Winter Solstice in St. Nacho's (St. Nacho's #5) - Z.A. Maxfield Page 0,67
We don’t believe we’re prey. I mean, your mileage may vary depending on where you grew up, how you lived, your level of economic success, etcetera. I grew up in Galt, and believe me, I’m not exactly street savvy.”
He snickered. “You grew up in a comic book store.”
“Yeah. Lately I’ve been thinking about how that might have affected me.”
“And your parents are Mr. and Mrs. Santa.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” I defended.
“You’re such a nice boy.” He patted my head affectionately. “You definitely couldn’t read a room full of addicts.”
“I can’t even read the one—”
“You’re stuck with?” His grin was impossible not to return.
“The one I know well enough to like.”
“Mm.” He turned so he stood with his back to the railing next to me. “Take a selfie?”
“Sure.” I took out my phone and snapped a couple pictures with the sunset as our backdrop. Impulsively, I wrapped my arm around him. Just as the shutter clicked, he kissed my cheek, which caught fire.
“Look at you.” He pointed. “You’re blushing.”
“Am not. What was that for?”
“’Cause I wanted to.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His gaze met mine. “I have a list of things I want to do.”
“Oh.” If words could hang in the air, his did. My heart beat faster, my breath quickened. For so many reasons, I scrambled to think of a way to defuse the burst of excitement I felt.
I busied myself taking pictures of St. Nacho’s distinctive shell-shaped layout—streets seemingly curved in layers beyond Nacho’s Bar and the pier until they reached the bluffs where stately homes reflected the sun as it dipped toward the sea.
“This really is a great little town,” I said. “I like the rivers of Central California, and Galt has the preserve, but the ocean... The vastness of the sea speaks to me.”
His lips twisted in wry amusement. “Minerva could probably tell you what it’s saying.”
“Oh, yeah. I met her,” I admitted. “I stopped by Rune Nation today. She did a reading for me.”
“Let me guess. You’ll meet a tall, dark, handsome stranger?”
I thought about Ari. “That already happened.”
His smile went slack. “You really met someone?”
I shook my head. “What she said was I’m in a place of... possibilities.”
“Yeah?” The words were hoarse. “What’s that mean, exactly?”
Our gazes met again. Our eyes locked.
Now we both know what’s in my heart.
So much for my survival instincts. I knew exactly who I was dealing with, and I still let him see everything—my attraction, my feelings, how vulnerable I felt when I was with him.
“Luke.” He breathed the word.
I closed my eyes.
“I’m”—he swallowed—“not sure what to say.”
“No need to say anything.” I cleared my throat and tried to regain my equilibrium. “It’s just… I don’t know. The ambiance here or something.”
“Or something,” he repeated.
I blew out a breath. “Is there anything you need while I’m still in town?”
“Like what?”
“Snacks?”
“Snacks.” Tug’s expression was unreadable. He very tentatively took my hand and laced our fingers together. “No, I don’t need snacks, Luke. It’s still early. Let’s keep walking.”
I looked at our joined hands. I didn’t miss the speculation in his gaze.
“Tug.” I knew how dangerous my attraction to him could be, but I felt locked into a kind of wordless rebellion against common sense.
“Don’t overthink.” Tug gave me a pull to get me moving. “I’ve got a curfew. You’re going home. Let’s just keep moving.”
On the boardwalk, we joined the joggers and pet walkers who made their way up and down the small stretch of beach. Some folks were getting in last-minute kite-flying time with a beautiful sunset for a backdrop.
Earlier, I had ached to take Tug’s hand in mine.
Instead, I had consciously put distance between us, much more than I had before, simply because he had freedom now. He had freedom, and I was afraid to become a casualty of it.
But now…
Now he didn’t seem to want more than our joined hands. His felt just right—like the Goldilocks story, not too firm, not too soft. His touch wasn’t demanding or needy; it simply joined us in the physical way I’d wanted without compromising the most important boundaries between us.
“Tug?”
He glanced my way.
“I’m really glad to be here with you.”
A genuine smile lit him up. “I’m glad you’re here, Luke”
Then Tug turned and his expression went blank. He slowed his steps beside me. I could guess why. As we’d drawn near Nacho’s Bar, a knot of people surrounded a street musician playing guitar for tips.