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I kill the headlights before I pull into the lot and inch across the pavement to ensure I don’t hit anybody on accident. I slow at the edge of the building to let Ian out of the still-rolling car for him to do the other parts of his job and scope the scene out. Coasting again, I find the little spot around the back of the building as I suspected, and park the car.
Pause … Observe …
No one jumps out of the bushes that protect the gathering area armed with a camera, or worse, so I hop out and let myself in through the privacy gate with grub in hand.
A small, paved pathway leads into an opening with a firepit front and center. It’s surrounded by stone seating with plush colored cushions that’s encased by a stone wall to mid-chest and bushes extending the height beyond that. Nodding, I walk around the blazing flames to find Aria sitting at the head of it all with stars in her eyes and a pile of firewood at her feet.
She’s sexy like that in tight-ass bright red high-waisted pants and an oversized cut-off hoodie.
“Babe.” I match her smile with one of my own as she stands and meets me halfway to her spot. I open my arms, one filled with food containers, and she easily steps into me. One hand on my forearm, the other goes to my chest, she leans in for a peck on my desperate lips.
Still not good enough.
The smell of her perfume fuels me as I wrap my free arm around her waist and pull her against my chest to deepen the kiss.
“Rex …” she breathes against my lips, the sound of her stomach growling rumbles over the roar of the fire and I can’t help but burst into laughter.
“Let’s eat, babe.” I smack another quick kiss on her lips and spin her around to the direction of her seat.
“It smells amazing.” she groans with hands to her cheeks, her thick ass settling into the cushion.
I’ve never been jealous of a fucking cushion before.
I plant my ass in the seat next to her and plop the pizza box right in her lap.
“Babe, so do you.”
7
ARIA
If human nature hadn’t taken over, I would have him in my room already.
But the smell of pizza and fresh garlic bread fills the air around the fire more than the burning wood and I down a slice before he even gets the bag open.
Oops.
I lick my fingers clean, not missing the side eye from him as he observes me without trying to be obvious. It’s not judgment I catch in his gaze, but admiration.
I haven’t eaten more than sugar since yesterday.
Doesn’t stop the negative Nancy in my head, though, from labeling the look as slight disgust.
As if able to hear my thoughts, Rex pops the lid off of the garlic bread—I knew I smelled it!—and shoves an entire piece in his mouth with reckless abandon. Grease smears across his cheek and cheese molds to his lips as he attempts to chew around the massive carb ball in his jaw.
I laugh.
“It’s fucking great.” He speaks around the mouthful, crumbs falling to his chest. “Isn’t it?” I nearly snort as I nod my response.
Why is he so comfortable to be around?
There’s no nagging voice in the back of my head, screaming that garlic breath is bad for a first date. Nothing telling me that meeting a stranger in a place I’ve never been is a terrible idea. Only mild concern that he’ll realize I’m lame and want to leave, but I have his attention right now. In this moment. That he chose to share with me when he could’ve been anywhere else.
He could’ve been anywhere else …
I can appreciate that, so I lean into the moment and take a piece of garlic bread for myself as he leans in and takes a slice from the box still in my lap. My cheeks redden at the closeness of our faces, the heat from him, and the fire. Rex’s sexy half grin notches up though, setting me further and further at ease. He sneaks a quick peck on my lips, then settles back to eat his pizza in two bites. I giggle and shake my head.
“What?” he asks, his attention half on the fire, the other half on me.
