Page 29 of The Love Penalty

But do you think my stupid-ass brain gets the message when I walk into Java Jeans forty minutes later and spot her lining up to order?

She’s standing there in a pair of jeans that hug her fine ass perfectly. Tucked into those is a simple T-shirt with small yellow flowers peppering the fabric, and she looks a combination of sexy and cute. Which is so fucking dangerous.

Her hair is up in a top knot thing, exposing her neck and the small tattoo just beneath her hairline. It’s four spirals in the shape of a square. Obviously a symbol that’s meaningful, because Lani does not strike me as the kind of woman to get a tattoo on a whim. I wonder if it’s got to do with Hawaii or her heritage or something.

Shit, that tattoo only adds another hazard layer.

She’s way too sexy for her own good.

Or for my own good.

Fuck. Whatever! I want her with a burn so strong, I feel like my body’s about to combust.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, nearly bailing on my late-morning coffee.

But of course my fucked-up brain misses that memo, and I walk right up to her.

She flinches when I stand beside her, then lets out a derisive snort when she sees it’s me.

“Hey.” I grin.

She gives me a caustic smile, then crosses her arms and looks up at the menu board on the wall. I bet she already knows exactly what she wants, but anything not to look at me, right?

“Can I buy you a coffee?”

“No,” she clips.

“A tea?”

She glances at me like I’m weird. “No.”

“A muffin? Bagel? Slice of banana bread?”

“No, no, and ew.”

“You don’t like banana bread?” I frown.

“Bananas are gross,” she mutters.

“Okay.” I bulge my eyes. “So, what fruit do you like, then?”

She sucks in a breath as if she’s losing her patience, but then she lets out a short sigh and rattles off, “Apples, cherries, and watermelon.”

I nod. “So, can I buy you a slice of apple pie, then?”

She huffs and rolls her eyes. And I think her patience is officially up. “No. I don’t want you to buy me anything!”

We move forward in the line, and I hold my sigh in check. “Okay, fine. Maybe you can buy me something, then.”

She looks up with a horrified frown, and I can’t help a soft snicker after I wink at her.

She clicks her tongue and shakes her head.

I should seriously learn when to quit, but I’m a real dumbass sometimes.

“It’s a shame they don’t serve butter beer,” I murmur, squinting at the board like I’m willing the menu to change.

Lani’s lips twitch. “You’re not a pumpkin juice fan?”