Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [31]
"Yes, but unlike you, I don't usually believe it. Besides, I thought we declared our truce Friday night."
Lacey frowned. "Bring up Friday night again, and I'm outta here." From the seat next to her, which Raul had just taken, she heard annoying squawking noises. I'm not a chicken!
Nate lifted a hand for the waitress. Lacey watched as the previously dour woman become a jittery, giggly bundle of femininity while Nate ordered his beer.
"It's not his fault," Raul said, leaning over to whisper in her ear. "This happens all the time. I think it's the dimples."
Good grief, if he had women fawning all over him all the time it was no wonder the man had an ego the size of the Key Bridge! Though, actually, when she thought about it, Lacey had to admit the truth. She'd found him many things Friday night, but egotistical wasn't one of them. Charming, yes. Flirtatious, yes. Hot and gorgeous, yes, dammit. But not arrogant.
"So why are you friends? I wouldn't picture you much enjoying the competition," Lacey said with a smirk.
Raul raised an eyebrow. "No competition. He's Matt Damon to my Ben Affleck."
Lacey snorted. "Keep dreaming."
Nate finally turned his attention toward them as the waitress sauntered away, a little more jiggle in her step than Lacey had noticed before. "What were you saying about dreaming?"
Lacey felt her face flush. "We were talking about movie stars," she muttered, shooting a quelling glance at Raul.
Shrugging, Raul turned his attention to several women at the next table. "Let the flirting begin," Lacey said as her friend spoke with a brunette in a red sun-dress.
"I had a dream the other night." That drew her attention to the very gorgeous, distracting man seated across from her. She almost kicked Raul to get him to turn around so she wouldn't have to deal with Nate Logan alone. Since the brunette in the sundress was flirting back, however, she figured Raul wouldn't appreciate the interruption.
"About an island," Nate continued.
Lacey's heart skipped a beat as she remembered their playful conversation on their trampoline island. The sparkle in his eye told her that's exactly what he was referring to.
"Oh?" Lacey asked, her voice not much above a whisper.
"A place where dreams become reality. Fantasy Island ."
She cleared her throat nervously, then crossed her arms. "Should I start calling you Tattoo?"
He grinned. "No, I'm the owner of the island, remember? No cocktail parties, no size ones, no elevator music."
"You didn't mention the elevator music," she retorted.
"Thought of it later," He gave her a wry grin. "'We Will Rock You' just doesn't work without words."
She chuckled in spite of herself, then immediately damped her lips together. Snap out of it. He's a jerk!
"So you do remember Friday night, after all?"
"One or two things," she admitted as she sipped her beer, wondering how she could feel so languid and hot, so cozy and intimate with him in a room with dozens of other people.
"Yeah. One or two things," he repeated, his eyes growing heavy-lidded as he moved his gaze down her body in a long, deliberate, visual caress.
Despite herself, Lacey felt a sudden, intense reaction. Her nipples grew tight and sensitive against her blouse as her pulse sped up. She sucked in a deep breath and shifted in her seat. He obviously noticed. By the time he met her eye, his flirtatious expression was gone, replaced by heat. Pure heat.
"Anybody ready to do it?"
Lacey gasped and turned to stare in shock at Raul. When he held up an empty beer mug, she realized he'd been asking if they were ready for another drink. Catching Nate's eye, she saw his amusement and nearly groaned.
"I'm ready," Nate replied, his voice smooth and seductive.
"You're always ready," Lacey snapped. "I'm not. One's quite enough for me, I don't plan on going for a second round."
Nate raised an eyebrow. "That a challenge?"
"Not for me."
"I think a gauntlet's been tossed."
Raul stared at them both like they were crazy. "What are you talking about? Do either of you want another beer or not?" When they both declined, Raul turned to