across her face. Capturing it, she tucked it behind her ear. The pads of my fingers tingling, I found myself disappointed, wishing I’d had the privilege.
“You’ve done a lot,” she said. “Accomplished a lot with your talent.”
“You’ve done a lot with yours too.”
She shrugged. “I don’t have any talent.”
“You’re wrong. You’re sweet, kind, and an attentive listener, traits that make you a great bartender. You’re creative too. You’ve developed a unique side business of salvaging, reclaiming, and packaging your plants and poems. Your dad would be proud knowing you’ve found a way to incorporate poetry and gardening. And that’s not even mentioning your most important role, being Cork’s sister and his guardian.”
“I guess you’re right.” Her eyes gleaming, Lotus slipped her arm around Cork’s waist. “I love my life, just the way it is. I love OB. I’m where I want to be, with the people I care about most.” She looked back to me. “I have no regrets, except maybe one.”
“Your friend,” I said, taking a guess. “Storm.”
“Yes.” She nodded, and Cork gave me a sharp look.
I got it. His concerns about keeping my identity secret were my concerns, but he didn’t get all the nuances.
He’d had Lotus all his life. She was a beacon, her faith in you a light, an irrepressible one. He probably believed in a happy ending for his sister and me if I told her everything right now. I wasn’t so sure of that outcome.
“First chance I get,” Lotus said, “I’m going to go on YouTube and do a search to see if someone put up video of your guitar solo with Tempest.”
“Doubtful,” I said with a short laugh. “It was a very brief cameo performance.”
Cork shook his head. “I can’t believe you know Bryan Jackson from Tempest.”
Lotus narrowed her gaze on me. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Your eyes are unfocused. You look distracted.”
“I thought of some lyrics just now.” I had an idea I wanted to try with the beacon imagery. “You inspired me.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said teasingly. “But go on.” She lifted her chin, pointing down the street. “Don’t let me hold you up. I understand about the muse. How she comes on a whim and can go quickly if you don’t get right on a thought or an idea. I used to have more regular visits from her when I wasn’t so busy.”
Lotus bit down on her plump bottom lip. Unsurprisingly, my gaze was drawn to her mouth.
“I’ll go,” I said low. “But I want a kiss first.” I curled my fingers around her upper arms and reeled her into me.
“But Cork—”
“Don’t worry about your brother. He’s otherwise occupied.”
I tilted my head, and she turned hers.
Beneath another awning, a couple of businesses away from where we were, Cork was with a girl, the blonde from the Deck Bar. They were standing close together. While we watched, Cork reached out and took her hand.
“Oh,” Lotus said, her lips parting.
That was an invitation I couldn’t resist. Sliding my hands into her silky hair, I lowered my head. Her eyes fluttered closed as I touched my lips to hers, and her breathy sigh spilled inside my mouth.
My cock went hard as I thrust my tongue between her lips. Sucking it, she gripped my arms tight. I backed her into the nearest wall and started to get really serious.
“Dudes!” Cork said loudly our way, and we broke apart.
Breathing heavily, Lotus blushed. I was breathing just as hard as she was, but I only shrugged. Cork rolled his eyes.
“I’d better go,” Lotus said, but she looked like she wanted to stay.
“We’ll walk you the rest of the way.” I placed my hand on her back, not ready to let her go just yet.
“I don’t want to hold you up.” Her expression was soft. She might not want to inconvenience me, but she liked me touching her.
“You’re not holding anyone up. We’re heading the same way. Ash’s apartment is in the same building as Outside, right?”
“Yeah.” She nodded.
I took her hand, threading my larger fingers between her smaller ones. “Great. I get a little more time with you.”
Heat surged up my arm while desire and something deeper blazed inside my chest. I didn’t pause to identify it. I had her. We were together, on a shared path for now.
I focused on the visible, tangible things. Lotus’s unblemished golden skin, and how it contrasted yet blended with my colorful ink. Her fingers were feminine, mine were masculine, but the pads of hers were