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We make plans to meet at Bean There, the newer coffee shop in town that converts to a cozy music spot in the evenings.

And to my utter surprise, even after I hang up, in that space I could regret it, I don’t.

The idea of going on a real date with Eli feels…good.

CHAPTER16

Eli

TRACK:Leon Bridges, “Beyond”

Reese is standing outside the coffee shop when I pull up in my truck across the street. She’s reading one of the posters taped to the window, so she doesn’t see me yet and when I get out of my truck, I pause. I let myself look at her, just for a moment, before I make my way over there.

She’s wearing her hair down, and it makes something in my chest squeeze. It’s not just that she looks beautiful—because she does. But I realize I haven’t seen her without her hair tied tightly up on her head in…I’m not sure how long.

Her hair is longer than I remember, falling in waves down her back. It’s even sexier than her coat, that same leather jacket she wore the night we went to Ben’s. And it’s sexy as hell. She’s wearing a jean skirt that comes halfway up her thighs, with dark tights and sexy little boots with a heel.

I find my pants growing slightly tight and feel suddenly like a perv for standing here staring at her, so I jog across the road, stopping a few feet away.

“Hey,” I say.

Reese startles, standing up straight. “Oh.”

Then she smiles, and I’m fucking undone. I want to say something cheesy, likeI forgot how beautiful your smile is. But I restrain myself, because I’m not going to be cheesy, and also, it’s not true. I remember how beautiful her smile is. I remember the way it opens something up in me.

“You okay?” she asks, her face suddenly concerned.

What kind of face was I making? “Oh. Yeah. Never better.” Then both of us stand there kind of awkwardly, our arms at our sides. Do we hug? Kiss on the cheek? Before, we wouldn’t have touched. Hell, we wouldn’t have even spoken to each other. And when we were putting on a show for Kelly and company, we were all over each other.

Part of me wishes it were like that now, because I want to touch her. Badly.

But Reese pinches her lips shut before saying, “Well? Should we go in?”

And I end up nodding dumbly.Way to go, fucker.

I follow her into the dimly lit shop. There’s no one on stage at the moment, though we’re here a half hour before the first act is supposed to go up. Indie rock music thrums through the speakers, and the murmur of easy conversation. Some laughing and clinking of glasses.

I relax a little. “Have you been here before?” I ask.

“Only during the day. You?”

“Same. Only heard this evening stuff was a thing since they got a liquor license. Chelsea and Seamus come here sometimes. They’ve asked me to join but being a third wheel on a romantic date with my sister sounds like hell, frankly.”

Reese laughs, then we both go quiet. Fuck.

It’s crowded, but not overly so, and Reese points to a table on the far side of the room. “Should we claim it?”

“I can get us drinks if you want to sit down?”

She nods, looking as relieved as I feel to get a moment to breathe. “Just a beer please,” she says. “Any kind.”

So far this is awkward as shit. And if Reese doesn’t agree to go out with me again, I want to make this a good night.

But somehow, that’s the thing that releases the tension in my chest as I join the lineup at the bar. That and glancing over at her tucking her hair behind her ears as she looks up at the stage, which is empty currently. She’s wearing a white T-shirt this time, which should be completely benign. But it clings to the angles of her shoulders, the soft curve of her breasts. It’s thin and soft-looking, and would probably keep nothing to the imagination if I had my hands on it.

Hell, if I had my hands on it, maybe I’d be bunching it up and pulling it over her head.

Fuck me. I force myself to go eyes front.