Anything but Minor - Kate Stewart Page 0,22
back at me and shook his head. I watched as he took a red plastic cup and poured himself a beer from the keg. I was unable to rip my eyes away from the way his perfect butt filled out his shorts or the arms that bulged beneath his t-shirt. As if he could sense me focused on him, Rafe looked back at me and caught me staring. I smiled in an attempt to recover some of my senses, and he did the same. My smile vanished when a perky brunette with a high pitched voice practically moaned his name in greeting and covered him with her intimate posture. My eyes narrowed as he smiled at whatever suggestion she whispered to him and he slapped her butt while he deadpanned at me.
My eyes narrowed and then rolled as I ripped myself away from the situation and took off walking down the shore. Heart pounding, I breathed in deep as I watched the waves roll in and leave their foam residue. A handful of seashells later, I decided my bed was calling and made my way toward the bonfire to say a quick goodbye. I looked up just as Rafe approached me.
“So was today the best day of your life?”
“Every day,” I chimed happily. “I’m heading home, so I’ll see you at the next game.”
Stopping me, Rafe gripped my hand and opened it up to start rummaging through my seashells. He pulled a solid orange, pristine shell from the pile and put in his pocket.
“Hey! That was my favorite.”
“My day wasn’t as good so I’m taking a piece of yours,” he said as he took a step forward and pulled a strand of hair from my mouth.
“This city, this place is beautiful. Did you grow up here?”
“Yep.”
“Well, you’re one lucky man. I mean, I love everything about it. I just don’t think you know how lucky you really are.”
“Am I?” he said as he inched forward and took my free hand in his.
“Absolutely,” I went on nervously. “I mean, so much beauty at your fingertips.”
“I agree,” he whispered as he brought my hand slowly to his lips and placed a sweet kiss on the back of it before he let it go.
“What was that for?” I said, my legs Jell-O as he looked down at me with intense and greedy eyes. I was suddenly so turned on I was clenching my thighs.
The man was fire.
“It was for the seashell, of course.”
“You know good seashells are hard to find, and by the way, you took it. I didn’t give it, yet you give your lips so freely in exchange.”
“Yet?” he mimicked as he took another step forward, and I was forced to look up at him. “Is there something else you want in exchange, Alice?”
Your big bat.
“Well, of course not,” I practically sprayed out as I stared up at him.
“You sure?” he said as he inched closer. “I’d be happy to oblige.”
Feeling powerless, and my resolve slipping along with my will to keep my dress on, I put up my best fight.
“I’m sure you would. You know,” I piped as I mustered up my courage and best shot at southern twang, “you’re the definition of a southern gentleman, Rafe. I bet you take the dishes out the sink before you pee in it.”
Rafe burst into laughter at my personal rendition and favorite line from “Steel Magnolias”. I was pretty sure he didn’t place it. I gave my inner Ouiser high five.
“You doin’ anything tomorrow afternoon?”
“Not really, no,” I said as I looked over to the water and pushed my foot through the sand.
“Good, I could use some help,” he said as his eyes alone covered me in goose bumps. “I’ll text you.”
“Rafe, come on, baby, naked poker!” the girl who had staked her claim on him earlier shrieked from somewhere near the fire.
Rafe lifted a brow in question.
“Not a chance in Satan’s hell,” I said as I nodded toward the party. “That’s all you, playboy.”
The air between us whirled with tension, much like the sea breeze that surrounded us. I was under his spell, and he full well knew it. “Shame,” he said as he stared down at me. “It would have made my day a whole helluva lot better to know what color your panties are. And, Alice, I meant that sexually.”
“Better not keep her waiting,” I said as I took a step back and broke our connection.
“I know what color her panties are,” he said dryly.
I studied him hard as