Velvet Devil

pidly waning patience. "And I'

," he says. "Fine, forget the dessert menu

ggie Zone before I can protest. I cringe at the prospect

okay?" He burps again. "Don't th

ears the table, I sigh with relief and wh

tely. "Hey, sis, ho

ing to k

ld your horses.

g to end it all with the butter knife if I hav

You're not using words like

thing in co

ites a

agnetism aside, I

ing him a chance. When was the last

st had to the man in the booth. Not that I'm about to admit to Brianna that I was just eye-

hat suppos

treat men like an

g a man in your life isn

"You don't have to get all Jo March idealist on me. I'm not saying Reggie i

. Right now, all I wan

is place?"

ce in hell. Ah, shoot, he's comin

m and see if you like-" before I smash the "End C

a waggle of the eyebrows that I'm p

at him objectively without the prism

a bad-looking guy. Sure, his three-day beard is more "

a lot and starts way too many s

ice enough

pale in comparison to a single glanc

m makes my

sets my sk

ly. "Just wanted to let Bri

s rise. "No

our pa

anned for us. My friend's playing a gig at a ba

yance. "You didn'

you now. It

into things. "Reggie

ther plans?" h

ll,

n't see th

nice guy, and I really appreciate the invite to hang. But lik

an even get all the way upright, Reggie's

you're hu

ited you out, and I'm a cool guy, so you really need to j

Reggie's voice t

er hand has j

y strong, very

d peels his fingers off of me one

anies it, deep

old yo

antly. The handsome man from across th

front of my table, looking

sink int

ing. Black ice? Raging fire? Midnight shadow? I'm being melodramatic, but h

is a brand-new thing for me. There's a weird buzzing in my ears

tter up close. His vivid blue eyes set a stark contrast to his

o are you?" Re

ine for a single second. "Cami and I are childhoo

"Seriously? You don't look l

Reggie. "Are you c

. His eyes bulge out of their sockets and he leans back as far as he can go, given that his hand is still in

mers, "I'm just say

brusquely. "I don't li

No, that's not what I was sayin

heard what she told you. What part

e can't even mus

of here." His voice is a whip. Every time he speaks, that heat goes

better be going then...?" he mumbl

or tonight. It was good

ething. Then turns to leave again. He looks like he's walkin

Like one chapter is closing a

ll standing next to me. Sudde

spicy. I have to clench my thighs together immediately. If Brianna only knew what I was

ng, reaching past me to pick up

this," he mur

h in my cheeks, I catch the tiniest glimmer of a smirk in