have no cell service here.”
Rina growls under her breath, obviously already at her end with me. “I know. You freaking emailed me earlier, remember? And all you said in your email is that you need me to FaceTime you so you can use the WiFi since you have no cell coverage. So, what the fuck, London?!” she yells. “You seriously had me worried out of my mind after those calls yesterday, but now that I see you, you’re smiling and a bit flushed, so dish it, sister.”
“I crashed into a tree and hit my head and my knee. I was saved by a passing motorist who happened to be a guy I went to high school with… a guy I always secretly had a crush on who apparently always secretly had a crush on me back.”
Rina’s eyes are comically wide. “You’re kidding me.”
I shake my head, shrugging sheepishly though I don’t know why I feel strange saying this. Maybe because that crush turned into a whole hell of a lot more this afternoon. “No. Weird coinkidink, right?”
She snorts. “That’s one word for it. But you’re really okay?”
“I’m great.”
“Oh snap.” She points at me through the phone. “You’re blushing like a virgin on prom night after the dance is over.”
“I am not,” I clip indignantly when I know it’s a lie and so does Rina.
“Girl, we soooo need to talk about this. I want to hear all about mister crush and…” Her eyes pop open wider if that’s even possible. “Well hello there, sexy sir. And who might you be?”
“Huh?” I push out until I catch a glimpse of Miles in the reflected image in the corner of the screen.
“Mister crush? Sexy sir?”
My eyes slam shut. “Too late to hide now, London. He heard you.”
“Thanks,” I mutter dryly. “I missed that somehow.”
Miles chuckles behind me, coming in close and wrapping his hand around my waist. “I’m Miles, actually.”
“Rina. Thank you for saving my girl.”
I open my eyes millimeter by millimeter and see Miles’s amused grin behind me.
“Any time.” He comes in close to my ear and whispers, “Every time. Crush, huh?”
I roll my shoulder, brushing him away. “I was just being polite. I thought it rude to tell Rina I can’t stand you after you saved me.”
He pinches my side, kisses my cheek, and laughs at my expression. “Nice to meet you, Rina.” He throws her a wave before going to fix Betsy some food.
Rina’s jaw is now somewhere on the ground. “Um. Wow. Yeah, okay then. You’re going to call me again. Soon. And we’ll talk when Mister Sexy Crush can’t hear us.”
“I thought it was Mister Crush and Sexy Sir,” he yells out, and I flip him off, making him laugh once more at my expense.
She shakes her head. “I’ve shortened it, but the name definitely still fits,” she replies in an equally loud voice. She winks at me, her tone dropping. “Be safe. Use condoms.”
“Rina!”
She laughs. “Seriously, love you. Call me soon.”
“Love you, too.”
I disconnect the call and turn to find Miles standing on the opposite side of the kitchen, smirking at me. “You’re blushing.”
Rina said the same damn thing. How red am I? “And you look pretty smug.”
He hitches up a shoulder. “Your friend seems nice.”
“You’re just saying that because you like the nickname she gave you.”
He shoves away from the counter, purpose in his stride. The look in his eyes has my pulse racing. “Can’t blame a guy for that. It’s a great nickname.”
“If not a bit inaccurate,” I manage, my voice coming out husky.
“Oh.” He tilts his head, not buying my bullshit for a second. He draws closer and instinctively, I back up until I bump into the counter. “So, you don’t think I’m sexy?” he questions, that delicious smirk still deviously attached to his lips.
“I guess you’re alright. If you’re into the thick hair, blue eyes, dimples, muscular thing.”
“And you’re not?”
I shake my head, biting into my lip and curling my toes in my socks because the tension is killing me. I want to run, and I want to jump him while wrapping my legs around his waist. The man is seriously killing me with his panty-melting—and wetting—looks and slow, sexy drawl.
He reaches me, standing directly in front of me without touching. I have to crane my neck to meet his eyes. He’s wearing his glasses now and damn; I really love the way he looks in those.
His face dips, his mouth skimming along my cheek toward my ear, his hot breath on my