Second Dive (Kings of the Water #3) - Jasmin Miller Page 0,19

at the restaurant, I was staring at her, but I was surrounded by a cloud of shock and anger that subdued my senses.

All afternoon, I was trying to ignore her as best as I could, never looking at her for longer than I had to; and when I had to, it was never this close.

Those damn freckles on her nose and cheeks are still as adorable as they used to be. My gaze stays on her nose ring for a moment, intrigued by it. Somehow, it fits her, accentuating the small curve at the tip of her nose.

Her mouth is slightly parted, her body still pressed against mine. And those lips . . . fuck. I spent so many hours devouring them. Sucking on them. Licking them. Biting them. Would they still taste as good as I remember?

That thought snaps me out of this weird spell she’s got over me, and my gaze goes to hers as I take a hasty step back. She almost stumbles forward at the sudden movement but catches herself at the last moment.

When a shiver ripples through her whole body, I look her over. Her black leggings and her blue T-shirt that is now drenched and clinging to her upper body.

“You know better than to be out without a jacket at night.”

Wow. Way to be a jerk, Noah.

Rubbing her arms with her hands, she scrunches up her nose. Her version of an eye roll. I used to tackle her whenever she did it and kiss her nose until she giggled in my arms.

“Sorry, Dad. I forgot, okay? My weather brain’s still in Los Angeles. And I’d be okay if I could sit in my car with the heat on. But since it won’t start, that’s not going to happen.”

The passionate fire in her eyes makes me want to put her over my knee, but no fucking way are we going down that road. “Could it be the battery?”

She shakes her head. “It shouldn’t be. I just had it changed last month.”

“Hmmm.” After an almost non-existent debate with myself—because my masochist side seems to run strong where this woman is concerned—I get out my phone, pull up the number I’m looking for, and press the call button.

“What are you doing?” Chloe stops rubbing her arms, even though she’s still shaking like a leaf.

“Calling my uncle.”

“Why?”

“You don’t want him to take a look at your car and fix it?”

“Oh.” Her lips form an o-shape, and I know being so close to her isn’t good for my sanity. “Of course. Thanks so much.”

“It’s nothing.” I push the words through grinding teeth. No clue if they’re even audible or not, but thankfully, my uncle picks up at that moment.

“Hey, Noah. What’s up?”

“Hey, Chris. I have a favor to ask. I’m at the hospital for a charity project, and the car of one of my . . .” I glance at Chloe, her eyebrows lifting at my pause. “Uh, one of my friends’ cars won’t start, and I was wondering if you might have time to look at it.”

Why did I just call her my friend? We are not friends. There’s nothing friendly about us.

My uncle clears his throat. “You bet. We just had an appointment fall through, actually, so I can head out with Larry in a bit.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

“Sure thing. Just text me the license plate number and location, and leave the keys under the floor mat if your friend is okay with that.”

“Sounds good. Thanks again.”

“No problem.”

I hang up after saying goodbye and rehash the conversation to Chloe who keeps nodding.

I press the message button on my uncle’s contact and lift my gaze to meet Chloe’s. “What’s your license plate number?”

“8CAN386.” She looks away from me.

My hands halt mid-type. CAN for Chloe and Noah. “You still have your old license plate?”

And why shouldn’t she? She didn’t move out of state, after all. But to keep her old license plate, our license plate.

She nods and chews on her bottom lip. I’m positive she’s out to kill me. That’s the only reason that makes sense.

After sending the text message to my uncle, I try to find my inner Zen. The same one I’ve worked on for over a decade and usually isn’t a problem for me to slip into. When I can’t get into it right away, I briefly wonder if Chloe broke it. If she broke me.

The desire to retreat and go somewhere quiet to rethink my offer to drive her—and possibly taking it back—is at