Free Chasing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 4) by Kris Jayne Page B

usually gets started around eight thirty or nine. It’ll be very un-Valentine’s-like fun.”
    Alexa wavered, and she swallowed her knee-jerk response. She knew more than friendship was on the table, and the thought of having one more night with him helped her find her “yes.”
    “Fine. Tig’s it is. Besides, I have some other building issues I’d like your help on.”
    “Nope. We can talk about ourselves and get to know each other. Friendly, informative conversation. No work talk. That’s a must, or I’m rescinding the invite. I’ll promise to keep my hands to myself.”
    His playful tone drew a grin from her. “Okay. Friendly conversation.” Alexa extended her hand to shake on it. “We have a deal.”
    Graham clutched his hands to his chest, shrinking back. “Can I touch you? I don’t want to violate the rules right out of the gate?”
    She swatted at his hand and grabbed it, shaking it back and forth. “Keeping your hands to yourself was your suggestion. Not mine.”
    “Maybe we can add an addendum to the agreement then.” He chased her elusive eyes with his own and caught her.
    She smiled. “We’ll see. Tig’s. Eight o’clock? I need to run home and change.”
    “Me too. But text me your address. I’ll swing by and pick you up—maybe a few minutes earlier. Seven forty-five?”
    “I don’t usually let men pick me up at my place when I barely know them.”
    He looked offended, and Alexa felt a pang of guilt. As always, Graham managed to respond with humor.
    “Afraid I’ll tie you up and throw you in my trunk? I think I could have done that already.”
    “Charming.”
    “Let me be a gentleman and pick you up at your door. Flowers in my hand. Shoes spit shined.”
    “That’s venturing close to romance, but fine. I’ll text you my address.”
    Alexa found Graham’s cackle and grin oddly relaxing. I must be getting used to him. She escaped to her office, focusing on what she had to do before she went home to keep from contemplating that fact too much.

    * * *
    T he small house where Alexa lived sat at the end of a winding street near the wine bar in an up-and-coming neighborhood south of the lake. Graham checked his watch to make sure he was neither late, nor too early.
    Satisfied with his promptness, he climbed out of his SUV and made his way to Alexa’s door, which was painted a vibrant, sapphire blue. The color reminded him of her perky little sports car.
    Next to the bell, he saw a small handwritten note.
    Bell broken. Use the knocker.
    So, he tapped the brass door fixture three times and waited. A clack of high-heeled shoes on tile came closer before the door peeled open.
    Alexa had her hair pulled up in a high ponytail over her head. Rough tendrils fell beside her face, framing her high cheekbones and catlike brown eyes. Her makeup was soft, except for a deep red lipstick that reminded him of cherry candy. Graham resisted the desire to grab her and taste it.
    “Hi. You look gorgeous.”
    “Thank you. I try.”
    “You’ve succeeded just about every time I’ve seen you.” Graham braced one hand on the doorjamb and leaned forward. “Are you ready to go?”
    “Sure. I’ll get my purse.” She turned, and he caught the back view of her stunning outfit. The halter top of her jumpsuit left her back completely bare. The fabric dipped down into the curve just above her ass. His eyes trailed back up, and with her hair pulled up, he noticed for the first time that she had a dusting of tiny star tattoos on the back of her neck, stretching down just to the top of her spine.
    “Tattoos? I never would’ve figured you for a tattoo girl.”
    “Yeah, well. That’s kind of a funny, drunken story from college. To be honest, I don’t quite remember. I went through kind of a hippie-dippy, crystal-gazing phase. The constellation seemed like a good idea.”
    “Which one is it?” Graham squinted to see if he could make out the pattern of stars as she bent over to scoop up her clutch purse off