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Her eyes slide over the tattoos on my arms. “I don’t need mind-reading abilities when you eye-fuck me like that.”
“Is that against the rules?” She picks up the wineglass, swirling the dark liquid in the bottom, but she doesn’t deny it.
“It’s welcome. Without attraction, this wouldneverwork. I’m good at pretending, but notthatgood, Alexis.”
“Lexi.”
“So, that’s Lexi or nothing?” I wait for the confirmation.
“Eventually, you’ll catch on,” she says.
After we finish eating, we return to the bike, and I glance at Brody. He points north and holds up two fingers, which means we’re being watched. I hand her the helmet as I put mine on andturn to her. Her eyes slide over me before she puts her helmet on.
“Paps to the right,” I tell her over the voice-activated intercom system.
“Let me drive.” She holds out her hand.
“See, now, I don’t know if you’re kidding.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I grew up on a ranch, Easton. I can rideanything. I thought you said to do your research.” She scoffs.
I place my hand on her hip. “Get your ass on the back of my bike and pretend like you don’t want to let go.”
“Funny.”
I crank the engine and she lifts her leg, scooting forward until her body is against mine. She lets out a contented sigh, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist, and we take off. We ride in silence as I take it in. The smile that’s found residence on my lips since meeting Alexis lingers.
“What if your friends don’t like me?” she eventually asks.
“I’m afraid they’ll like you too much,” I admit.
“Is that a problem?”
I hesitate. “One for future me to deal with.”
“Mmm.” I can feel her shaking her head. “When you play with fire, Mr. Calloway, you risk getting burned.”
“I fight fire with fire, Alexis, so try not to get scorched.” I give the bike more power as the sun hangs lazily in the sky.
She chuckles. “If we successfully pull this off at the end of three hundred sixty-five days, you might not want to let me go.”
“And now, you’ve discovered what I’m afraid of,” I admit, knowing what the possibilities are.
The silence draws on, but I notice she holds me tighter.
“About tonight,” she whispers, “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“I’ve already taken care of everything, darling.”
13
LEXI
Easton drives us to the diamond in the sky, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious about tonight. The elevator shoots up to the penthouse like a speeding bullet.
“I want to make a great first impression,” I say, a lump forming in my throat.
“Wait, are you nervous?” he asks.