thanks. Her lips softened beneath mine, and she moaned, pushing her body closer so her chest was pressed flat to mine.
