“You really aren’t, are you?” I study her with my full attention, not only the physical beauty, but her tenacity and drive as well. Everything she is and everything she’s accomplished in a short time and all on her own is more than impressive. My stare holds a little too long and her nervous flick of her lip ring pulls me out of my daydream. She probably wants to ditch me too, but I’m ready to convince her otherwise. “Honestly though, what do you have planned today?”
She shakes her head and blows out a full breath. “I don’t even know. I haven’t had a day off since I can remember. This tour feels like a vacation most of the time as it is.”
I clap my hands together and let a smile take over my lips. “That needs to be rectified ASAP. Lexi Marx, I’m going to give you the best afternoon off you’ve ever had.”
She rolls her eyes. “I just told you I’ve never had one, so the bar is set pretty low.”
“That’s how I like to start things. Low. And then I move my way up until all your expectations have exploded.”
My words narrow her hard stare and her hands go to her hips. “I’m not having sex with you, Trent.”
“Dirty mind.” I reach over and ruffle her hair but she ducks out of my reach before I cause any damage. “I wasn’t even thinking about sex.Fuck. Now I am.” And really, it’s the truth. I don’t even try to disguise the fact I have to adjust myself in my jeans.
“And that’s my cue. Have a good afternoon, Trent.”
“Wait. No. Come on, Lex. Give me a chance to wow you. I promise it’ll be fun. Even without acts of sexual gratification.” When her black laced boots stop their retreat I know I have her. “Please.”
She turns just before descending the steps and considers my face. Her lips twist into a little pout. It’s so fucking cute, but I don’t dare tell her. She’d never agree to spend the day with me then. Instead, I clasp my hands in front of my chest, begging her to consent.
“Fine. Okay. Show me the grandeur that is ... Where are we again?”
I laugh, taking three long strides so I’m right behind her as she walks out of the bus and into the fresh outdoor air. “Fuck, I don’t even know. Let’s go.” I nod and wave for her to follow, and take a few steps toward the main road.
Her laughter trails behind me. “Then how are you gonna show me around?”
“Trust me, Lexi. Just trust me.” And my hope is she will.
“You don’t know how happy it makes me that we’ve found something you suck at.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I offer a smile and a wink to the pretty little thing who hands over the ice cream cones, her wide eyes like saucers because she totally recognizes who I am. “Thank you,”—I glance down to her name tag—“Andrea.” I’m glad I have a good hold on the cones because I’m pretty sure she’d have dropped them. Poor thing is fangirling hard. She can’t be much older than eighteen.
“Come on.” Lexi grabs my elbow and steers me toward the exit. “Stop looking at her. She’s gonna have a heart attack.”
“I’m aware. Here.” I hand her the chocolate dipped cone and we find an open bench. I lick the plain vanilla in my hand, sweeping my tongue around the entire thing, a closely timed battle against the melting goodness.
Lexi bites—full on bites—into the top of her cone and I shudder.
“She should have seen you on the hoverboard. Would’ve blasted your cool exterior out of her impressionable mind for good.” She smiles between messy bites of ice cream mixed with chocolate, and her upper lip gathers some of the cream.
“I’m fucking tall, okay?” I say in mock outrage. Earlier, we walked around this town until we came across a little rental store. My vote was for a tandem bike, but Lexi wouldn’t have it. We finally agreed on hoverboards, and I tipped the guy really well to forego coming along as a tour guide. Bad move on my part because I could not figure the damn thing out. While I struggled with the stupid device, Lexi rode mocking circles around me all afternoon.
“Really? Tall? How about severely uncoordinated?” Her smile grows until it takes over her whole face, much as it has all day. A sight I’m growing addicted to by the second, even with ice cream and chocolate smeared across it.
I’m blaming my inability to master the hoverboard-easy-enough-for-children-my-ass on my long legs. Lame, I know, but I’m sticking with the defense. “No way. I’m full of coordinated talents,” I say and before she can roll her eyes, I stretch my tongue out as far as it will go. I twist it through the ice cream of my cone, swirling it around to lick up the soft sweet treat.
Her eyes widen, their green irises as bright as the lush grass in the park behind us, and her mouth falls open just a little.
Yeah, that’s right.
“You got a little on your face, Shorty.”
Her mouth snaps shut and she wipes the back of her hand across her lips until they’re clean.
“I could’ve helped you with that.” I waggle my tongue and wink.
Her chin lifts and she pins me with a glare. “Don’t need your help. And don’t call me shorty.”
“Not a fan of nicknames?”
