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She pulls out several bills and tosses them down on the bar top as a slow smile crosses her face. “What are you still sitting there for?” she asks.

I shoot off the stool quickly but control myself as I realize it wobbles behind me. I tap the bar top and tell the bar tender, who just arrived, to put her bill on my tab. The bartender knows who I am and nods as I scoop up the twenty and hand them back to Stella.

“So chivalrous,” she says with an eye roll.

I lead her outside with my hand at the small of her back. She’s a bit prickly, so I’m happy she doesn’t shrug me off.

Once outside, I drop my hand and stretch my arms behind my head as Stella pulls out her phone and opens the Uber app.

“My place is just a few blocks. Ten minute walk at most.”

She raises her eyebrow. “Your saying I should walk home with a stranger? I may be in my thirties, but stranger danger and all that…”

Chuckling, I shrug. “I’m saying we don’t have to wait for an overpriced Uber when the adventure is just a few blocks away.”

Damn, I’m smooth. It’s been awhile—looks like I’ve still got it.

She laughs quietly. “Alright, but if I hate your place, I’m calling an Uber mid-hookup.”

I jerk my head in the direction we need to walk. “Noted.”

“I’m texting my friends to let them know I’m going home with you. I’ll need your address. Actually, I’ll just share my location.”

“Want my date of birth, social, and three character references?” I joke as my own phone buzzes. She huffs out a laugh as she texts. I pull out my phone to see alerts from my group chat with Alex and our friend, Wade, from Chicago.

Alex:

The sacred meatballs have spoken. Fate has delivered a sexy lady to our boy Luke.

Wade:

Damn. Meatball Thursday really was a hit.

Alex:

I should rename it "Destiny middle finger emoji

And with that, I shove my phone back into my pocket. I huff out a laugh and shake my head. That’s when I notice that Stella has already finished her text and is watching me with a soft smile on her lips.

“Something entertaining?” she questions.

“Just my friends talking shit,” I tell her.

“Ah, well, that’s how you know they love you,” she says.

“Yeah, well, their shit talking can wait,” I say.

Then, I lean in and whisper, “I’ve got better things to do.

” She doesn’t hide the shiver that rolls through her body, and I realize there’s a slight breeze in the air.

There must be a storm coming in, so I lift my arm and drape it over her shoulder, pulling her into me. She snuggles in without missing a step.

Several minutes later, my building comes into view.

The building is considered historical, as it was once an old carburetor factory, but now it boasts one and two-bedroom loft-style apartments.

With high ceilings, expansive windows, and open floor plans, it maintains its historic charm while pushing a modern feel.

The place is cool as shit, and I knew this was where I needed to live while I build the Squeaky Bum brand here in Indy.

A jolt of panic shoots through me. I hope my place isn’t too messy for her. Did I leave dirty clothes all over my floor? I’m not a messy person, but I am a bachelor, and life has been busy…

She must feel my body tense because her face tilts up toward mine. “Second thoughts?”

I tighten my arm around her shoulders, pulling her just a little closer, like it’s the most natural thing in the world for us to be this close.

“No,” I murmur. “You?”

She smirks. “Not yet.”

I hum in approval as we enter my building. I type in a few codes to let us through the entrance and then we head up the stairs. Watching her out of the corner of my eye, I notice she’s relaxed, but her finger taps lightly against the purse at her hip.

Pulling out my eye, I ask, “Nervous?”

With a sideways glance, she says, “You wish.”

I unlock my door and motion for her to head in, and I follow after.

She takes in my space, her eyes darting from the kitchen to my living room. The light over my sink is on, so the place isn’t bathed in complete darkness, but I flip on the light above the kitchen island to give her a better look without killing the mood completely.

“Cool place,” she says.

“Sure is,” I tell her, walking in a bit farther as she turns toward me. Her lips curve into a sexy smile.

“You gonna stand there or…?” Her voice takes on a husky tone.

I don’t use words to answer, instead, I wrap my hand around the back of her head and pull her into me, pressing my lips into hers.

I’ve waited all night to taste these lips. I’m not about to stand around and waste another minute.