Page 65 of Fall With Me (Wait For You #5)

Not to some apartment in the same town I grew up in or went to college in, but to a clear, different state, and for the first time in twenty-three years I wasn’t within a twenty-minute drive of my mama.

Even at college, I’d lived in a dorm that was no farther than a quick trip to her house.

It had been hard—harder than I realized it would be.

Since I was fifteen, it had been just my mom and me.

Leaving her, even though that was what she wanted, had been difficult.

There were tears, and that had been a big deal for me.

I rarely cried. I just wasn’t that … emotional of a person.

Unless one of those damn ASPCA commercials came on the TV, especially the one that featured that “Arms of an Angel” song. Ugh. Then there were tiny ninja onion peelers lurking under my eyes.

Bastards.

After two whole days of unpacking, I was done, and when I looked around me, I felt damn good about what I’d accomplished.

The one-bedroom condo was pretty sweet even though I’d really wanted a two-bedroom.

I needed to be sensible for once in my life, though, and by sticking to a one-bedroom, I was saving bank.

It had a great gallery kitchen, stainless-steel appliances, and gas stovetop—a gas stovetop I’d probably never use due to my irrational fear of blowing myself up.

But the living room and bedroom were spacious, and I was also pretty sure a cop lived here, because there was a cruiser in the parking lot on and off since I moved in two days ago.

And someone who lived here had a really hot friend named Nick.

Score.

Walking over to where I’d left a framed picture on the kitchen counter, I wiped my dusty hands off on my cotton shorts and then picked up the picture.

I carefully unwrapped the bubble wrap, revealing the photo that rested safely underneath.

Pressing my lips together, I ran my thumb along the silver frame.

A middle-aged, handsome man in beige fatigues smiled back at me, the endless golden desert in the background. A message in a black Sharpie was scrawled next to him.

Not nearly as beautiful as you, Stephanie.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek and walked the picture into my bedroom. The gray bedspread and the white, aged furniture had been a gift from Mom and my grandparents. It gave the whole room a comfy, cottage feel.

Heading for the shelf I installed just above the TV that I’d centered on the dresser, I stretched up, giving the photo a new home next to another special photo. It was of the girls from college and me, at Cancun during our last spring break. A grin tugged at my lips.

The black bikini I’d worn barely covered my boobs. Or my butt, if I remembered correctly—actually, that was about all I recalled of that spring break. Well, that and those twins from Texas A.M.…

Everything was definitely bigger in Texas.

On either side of the photos were gray candles, and I thought it all looked good.

Like they belonged.

I stepped back and for a few moments I stared at the photos and then turned away with a heavy sigh.

The clock on the nightstand told me that it was way too early in the evening to call it a night, and despite unloading everything, I wasn’t tired.

My mind wandered to Nick and what he had said yesterday about the bar he worked at.

When I drove out to get groceries last night, I had seen it.

Biting down on my lip, I shifted my weight from one foot to the next.

Why not go out and have a drink? And a drink could lead somewhere quite fun.

I was a hundred percent full supporter of no-strings-attached hookups.

However, I never understood, and never would, the double standard that existed.

It was okay for the guys to take charge of their pleasure, but not women?

Not in my world.

If Nick happened to be there and he happened to be as flirty as he was yesterday, then tonight … well tonight could become very interesting.

I was so going to take Nick home with me tonight and do all kinds of bad things to him—naked and fun things that should burn my ears right off my head. Or at least cause embarrassment since I was visualizing said things in a public spot.

I wasn’t.

Not in the very least.

A case of instalust had hit me hard. I was attracted to this guy on a pure primal level, and I was woman enough to admit that.

Moss-colored eyes met mine once more. Thick lashes lowered, shielding those extraordinary light green peepers.

God, I’ve always had a thing for guys with dark hair and light eyes.

Such a startling contrast that did very unhealthy things to all my interesting pulse points.

I’d never really seen someone with his eye color.

They were definitely green, but whenever he stepped out from under the bright lights over the bar and into the shadows, the color seemed to shift to an aqua blue.

Those eyes gave him some great bonus points.

“I’m way too curious, so I’ve got to ask. What in the world brings you to Plymouth Meeting, Steph?”

At the sound of the familiar voice, I twisted around on the bar stool and looked up, finding myself staring into the baby blues that belonged to Cameron Hamilton.

When I first walked into Mona’s, I was shocked to see a few people I’d gone to college with.

I was still stunned over the fact that Cam and crew were here, several hours away from their normal stomping ground, which had been Shepherd University.

I’d said hello and quickly skedaddled my butt over to the bar even though I could tell they had a ton of questions, but honestly, seeing them had knocked me off guard.

I wasn’t expecting to find anyone I knew and I sure as hell wasn’t expecting it to be not one but two guys whom I’d …

well, been real close to at one point in time.

Talk about a wee bit awkward, considering I never really knew where I stood when it came to Cam and Jase Winstead’s girlfriends.

I’d discovered, a long time ago, that a lot of girls inherently weren’t fond of other females their boyfriends had been involved with, no matter the seriousness of the prior relationship or lack thereof.

Not every girl was like that, but most … yeah, most were.

Which was something I found … well, really fucking stupid.

Most girls were some guy’s ex at some point in their life. So they were just hating on themselves.

So I tried to stay out of their paths when we were all at Shepherd, and that worked right up until the night I’d found Teresa—Jase’s girlfriend and Cam’s little sister—screaming hysterically after she found the body of her dorm mate.

Ever since then, even though Jase and I hung out casually for a little while, Teresa had been bound and determined to be my friend.

It did weird me out, and reminded me of a girl I had become friends with my junior year at Shepherd—Lauren Leonard.

Ugh. Just thinking her name made me want to throw my drink in someone’s face. She had pretended to be friends with me when she really just hated my guts because the guy she dated had kissed me a year before they even met.

And it hadn’t even been that remarkable of a kiss, surely not worth all the drama Lauren brought to my doorstep.

“I could ask you the same question,” I said finally, picking up my glass.

An easy grin appeared as Cam leaned against the bar, arms crossed loosely over his chest. “You know Calla Fritz, right?”

“I know of her.” I glanced over to where the pretty blond girl stood with her arm around the waist of a guy that had military written all over him.

I would know. My dad had that look. The look that screamed, I know how to break every bone in your body, but I have a strong moral code that prevents me from doing that …

unless you threaten one of my own. The guy with russet, wavy hair was really rocking said look.

“Her boyfriend Jax owns this bar. Used to be her mother’s, but that’s a long story.” Cam paused. “Anyway, Teresa’s good friends with Calla, so when she comes up to visit her, we tag along. And since it’s so close to Philly, it makes for a good trip.”

“Oh,” I murmured. Small world. “I just took a job at the Lima Academy and I’m renting a condo not too far from here.”

“For real?” Nick said, drawing our attention and causing my stomach to dip in a pleasant, twisty way. “You’re working for Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell’s trainer?”

My lips twitched at the evident awe oozing from Nick’s voice.

Anytime Brock’s name was mentioned, that was pretty much the standard response.

Brock was an up-and-coming mixed martial-arts fighter and he was a local boy.

Everyone seemed to worship him. “Yes. But I haven’t met ‘the Beast’ yet.

He’s actually in Brazil right now, from what I understand. ”

Nick rested his elbows on the bar, his eyes drifting over me in a blatant perusal. “So, are you a mixed martial-arts fighter then?”

I tipped my head back and laughed. “Uh, no. I took a job in the offices. I’ll be assisting their executive.”

“Nice,” Cam replied. “That’s what you majored in, right? Business management?”

I nodded, not entirely surprised that he remembered. We had been friends, and Cam was a good guy. So was Jase. Speaking of which, when I glanced over to where the crew was crowded around a pool table, it looked like Jase had Teresa in a … headlock?

Okay.

I grinned.

“So how long are you guys staying up here?” I asked, taking a sip of my drink as a female bartender with pink-rimmed glasses zoomed past Nick, shooting him a look I didn’t quite understand.

Nick ignored it.

“We’re heading back Sunday.” Cam pushed off the counter. “Don’t be a douche,” he added, grinning when I rolled my eyes. “Get your butt off the stool and visit with us, okay?” When I nodded again, he looked at Nick. “You’re coming over to Jax’s tomorrow night, right?”

“Depends on what time I get out of here, but I’ll try.”

Interesting. So Cam and Nick were buddies. I was relieved to hear that. Cam was a good judge of character, and I already knew Nick was a helpful little charmer, but I felt like I could safely say that Nick wasn’t a serial murderer.

I cradled my drink as Cam sauntered back to the pool tables. My mind wasn’t made up on the whole visiting them thing yet. Maybe I would. Maybe I wouldn’t.

“Want another rum and coke?”

My lips curled up at the sound of Nick’s rich, deep voice. We’d been chatting on and off since I plopped my butt down on the stool, and he had seemed happy that I was there.

Total bonus points lottery with this guy.

“I’m good, but thanks.” The last thing I wanted to be was drunk. I smiled at him, pleased when his heavily hooded gaze dipped again. “Are you guys usually this busy on the weekend?”

I could see that small talk was something Nick excelled at, which made sense, considering his occupation. He was an equal opportunity charmer. Women flocked to him at the bar. The other bartender, the girl with the pink glasses, seemed to take it all in stride.

“Not sure if you really call this busy, but Saturdays usually bring a larger crowd.” He glanced down the bar before continuing. “So you went to school with them?” he asked, jerking his chin in the direction Cam had roamed off to.

“Yeah.” Leaning forward, I placed my elbows on the bar. “I had no idea they had connections here. Total surprise.”

“Small world,” he said, echoing my earlier thought. “But you’re not very close with them.”

It was a statement, not a question. “What makes you think that?”

“Well, if you were, I guess you’d be over there with them. Or …”

Nick was observant. “Or what?”

One side of his lips curled up as he folded his arms across his chest. The movement drew my attention. I was such a visual creature. Not that anyone would blame me right now. The black shirt he wore stretched around well-defined biceps. “Or you’d rather spend the time with me.”

The twisty motion in my belly cranked up a notch. “Am I that transparent?”

“In the best possible way.” He picked up a bottle. “I’m glad you did stop by. Every time the door opened last night, I looked up and hoped it was you.”

“Is that so?”

“I speak the truth.” His smile was lazy. “Did you finish unpacking?”

“Yep.”

“Were there any more rat bastard combinations?”

I laughed. “There were a few more.”

“Kind of mad I missed out on them.”

“There’s always later.” I toyed with my glass as I met and held his stare. “So, Nick, do you have a last name?”

“Blanco,” he replied after a brief hesitation. “Do you?”

“Keith.” I grinned as he unfolded those arms. “I have another question for you.”

Moving in, he placed his hands on the bar. “Ask away.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” My breath caught a little when he leaned in suddenly. Our mouths were close enough that we were breathing the same tiny patch of oxygen. “Or a boyfriend?”

Nick didn’t bat an eyelash. “Nope to both. How about you?”

Bonus points explosion!

“None,” I said, welcoming the tingle that swirled down my spine as his breath warmed my lips.

He tilted his head to the side, lining up his mouth with mine with just a fraction of an inch between us. I started to feel a little flushed. “You have plans tonight, Stephanie Keith?” he asked, voice deeper and rougher.

I shook my head as my pulse tripped all over itself in a happy little dance.

Nick’s grin spread into the kind of smile I knew left a trail of women in its wake. “You do now.”