around to the driver’s side and looks over the top expectantly because I’ve stopped in place.
“What’s this? Am I getting the full Lilibeth treatment?” I tease.
“Your chariot, m’lady. Now, pipe down and get in.”
Oh, man. I’m in trouble for sure.
Holt
God, she’s pretty, haloed by the setting sun, but still safe in the shade under a pecan tree in our grove. I didn’t know what her favorites are, so I brought everything under the sun for this picnic.
She’s eating a tangerine, dipping a piece in the jar of honey before licking a leftover sticky spot off her thumb. I’ve had to stop myself a dozen times from grabbing her hand and running my tongue over her finger.
I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out. Ava’s a mix of pure sexuality and stark innocence, and it’s fucking captivating. Grabbing the bottle of champagne I stole from my parents’ wine cellar, I try to ignore the dirty thoughts on a ticker tape in my head.
“Drink?” I offer as she shakes her head.
“Did you drive out to buy that for me today?”
I laugh because no way was I buying the cheap shit that Lilibeth likes for this date.
“Naw, this one I stole, sweetheart. But you’re worth the consequence.”
Leaning over, I grab the plastic cups from the basket and set them on the blanket. Ava’s watching me as I come to my knees, tugging the cork until it pops loudly, making her shoulders jump.
She giggles, letting out a little squeal when the bubbly fizzes over and wets the blanket.
“Shit.”
Ava grabs napkins to soak up the mess as I pour the cups half-full and hand her one, but she stares at me, biting that plump, kissable bottom lip.
“What?” I question, sitting back in my spot.
She shrugs, eyes darting down to the cup and then back to mine. The brim of her Solo cup traces a line over her lip as she speaks.
“It’s just that…I don’t really… Um, I don’t drink.” She lowers the cup. “Good decisions and alcohol never make good bedfellows.”
The side of my mouth tips up. “Who said anything about good decisions tonight? Now, bedfellows, I can get behind.”
I can’t read her face as I joke, but she whispers, “Déjà vu,” under her breath and sits up a bit straighter.
My brows draw together as I set my drink down. “Hey. I was just teasing. There’s no pressure or plan here.” I take a swallow of my drink and let out a breath. “I like you. I just want to hang out. So don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to charm you out of that red-hot dress using a bottle of champagne. I was planning on doing that without the drinks.”
She smiles, batting those damn lashes at me.
“Sorry, I know. I mean, I know what we’re doing here. And I don’t think you’re an asshole. You just reminded me of someone. God, you could be brothers.”
Who the fuck did she meet here before me?
“Oh yeah, what’s his name?” I laugh, even though I’m kinda jealous.
Her eyes pop open. “You don’t have a brother, do you?”
“Only child,” I lie, watching her relax, which makes me nervous now.
“Phew.” She smiles. “But I don’t know anyway. We didn’t tell each other our real names.”
It’s stupid because Jackson’s in New York, but I don’t know how long she’s been here. What if? No. That’s way too coincidental.
“Is he from around here?” I pretend to ask for no particular reason.
“Jealous?” My eyes narrow, and she giggles. “Atlanta.”
I take another sip of my drink and grin. “You’re a player. I knew it. You’ve got hoes in different area codes. I’ll be used for my body and discarded.”
She laughs and crosses her leg over the other, leaning back onto her hand.
“You’re special. And we have now, right?”
My head tilts as I stare, feeling that draw between us. She’s chewing on the end of the cup, not looking at me, even though she knows I’m watching her.
“And then I’ll never see you again.”
Her face shifts to meet mine.
“Yeah, but for today, I’m going to do something with you I’ve never done with anyone.”
The way she says that makes me want to lay her out, fuck her under this tree, and make her beg for more.
“And what is that exactly? Be specific.”
She stares at me before placing her cup on the blanket and taking another tangerine slice. I watch as she slowly dips it in the honey, bringing it up between her lips to suck on before running it over