by Erin Rylie
Kelsey rubbed her ring finger absently. “Technically, yes. Legally, no. Divorce is a shit show.” She laughed.
The mischievous glint had returned to Carlos’s eyes. “I’d like to be a good guy and say that I’m sorry to hear you’re getting divorced, but I don’t like to lie. I’m damn glad you’re single.”
Butterflies took flight in Kelsey's stomach at his words, and she looked away to hide the blush staining her cheeks. "Did you know that raptors actually had feathers?"
“Um, no? I guess I didn’t know that.”
"Yep, movies always depict them as featherless, so few people know that they have them." She looked up from her beer and took in his confused expression. "Sorry, I tend to blurt out random facts when I get nervous. It’s weird, I know."
“Hey, all I’m hearing is that I make you nervous.” Carlos leaned in, his warm breath brushing her ear. “Why do I make you nervous, Kelsey?”
Kelsey swallowed and fought the urge to spew off more random facts. She had plenty stored up, including some pretty great ones about World War II. It was her favorite time period, and she studied it for fun.
Too focused on keeping her history knowledge under wraps, she said the first thing that came to mind. "Have you seen you? You look like Mario Lopez and Adam Rodriguez had a tall, muscular child. It's ridiculous."
Carlos guffawed, gaining the attention of more than one woman nearby. Kelsey fought the urge to shoot them death glares and focused instead on how damn handsome he looked when he laughed. His personality was infectious, and she felt lighter just being around him. There was something about Carlos that drew people in. He was just so joyful and genuine, his laughs coming easily.
"Shit, you're good for a man's ego. Maybe I should skip ahead and ask if we're going back to your place or mine?"
The image of Carlos' hands all over her body, stripping her of her clothes, his muscled arms on either side of her head as he worked them both to orgasm had Kelsey clenching her thighs to ease the ache there. Needing a moment to think and something to cool her off, she downed the rest of her beer and signaled to the waitress for another.
"You're too cocky by far. There is no way I'm going home with you tonight. I firmly draw the line at men in pink shirts."
Carlos nodded sagely. "Understood. We can stay at your place tonight. Also, this shirt is salmon, and I look fucking fantastic in it."
Kelsey laughed and shook her head, her cheeks hurting from the amount of smiling she’d done in the last thirty minutes. “You’re just decreasing your chances of getting in my pants now.”
"Nah, I'm pretty sure I'm charming those pants right off of you. But I'll drop it for now. To be revisited." He threw a wink her way. "So tell me about this divorce. You doing okay?"
She was surprised by the quick change of conversation but was bolstered by the genuine interest and concern in his eyes. Kelsey was startled to realize he was actually interested in her response. Over the next few hours, they discussed everything: her divorce, her son, his overbearing mother and strained relationship, their career goals, and personal dreams. It was the most honest conversation she'd had in ages.
At the end of the night, when last call had been announced, and they'd paid their tabs, Carlos wrapped his arms around Kelsey, giving her a hug and a sweet peck on the cheek before heading toward the Uber he'd called. Before she had time to second-guess the decision, Kelsey followed him to the car and got into the backseat with him. She gave the driver her address and turned to look at Carlos. His eyes were wide with surprise, the cocky persona from earlier gone entirely.
Kelsey had never felt more wanton and embraced it, leaning in to whisper in Carlos’ ear. “Remember? We agreed we’d be going back to my place tonight.”
* * *
Add to your TBR here!
