Page 168 of Until August

I leaned my elbows on the bar and delivered the cheesiest line in the history of pickup lines. “Fancy seeing you here. Come here often?”

Nicola laughed. “I was in the neighborhood.” She rolled her eyes. “No, that’s a lie. I’m here for you.”

I’m here for you. That could mean anything.

I’m here to check out your new restaurant.

Let's grab coffee sometime.

I’m working on a new recipe and could use your input.

I didn’t want to get my hopes up by thinking she would throw herself into my arms and claim me as her one and only.

“Look at this place.” Her gaze roamed around the room and then returned to me. “God, I’m so proud of you, August.”

“I didn’t do it alone.” I slid off the stool and stood in front of her, crossing my arms over my chest to stop myself from touching her. “I have investors.” But she already knew that. Dylan and Shane were my investors. “But thanks. Means a lot.”

“So, Wild Honey, huh? Where did you come up with that name?”

“Named it after a girl I used to know.”

“She must have been someone special.”

I shrugged. “She was all right. But damn, she tasted good. Sweet as honey.” I licked my lips, noting the way her eyes followed the movement. “I can still taste her on my lips when I close my eyes at night.”

She arched her brows. “You have a good imagination.”

“That I do. Sometimes she even comes to me in my dreams.” Mostly my lucid dreams. It had been a year since we’d parted and eight months since I’d last seen her face, but I still thought about Nicola more often than I’d care to admit.

“And what does she do in those dreams of yours?” She moved closer, looking up at me from beneath her lashes.

“Oh, you know… the usual.” My gaze dipped to her mouth. “After she drops to her knees and sucks my dick—”

She smacked my chest. Still so physical, this girl. “You’re such a hound dog.”

I winked, keeping my tone light and playful. “Still barking mad for you, baby.”

She heaved out a sigh, and the air got thick between us. “I’ve missed you. So much. I thought you might have moved on by now.” Her eyes lowered, and she bit her lip. “Have you… met anyone?”

I almost laughed. Nicola had never been very good at playing coy. “I’ve met a lot of people. You’re going to have to be more specific.” I was messing with her, still trying to figure out why she was here and if this visit meant what I thought it did. Or if I was reading too much into it.

She huffed. “You know exactly what I mean. Do you have someone special in your life? A girlfriend?”

Our eyes met, and I searched the depths of her big browns. The sunlight highlighted the shards of gold and amber. Honey brown eyes. “Nah. Nobody special. Haven’t had much time for a girlfriend.” Her shoulders sagged in relief. “Guess I’ve been waiting for a willowy brunette with big brown eyes and luscious lips. You happen to know where I can find a girl like that?”

A smile played on her lips. “I’m sure they’re a dime a dozen.”

“I have high standards, so don’t be too sure.”

“And what would this woman need to do to sweep a guy like you off your feet?”

“Well, let’s see….” I furrowed my brow and pretended to give it a lot of thought. “She’d have to love food and wine and know how to cook. She’d have to think the sun rises and sets on me.”

“Of course.”

“She’d have to tell me I’m her one and only. Bonus points if she loves cheesy 80s flicks and can recite every line. She probably loves Fleetwood Mac, orders pizza with anchovies, snores like a freight train, and hogs most of the bed.”

“In other words, she’s perfect,” Nicola laughed.