“Shouldn’t have answered that damn door. Sorry,” he said sincerely and slid into the other side of the booth. My eyes were hypnotized by the way his tongue slicked across his bottom lip every few seconds as if he could still taste me. As if he wanted to.
I shrugged. It wasn’t his fault but it was damned annoying. “How was your shift?”
“Long. But Sawyer made this Lebanese dish with lamb and bulgur and I ate so much of it, I burped lamb for an hour.”
“How charming,” I told him, suppressing a shudder. Barely. “Did you save me any?”
Jase leaned back in the booth and grinned as he stretched one arm along the back. “Currently chilling in my fridge as we speak.”
I batted my eyelashes and laid a hand on top of his. “What a good boyfriend you are, Jase.” It was terrible timing because Reese brought out another dish herself.
Thankfully she was in her focused chef mood and barely noticed as she sat two bowls on the table. “These sauces are new and I trust y’all to be honest about what you think.”
They both smelled good. One had a tangy pineapple scent with something smoky and the other was fiery and bright red. “Damn they smell good.”
Jase dipped a pinky finger into the sauce and slid the finger between his lips, making all kinds of dirty thoughts run through my mind but only for the briefest of seconds. “Delicious. Add some fries and sweet corn to this. Or and some pulled pork too with that sticky bourbon sauce. Thanks.”
Reese gave me a look that was halfway between astonished and disgust. “Where do you even put it?” She didn’t wait for an answer, just nodded at the wings in reminder and walked away.
Jase chuckled and leaned in. “Ever notice how everything she says starts out as a compliment but never finishes that way?”
I had but it wasn’t something I’d say to her, because we all had our quirks, but still I laughed. “Yeah but I pretend I don’t because I don’t want floor barbecue.”
“Good point,” he said, trying his damnedest to hold in a laugh but it was no use. When Jase and I got like this, nothing and everything could make us laugh even harder. No stimuli necessary, just two old friends having a good time over some damn good food.
When there was no pressure and no questions, like in this moment where we just laughed and smiled as we ate, things were perfect.
I just hoped they stayed that way.
Jase
“Okay now we need a few without the glasses.” Janey said the words easily because the camera blocked the sun from scorching off her eyeballs, that and she was nestled neatly into a ravine. A shaded ravine.
“You want a dozen photos of me squinting like I can’t see?”
She growled and tugged on the hem of my Tulip FD navy blue pants, exactly what she’d instructed me to wear when she called late last night. “No, I want you to act like a professional. Smile like the sun isn’t bothering you, it’ll be worth it. I promise.”
“Seriously? This is the last time I trust you, woman.”
She sucked in a breath, her head peeking from around the camera. “Why? This has been great for you.” She didn’t explain but she didn’t have to because apparently my friends were under the impression I had some kind of unrequited crush on Bo and I didn’t. Hell, it had only cropped up, again, a week or so ago.
“Has it? It’s early as hell in the morning and my coffee is getting cold.”
“Give me five shots and I’ll find you at the fairgrounds with a fresh and piping hot cup.” She looked sincere but Janey had proven that she could get what she wanted when she wanted it and I didn’t want to push her.
“Fine. Give me a second.” I tossed my sunglasses at her and blinked about a dozen times until my eyes adjusted the bright the sun and the vibrant landscape laid out before me. It really was beautiful and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world.
“Perfect. I even got a few of you smiling. Whatever you were thinking about, thanks.”
“I was just thinking how beautiful all this was.”
“Yeah, sure. Don’t let the old ladies get to you, they mean well.”
“They’re harmless,” I told her because other than the occasional nuisance, they were harmless.
“Okay. Sure. No go change into your mayor outfit.” She snickered to herself and I didn’t bother to tell her there was no outfit.
Just a hat. And an hour later I was dressed in my second favorite pair of blue jeans because Bo had insisted my favorites had too many holes, a t-shirt with the Tulip town logo emblazoned across the chest and a big ass Stetson like I was a real cowboy.
The people manning the booths didn’t seem to mind and everyone was happy to see me and offer up some kind of freebie, which I accepted with a hefty tip per Penny’s instructions. It wasn’t bad but it was a bore because my first lady hadn’t arrived yet. Bo promised she would be here so we could at least stuff ourselves silly. Together.
And then I spotted her. I stopped right in front of a booth guaranteed to get a big ass smile out of her and watched as she walked towards me, in slow motion, like a damn romantic comedy. She even had the look down perfect, a feminine white dress that flirted with the middle of her thighs, bright red cowboy boots and because she was Bo, a baseball cap on top of her wavy brown hair. “There she is ladies and gentlemen, the festival’s first lady.”
At the small smattering of applause, Bo froze and glared at as many people as she could set her gaze on, before she continued to her journey to me. With a huff. “Watch it, Mr. Mayor.” She poked her finger in the center of my chest and I grabbed her wrist, pulling her close until not even a sheet of paper could have fit between us.
“You’re my girlfriend, remember?” I whispered the words in her ear, looking like a man eager to wrap his arms around his woman, before I smacked a kiss to her neck, earning a shiver that had my own body responding in kind. “You look wonderful, babe.” I hope she heard the truthfulness of my words, because my body appreciated everything about her look. “Even the hat.”
She stuck her tongue out and laughed. “Thanks. I figured if people were gonna be taking pictures I could at least try to look halfway decent. Especially next to a real life Ken doll.”
“Mission accomplished,” I told her. “Hey.”
She laughed and leaned into me, tilting her head back and giving me a quick glimpse of spectacular cleavage and just a hint of red and white lace. “See? A Ken doll, pretty to look at but not that bright.” She laughed even harder when I frowned and I found it damn hard to be offended that she was laughing at me.
“God that was such good content,” Janey gushed. “I’m so glad I was walking by. Now I don’t have to bother with more photos. Until later,” she said ominous and walked away.
“Who knew you were so famous?”
My shoulders relaxed when it became clear Bo wouldn’t make a big deal about Janey and the photos. “Deep fried corn for your troubles?”
Her smile bloomed and lit up her face, forcing me to ignore the pounding in my chest. “You say the sweetest things, Jase.”
I laughed as we took our place our line. “Food is your weakness, babe.”
“I won’t deny it,” she finally said, holding the fried monstrosity out for me to taste. “You get the first bite, Mayor.”
I kept my gaze on her and bit into the oversized corn on the cob, slathered with butter and dill and brown sugar and some kind of delicious bread crumb mixture. “Damn that’s good.” My teeth sank into the kernels and juice dripped down my chin and still, I didn’t look away.
“Right?” Bo laughed and barely waited for me to release the corn before she took her own bite. “Worth the miles I’ll have to run,” she said and took another bite with a groan.
“Like you need a reason to get out of the house.”
“True. I like being outdoors. There’s so much of it.”
I suspected there was more to it but now wasn’t the time to push. Besides, I had vendors to stop and chat with. Bo was a good sport whi
le I made sure to thank all the businesses for participating and took photos with those who asked. She sampled items and chatted it up with just about everyone, proving once again she wasn’t the grump she pretended to be.
“Thirty minutes ‘til the kissing booth,” Janey said as she rushed by, probably going in search of Nate to relay the same message.
“Can we get a nacho burger in thirty minutes,” she asked, instead of wondering about the kissing booth. It was an oversight I planned to use to my advantage for as long as I could.
“Want to give me stinky breath in case one of the kiss buyers likes it a little too much?”
“Damn straight. Extra jalapenos too, just in case any of these hussies start getting ideas.” Her words were loud and forceful, but those blue eyes were filled with mischief. “How was that?”
“Great.”
The line for the burger was too long and I promised her we would stop after the kissing booth. “Stupid kissing booth,” she grumbled when we found Janey and Nate, along with about a dozen others gathered around. Gawking.
“Okay you two, come here!” Janey motioned Bo and me forward and I tugged her along, ignoring her confusion. “Stand here and hold hands. Make sure you’re a little playful, blah, blah, all right?”
“What,” Bo asked.
Nate snickered.
“Nothing. Just follow my lead,” I whispered and shot Nate a glare.
“You are so dead,” he mouthed over Bo’s head and dammit, he was right.
“Okay people, let’s do this,” Janey said and turned her gaze to Bo. “Here’s your fiver.”
Bo frowned and looked down at the money like it might bite her. “Huh? Money for what?”
“To pay for the first kiss and officially kick this thing off.” Janey turned to me. “You didn’t tell her?”
“Yeah, babe, you didn’t tell me,” she said through clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know how,” I whispered before stepping back with a wide smile for the crowd. “It must’ve slipped my mind, but it’s just a kiss. Right sweetheart?” It was my own damn fault for teasing her. Taunting her. Hell, for challenging her.
“Right.” She said the word slowly, drawing it out like it was three or four syllables. Bo took the fiver from Janey’s hand and smacked it on the counter that would separate the buyer from the seller and cupped my face with a sultry smile. “The kissing booth is officially open!” Then her lips were on mine, slow at first, teasing but testing, getting use to the lay of the land, then she kicked it up a notch. I didn’t know if she was trying to get me back or was just really into the kiss and in the moment, my body didn’t give a damn. Bo’s lips were soft and pliant and she tasted like everything we’d eaten over the past couple hours plus a little bit of her. It was intoxicating.
Around us the crowd clapped and whistled, the noise growing louder and louder and my body growing harder by the moment. I had to pull my mouth away because I needed to breath and have a chat with my cock. I kept Bo close enough to help hide what she’d caused. “You did that on purpose,” I growled in her ear, smiling at the crowd gathered with ease.
“I did,” she said easily. “Didn’t you?”
“Yeah but only because I didn’t know how to bring it up without you freaking out.” She turned and looked up at me, lips pink and swollen from my kisses and I wanted to kiss her again, but Bo looked…afraid.
Her blue eyes were filled with heat and wonder and confusion. And fear. Her fingertips went to her lips like she could still feel my mouth there and then, as the crowd closed in on us, she walked away.
Bo
What in the hell was that? Did I seriously just kiss Jase, my best friend, in front of the whole damn town? And worse, did I like it?
Hell yeah, I liked it. I more than liked it which is exactly why I got the hell out of dodge before I could jump him and beg for another. And another. And that would have been a mistake of epic proportions, so I ran. It was more like a fast walk since I only ran for exercise and when being chased, but the point was the same. To flee.
By the time I made it home from the fairgrounds I’d worked up a good sheen of sweat and headed for the shower. It was as good an excuse as any to get out of the damn dress I wore to play first lady of the festival. A fat lot of good that did me. I ran from the hottest kiss I’d had in months and what’s worse, I did it before I could get my hands on a delicious, greasy nacho burger.
That might have been a bigger misstep than kissing Jase. Or enjoying it. Or wanting another.
“Ugh, this has to stop!” The thoughts were coming too fast and they were too graphic, too real and I needed them to stop so I wrenched the shower off and stepped out, grabbing a towel to scrub off the water and the endless loop of thoughts driving me crazy. And the one thought I couldn’t shake was, why in the hell did I run off like that?
The answer was simple, because I am a coward. A world class coward who talks a good game, a tough game, but beneath the surface I am a yellow bellied coward who couldn’t face her emotions. And honestly, I was all right with that. Running away, avoidance, was the best way to keep things simple between me and Jase. I enjoyed our simple, uncomplicated relationship and I would protect anyway I could.
Including running away from him like my ass was on fire.
A knock sounded on the door and I didn’t even have to guess who it was, because I knew. Thankfully I was fully dressed with wet hair, no makeup or shoes, because I didn’t want to look like I was trying to…something or other. “Jase. What brings you by?” There. That sounded normal, right?
Apparently not because his lips twisted into a smirk and one eyebrow rose as if to say, really. “I come bearing gifts if that helps.” He held up a greasy white bag that smelled like grease and that fake liquid nacho cheese and jalapenos. It smelled like heaven. “One of those gifts is curly fries.”
He always did know my weaknesses. Dammit. I stepped back with a reluctant smile. “Since you brought food I guess you can come in.”
“Thanks,” he snorted and brushed past me, leaving behind a noticeable scent of masculinity that I’d never once noticed before. Ever. Dammit, I needed a few more minutes but it was just like Jase to show up before I was ready. “You sure?” He turned, suddenly looking uncertain like he thought I might kick him out.
I nodded. “Yeah, of course. Just don’t think you’re getting any of my burger. Or my fries.”
Like a proud kid, he produced another bag. “Don’t worry, I brought my own.”
“Good.” I nodded for him to go on inside, taking a moment to settle the pounding of my heart against my chest because for the first, okay the second, time in my life I felt nervous around Jase. It wasn’t a feeling I was accustomed to and I didn’t like it one damn bit but I was a grownup so I hiked up my big girl panties and tried as best I could to act normal. That meant dropping my bag on the coffee table and heading to the kitchen for forks, napkins and drinks. “Beer or pop?”
“Beer. Something dark and ice cold if you have it.”
I shook my head at his rote answer. “One of these days you’ll actually have to try something new, Callahan.” I rarely even drank the dark stuff but I kept it stocked because Jase did. I was a good damn friend.
He smiled up at me when I returned. “If I did that, you’d have to order something different and I know how you hate change.”
I cringed at his words because I didn’t hate change, I just didn’t appreciate the way it happened whether you were ready for it or not. “Or I could just make you bring your own beverages.” Dropping down on the far end of the sofa, I ignored the fact that Jase sat closer than usual and focused my gaze on the television and my attention on the giant nacho burger sitting on my lap.
We watched some comedy that was mildly funny, mostly in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence but it lacked the ease that was always there when we hung out. Always. Neither one of us was willing to address the elephant in the room, yet, so I ate my burger and fries and sucked d
own my beer faster than a lady would. Though, in fairness, I never claimed to be a lady. By the time the credits rolled on the movie I was a ball of tension and I needed something, anything to get it the hell away until Jase was gone.
His hand accidentally brushed the side of my thigh and I jumped up like my ass was on fire, still feeling the heat of his touch as I grabbed our empty food containers and ran for the safety of my kitchen. I took my time, stopping to separate the trash into recycling bins while I got my erratic heartbeat and wayward thoughts under control. Why the hell did Jase have to smell so good anyway? It’s not like cologne was required to spend a day out in the sun eating deep fried foods.
The more I thought about it, the more upset I got. Why in the hell was he here, smiling and looking all good all of a sudden? And why on earth was I noticing? It was that damn kiss. That was the only thing that made sense. That totally hot kiss, combined with a distinct lack of action, had melted my brain. That had to be it.
“You’re awful deep in thought for a woman who should be in a nacho burger coma right now.”
The sound of Jase’s voice startled me and I whirled around from the fridge, two beer bottles in my hand clanked together as my free hand went to my chest. “Why are you sneaking up on me? Too thirsty to wait?” I arched a brow, hoping the sarcasm would mask any other emotions.
Pink lips curled into a grin, Jase crossed his arms, leaning against the counter as casual as you please. “Nah. You seemed nervous and I figured we needed to clear the air.”
Silence fell between us again at his words. Clear the air, was that even possible? I stared at him like he was an alien who’d landed on my doorstep to learn about humankind, waiting for all of this to make some kind of sense.
Jase huffed out a laugh and shrugged. “Okay. I’ll start.” His expression went from playful to serious but the mischief in his eyes was hard to miss. “It was a nice kiss. Unexpected but nice.”
Kissing My Best Friend: A Friends to Lovers Romance Page 5
