by Jenika Snow
No, I would have remembered this guy if I’d seen him.
I felt goose bumps form along my arms the longer he stared at me. He looked at me like he knew me, like he’d known me for my whole life and could see into me, pick out my deepest desires.
For as hot as I was running around the diner today, this sudden chill raced over me.
“I’ll have the same,” he said, his voice deep, rich … dark. “Just water though.” He was a big guy; even sitting down I could tell he’d tower over me. And his muscles … God, he was just a big man all around.
I nodded and turned, leaving, needing to get out of here, needing to get some fresh air. As it was I felt like I was suffocating, like someone had reached in and grabbed my lungs, ripping them from my body.
I glanced over at him, and shock speared through me when I saw that he watched me.
I was confused, not sure where to place him, but knowing deep down this wasn’t a stranger to me.
Chapter 3
Erik
She didn’t recognize me.
My mother had been right.
I watched her walk away because I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
I couldn’t have looked away even if I’d wanted to.
I didn’t give a shit that Cal and Will were staring at me, their gazes like a fucking slap to my face.
“Dude, didn’t we say you changed?” Cal said, but I ignored him.
Paige was all grown up now. She was gorgeous, so fucking beautiful it was painful.
“She used to be so nerdy in high school. Now, damn, she’s a hot piece of ass.”
I snapped my head around and looked at Will. “You shut the fuck up.”
Will sobered instantly. “What the hell? Dude, what’s gotten into you?”
Cal stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Truth was I didn’t even like Cal and Will all that much. They might be blood, but they were also assholes. The only reason I was even with them right now was because my mom had begged me to get out and reconnect with them.
Reconnect? We’d never connected to begin with.
But even if they were pricks and I’d dreaded hanging with them, I was glad I’d come. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have seen Paige. I didn’t even care that she didn’t recognize me. I sure as hell recognized her.
“Don’t fucking say that kind of shit about her.” I could see Will didn’t like that I’d put him in his place, but neither of them would challenge me. I was bigger, stronger, and they knew I’d have no problem beating their asses. Or hell, maybe they would push me. It had been a long time since we’d seen each other. And if they did want to go there with me, if they did want to talk shit about Paige, well, I’d show them how hardened I’d become. I’d have no problem drawing blood from family members if it meant defending Paige’s honor.
Paige
It was hard to finish up work knowing he was sitting just feet from me. And still I couldn’t place him. I racked my brain trying to recall where I’d seen him. Or maybe I’d never seen him? Maybe that instant electrical sensation I felt when I looked into his eyes was making this all happen, the catalyst to me losing my mind?
Hell, he probably thought I was rude. I’d given them their food without so much as a word, then left to finish out my other duties. I really wasn’t trying to give them the cold shoulder—well, not the mystery guy. Cal and Will were pricks in their own right, and although they hadn’t especially shown me that “quality” while in school, they also hadn’t been very friendly. I’d been on the bottom of the totem poll of the social chain, and because of that they’d wanted nothing to do with me.
But that had been fine with me.
I glanced at the table, but to my disappointment the guys were gone. I felt my shoulders sag but couldn’t place why I cared so much that the mystery guy had left.
“You okay?” Cait asked as she rang up a customer’s bill.
“Yeah,” I said but was glancing at the table again, now empty. “But did you know that guy with Will and Cal?” She’d gone to school with us.
She glanced up at me. “I saw them but couldn’t see the guy they were with. Why?”
I just shook my head. I wasn’t about to go into it. He was gone. I didn’t know him, so I’d leave it at that. “Never mind.” I smiled, and she left it alone.
By the time I could leave, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“’Bye,” Claire called out. She had another four hours left on her shift, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I was leaving her. But I had things to study for, and if I didn’t get it in now, while I had some free time, I wouldn’t pass the class.
I headed toward the parking lot, my focus on my purse but my mind on those brown eyes.
So expressive.
So rich, deep.
So familiar.
He’d stared at me like he knew me, like there wasn’t anything else more important to focus on.
Those brown eyes, ones that looked deep into my very soul.
And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The air was sucked out of me, I froze midstep, and the world tilted.
He’d stared at me like he knew me better than anyone. The years might have passed in a blur, and we might have drifted apart, lost contact, but I should never have thought twice about who he was. I should have known who sat just a foot from me, should have recognized the connection I felt to him.
Erik.
He’d been right there, right at my fingertips. I’d heard his deep, male voice, felt it stroke over me, yet I hadn’t known.
No, that couldn’t be right; that couldn’t be him. It had been, what, twelve years since I’d seen him last? Surely I’d recognize him instantly.
Not if he’s changed so much; not if he’s basically a different person.
My chest ached, my heart clenching fiercely.
No, that had been Erik, and I hadn’t even realized it. I rubbed my chest, feeling like the world had just swallowed me whole and I was trapped in this dark pit.
“You remembered,” a deep voice said from a few feet from me said.
I snapped my head up to see Erik leaning against a car. He had his arms crossed, his hat pulled down low, but his focus right on me. Now that I knew it was him, I couldn’t believe it took me so look to recognize the boy who’d stolen my heart for so long. My chest ached, longing claiming me like an old friend.
I found myself moving forward, although it felt like I was on automatic. He’d changed. So much. He was so tall, at least half a foot taller than my five-foot-seven height, maybe even more.
I stopped right in front of him, smelling the scent of the cologne he wore, or maybe that was just the way he smelled; spicy, woodsy, and all male. We didn’t say anything for long seconds, but I wouldn’t have known what to say even if the words came to me. And then he smiled at me, and it was as if no time had passed at all. It was as if we hadn’t been separated by distance, by the fact that he had to leave me when neither of us was ready.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I was sorry for not realizing he was who he was. I was sorry that we’d lost contact. I was sorry that I hadn’t tried harder to make sure our friendship didn’t suffer.
Standing right in front of me was the boy who’d held my heart, who’d given me that little red string that I still had to this day.
But he wasn’t that boy anymore. He was a man now, big and strong, with tattoos covering him and a hardness in his eyes that had never been there. I didn’t know what he was doing back in Blue Springs, but I didn’t want to waste time. I wanted to get to know him again, reconnect with the man he’d become … with the one person I had known was the other half of my soul. We might have only been ten, and I might not have known what love or lust was, but I’d known Erik was the one person who could make my heart race with just a look.
“Sorry?” he said, the confusion thick in his voice, like a blanket covering me, trying to steal my air. “Paige.” The way he said my name was almost pained. “There’s no apology needed.”
I didn’t know why I felt like crying, but the sting of tears pricked at my eyes. I blinked rapidly, not wanting to do this right now. It would be a sign of weakness, this wound that spread open and covered me in the aftereffects of what I’d buried long ago.
I wanted to reach out and touch him, to run my fingers along his bare skin and make sure he was truly here, that my mind wasn’t just conjuring him up because I ached to have him near, to have him right here with me.
“You’ve grown up,” he said, a little smile on his face that made my heart jump.
“I could say the same about you. You’re not that scrawny ten-year-old anymore.” We’d sent pictures of each other back in the day, awkward teenagers with goofy smiles as we posed for the camera. But even the most recent picture Erik had sent me didn’t compare to the man in front of me. For one thing, in the pictures I had from him, he didn’t have any ink. Now he was covered in it from neck to God knows where else. I found myself skimming my gaze down his big, muscular body, and felt my face heat at how I must look. Snapping my eyes back up to him, I saw he watched me, the smile gone, and this heavy-lidded expression covering his oh-so-masculine face.
“It’s been a really long time, Erik.”
He exhaled and nodded. For a second I thought he’d say something, but he just continued to stare at me, to watch me as if he were trying to understand what was going on too.
I swallowed, my throat tight, scratchy, like I’d swallowed sand. “What are you doing back in Blue Springs?” I finally managed to ask. I glanced at the car he was leaning against. “Did you drive here?”
Erik pushed off the car, and I took in the full height of him. I had to tilt my head back to look in his face.
“That’s a long story.” He didn’t elaborate for a second. “Maybe we can hang out, catch up? I can explain why I’m here and all that.”
I nodded. “I’d like that.” I’d really like that, in fact.
“Good,” he said, his lips quirking up at the side. God, he looked so good, so strong. I felt wholly feminine standing next to him. Gone was the child feeling I had. Now I was looking at him as a woman looks at a man, appreciating what was in front of her.
He nodded again, his smile widening. “I mean, I’m sure it’s not, but you still have the same number?”
I shook my head. “I mean, it’s still my mom’s number. I don’t live there anymore.” His brows furrowed. “I have a cell number, though.”
There was this moment of silence before he nodded. He shifted on his feet, looking weird all of a sudden. “How about we exchange new numbers then?”
I nodded. We pulled out our cells, and he gave me his number. Once I had it, I sent him a text. “Now you have mine, so feel free to hit me up whenever. I can show you around. Things have changed a little since you’ve been gone.” My heart hurt saying that. “Don’t be a stranger and forget to call,” I found myself saying, then felt stupid, desperate even. For all I knew he didn’t feel that kindred friendship like I still did. We might not have been actively speaking for years now, but that changed nothing. I still saw him as my best friend.
“Believe me, I won’t forget.” The way he said that had this chill racing up my spine. “I’ll see you soon, Paige.”
And the way he said my name had my heart racing. I stood there, confused as I watched him start to walk away. “Hey, where are you parked?”
He stopped and glanced over his shoulder at me. “I’m not parked anywhere. Will and Cal left with the car we came to the diner in.” He shrugged one broad shoulder. “No worries; it’s all good.”
Was he staying with Cal and Will? I knew they lived a good ten miles outside of the square of town.
“Are you staying with your aunt?”
He gave a sharp nod, lifted his hand, and started walking away. His body was so big, his movement fluid like a wild animal.
“Wait,” I called out and he stopped again. “Let me take you there. I’m not about to let you walk all that way.”
“It’s all good, Paige.”
I exhaled, exasperated. “Get in,” I said and tipped my chin toward my used Honda. It certainly wasn’t a looker, but I didn’t need it for any other purpose than to take me to work, home, and school.
Once we were in the car, I looked over at him. He was so big, taking up the entire space of my tiny Civic. “Are you back for good?”
He was facing straight ahead, his profile sharp, all male. His expression looked severe, and I wondered if maybe that had been the wrong thing to say.
“Yeah,” was his reply. He didn’t elaborate, and I knew well enough to leave it alone … for now.
Chapter 4
Erik
I don’t know how long I stood there, watching the road, maybe thinking Paige would come back, like it wouldn’t be weird between us. I didn’t want it to be like that, but I guess it was unavoidable.
“You got it bad,” Will said from behind me, and I clenched my jaw. Staying with them and my aunt was temporary, as in I was already going to look at a few places for my mom and me. Yeah, moving back to town had been short notice, and yeah, they were family, but Will and Cal were already riding my ass, and I hadn’t even been here that long.
I should have told him to fuck off, but instead I just turned from the street and made my way up the porch. My mind was on Paige, how pretty she was, how grown up she’d become. She wasn’t that cute little girl anymore. She was a woman, a gorgeous woman.
And mine.
First thing I needed to do was find a car. I hadn’t needed one, not since I was in the military, away from home, with nowhere to go. But this was different. I was back in Blue Springs, Paige was here, and I needed to be able to get to her.
But on that thought I remembered what she’d said. She had a place, her own place. But did she share it with someone? I’d looked to see if she wore a ring—which she didn’t—but that didn’t mean she wasn’t taken.
No, she’s mine. She’ll only ever be mine.
“Fuck,” I mumbled under my breath and headed toward the back room. I also needed to get out of here, like yesterday. I knew my mom liked being here with her sister, but I couldn’t stand Cal and Will. One of these days they’d push me, say the wrong thing, and I’d beat their asses.
Once in the room I shut the door and grabbed my cell. I stared at Paige’s number, wanting to call her, wanting to be with her even though she’d just left. And even if she was with someone, I didn’t know if I could just let it go. I didn’t know if I could just stand back and be her friend, even though I’d said I would take her any way I could. I meant it when I said I wanted her as mine, and that had just cemented itself back at the diner when I saw her for the first time again after so long.
Meet me tonight for dinner?
I shouldn’t have sent her that message. She’ll think I’m a fucking creep for sure. Damn it. I ran my hand over my hair, breathing out, feeling tightness in my chest. It was the same feeling I’d gotten when I first saw her at the diner. It was the same sensation I’d gotten when I watched her drive away all those years ago. I rubbed my chest at the same time my cell vibrated.
Paige: I’d love to.
We had a lot to talk about, a lot of time to make up for. I just hoped she hadn’t fallen in love with someone, because she was meant for me.
We were meant for each other.
Paige
The butterflies in my belly were fierce, moving around, taking up residence. I felt the beads of sweat on my palms, a damp reminder that I had no control over my body. I’d just seen Erik earlier today, was shocked he’d messaged me before I even gotten home. But I’d been ecstatic, the feeling of being right where I was supposed to be filling me like water in a tub.
And then the door to the diner opened and he walked in. He took up the entire entryway, his big body not just stunning but commanding as well. I felt simple in his presence, plain in every way. Things had changed. We’d changed.
He had a baseball cap on again, the bill low, but his foc
us trained right on me. His jacket was black, forming to his thick biceps and hanging loosely around his trimmed waist. I didn’t miss how the female population stopped and stared. I couldn’t blame them.
My heart beat like a jackhammer on cement. I felt the organ slam against my rib cage, a painful thumping that let me know I was alive, that told me it was beating for him in this very moment.
When he took his seat across from me, I placed my hands in my lap, not wanting to show him they shook slightly. I was so nervous, my throat dry and my tongue feeling swollen.
“Thanks for agreeing to see me. I know I probably came off forward.”
I shook my head. “No, you didn’t come off that way.” Even my voice sounded thick.
Breathe. It’s just Erik. Your Erik. It’s the boy you grew up with, the one who was your best friend, who would have gone up against anything with you.
“I’m glad you wanted to meet up. It’s been a long time.” God, my throat was so dry, the words feeling thick as I spoke them. The waitress came by, and even though I should have eaten something, I couldn’t. I was too nervous, my belly in knots. Instead I ordered a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of pie. At least I’d have them to keep myself busy or have something to look at when I couldn’t stare at Erik.
But he ordered a large meal: a hamburger, extra fries, a Coke. He even ordered a slice of pie. I supposed a man of his size needed to eat that much.
The waitress left, and we sat there in silence. It was slightly uncomfortable, like the sting of a rose thorn on the skin. I hated it, wanted it to go back to the way it had been before, when all those years ago we only had our emotions. Hell, even at ten years old I knew I’d cared about him so much, but this lust I felt now had been absent.
“How have you been?” He broke up the silence with his deep-timbred voice. This tingle went through me, settling right between my thighs.
“Good.” I nodded and started picking at my napkin. “You?”
