Tap Out (Reaper's Den Book One) - Nikki Mays Page 0,25

happy trail. A trail that I’ve licked a path up and down many times.

“Stace?” His amused voice shakes me out the trace that he managed to put me in.

“Hi.” I squeak out and want to slap myself. I do a weird little cough to clear the lump in my throat. “Hi Danny.”

His eyes travel my body, not once but twice before his dark eyes land on mine. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, because I am,” he rushes out, “but what are you doing here?”

“Oh, umm.” I chew on my lip. Should I rat out his friend or just play it off as I wanted to check on him? I pause for a second longer and decide that honesty is always best. “Your friend Edge called me and said that I should come and check on you.”

He blinks and a weird expression crosses his face. It’s there and gone so quickly that if I wasn’t paying attention, I would’ve missed it. Hmm, I wonder what that was all about? “Did he?” His tone is a little off. But I just figure that it’s because he’s annoyed with his friend meddling in his life.

I nod my head. “Yeah, he seemed worried about you.” I try to stress that he was just being a good friend. “He’s just worried that your incision isn’t healing properly and wanted me to take a look.”

“I’m fine.” Is his reply. Of course it is. Men never want to admit when there is something wrong. “It’s healing just great. No need for him to worry.”

“Well, I can always just check real fast to make sure.” I say.

“No need to go through the trouble.” The stubborn ass tells me.

I sigh and roll my eyes heavenward. “It wouldn’t be any trouble at all. Especially since I’m already here and all.”

“I guess. If you want to, come in then. But I feel bad that you’re probably wasting your time.” He motions for me to come inside.

I give him a small smile. “You’re not wasting my time. I was just at home reading anyway.” I say as I walk past him and want to slap myself. Way to make yourself sound lame and pathetic.

He gives a small chuckle that makes my insides quiver. “I always enjoyed watching you read. All the different emotions that would cross your face were interesting to watch. It was like the book was playing out like a movie on your face.”

I flush bright red. “You’d watch me read?” The pitch of my voice making me sound like I just inhaled a bunch of helium.

He walks past me and his left arm brushes against my right, making me shiver in a way that I most certainly do not want to be shivering, I lie to myself.

He takes a seat on his big leather couch and I go about putting my bag down on his slate coffee table. “I like looking at you.” He shrugs and then blinks his eyes. “I mean I liked looking at you.” He rubs the back of his neck. “You know, when we were together and it wasn’t me being a weird creeper or anything.”

I blink a few times at his word vomit. I have to turn around and look through my bag to hide my smile. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one feeling a little awkward right now.

I turn back around having grabbed some gauze and bandages. I give him a small smile. “Right. Yup, not creeperily at all.”

He tilts his head. “Is that even a real word?”

I purse my lips. “Probably not, but it definitely should be.”

“Definitely.” He gives me a big smile and for a moment we both just stare at each other with goofy smiles on our faces.

I have to blink a few times to bring myself back to reality. It was always so effortless with Danny. We seemed to click automatically and got along like we’ve known each other for years. But we’re not together and I’m only here to check his wound. That’s all.

“Can you take off your brace so that I can look at your incision please?” I say in a small voice not willing to meet his eyes, lest I get sucked in again.

His frown is automatic, but he does as I ask and removes his brace holding his arm still. He moves so that I have an unencumbered view of his arm. “This okay?” His tone sounds solemn and I want to go back to a few seconds