Page 57 of Mountain Defender
It was odder yet, flirting with a woman in the middle of a seedy diner.
“You go for men with ambition.”
A throaty laugh bubbled up. “If that’s what you want to call dealing heroin…”
After that, they shared food that wasn’t half bad and banter that hit the spot.
Watching the woman eat was adorable and frustrating at the same time.
She set down her fork. “Okay, what is so amusing? Do I have maple syrup on my face? You keep trying not to smile.”
Using his fork, he gestured at her plate. “I’m trying not to laugh because you’re trying so hard not to eat all of one food before eating another. Surely you didn’t forget that I noticed before.”
She lifted her jaw. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled, and damn, it felt good. “I can see sweat breaking out on your forehead because you don’t want to move on to the bacon without eating all your pancakes first.”
She looked him dead in the eyes, picked up a slice of crispy bacon and bit into it.
She tried not to make a face while she chewed, but Tripp saw right through the act.
“What’s wrong, Alexia? Doesn’t taste right? Really bothering you?”
She tossed the bacon down onto the plate. “Okay, you’re right. I have a food thing.”
He threw her a grin. “It’s cute.”
Relaxed in each other’s company by now, they finished their meal. Alexia insisted on leaving a hefty tip for the waitress, which gave Tripp a deeper peek at her character.
When they walked out, she pointed at some shops across the street. From what he knew of places like these in the Cascade Mountains, some were tourist spots and others were small-town gems, and this was the latter.
“Wanna take a look around?” he asked her.
“Sure.” They began crossing the road, and he reached out to hold her hand.
The gesture made her look up at him in surprise.
“Bryson…”
“What? No one knows us here. They’re not going to turn you in for fraternizing with the enemy on the job.”
“You’re hardly the enemy.”
He moved to release her hand, but she grabbed on and held tight.
Alexia’s insides kept fluttering. And her pussy keptsqueezingwith want. Every single time Bryson skimmed any part of her body—her cheek, her waist, even her shoulder—he awakened every nerve ending inside her. In turn, that flipped a switch on her libido and now all she wanted to do was jump the man’s bones.
And what hot and sexy bones they were too. Back in the diner, she could hardly focus on what he was saying to her because she kept getting distracted by his rugged good looks.
The way his mouth moved had her thinking dirty thoughts. How he picked up his fork drew her attention to those long, callused fingers that had worked over her body parts like an artist worked a canvas.
While they browsed the small shops, she was far too aware of Bryson. Flirting was fun. Their conversations were amazing even when they were arguing.
Okay,especiallywhen they were arguing.
She couldn’t get used to it, though. They needed to part ways soon. Very soon, in fact. Spending more time with him would only put unrealistic thoughts in her head.
He’d probably forget all about her the minute he stepped into his own world…but she would always remember the way he swept her off her feet without even trying.