Chapter 7
chapter
seven
Juliette
Cruz Romero, AKA Romeo, is hot as hell.
He’s got a ball cap on backwards today, his thick dark hair curls around the edges of the hat.
The black whiskey t-shirt he’s wearing looks so soft, I’m dying to touch it.
And it should be considered indecent the way it’s molded to Cruz’s broad, muscular torso.
His worn jeans are slung low on his hips and perfectly highlight his ass.
I’ve been so wrapped up in looking at him and talking to him that I haven’t even checked on a response from Ranger. I hope he can meet tonight. I sent him a message earlier today from the back of the van before I outed myself to my unsuspecting chauffeur.
Meeting Ranger will hopefully cool my slight obsession with my travel companion.
Cruz clears his throat. “Alright, we’ve communed with the sacred armadillo. Back on the road?”
I nod. “Sounds good. We still have a couple of hours, right?”
“Yeah. If traffic cooperates,” he says.
I want to know everything about this man, but I obviously can’t ask him a million questions. Road trip games to the rescue. “New game,” I say.
“Oh no,” he groans dramatically. “Last time you said that, I ended up posing with a one-eyed armadillo.”
“This one doesn’t involve potential tetanus. Promise.”
He grins at me and I swear my heart does a double beat.
“Alright, Buttercup, what’s the game?”
“It’s simple. This or that. No explanations. Just instinct.”
He chuckles. “And if I refuse?”
I sniff. “You’ll hurt my delicate feelings.”
“Ah, emotional blackmail. Got it. Fine, hit me.”
I clap my hands, happy he’s going to indulge me. “Okay. Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee.”
“Morning or night?”
“Night.”
“Beach or mountains?”
“Mountains. But why aren’t you answering the same questions?”
“Oh, right. Coffee, morning, and beach. Dogs or cats?”
“Dogs.”
I snort. “Duh. I like both. No preference, just something furry in my lap, please and thank you.”
“I don’t hate cats,” he says.
“Okay, Star Wars or Star Trek?”
He scoffs as if the question itself is offensive. “Star Wars. No contest.”
“Really? I would’ve pegged you as a Trekkie.”
“Because I seem like the kind of guy who enjoys complicated ethical debates in space?”
“Exactly.”
“I mean, I do. But lightsabers, come on. Not to mention Chewbacca. Really, unfair comparison.”
“Agreed. Next one—cake or pie?”
“Pie. Every time.”
“Incorrect,” I say. “Cake wins because frosting exists.”
“Yeah, but pie has crust. You can’t trust people who don’t like crust.”
I stare at his profile for a minute. “Crust versus frosting? Sir, that does not even make sense.”
“I mean, I’m not saying I don’t like frosting. I just really like pie.”
I giggle. “Bygones. Okay, moving on. Vampires or zombies?”
“Zombies.”
“Same,” I say.
“Really? No sparkling vampires for you?”
“Uh, no. I never could get into those books. That heroine was like a piece of unbuttered toast. Just sad and boring.”
“Plus zombie movies,” he says.
“Definitely. Warm Bodies, World War Z, Zombieland, both the first and the sequel,” I say.
“More opportunities for humor. Vampires take themselves far too seriously,” he says.
“Yes! That’s totally what it is.”
“See, I know things,” he says.
“No doubt you know a lot of things. Even if it doesn’t involve explosions or dogs.”
“I make a mean pot of chili, too.”
“Good to know. Speaking of food, are you a jerky snack guy in general or just on road trips?”
“I appreciate jerky any time. But mostly this particular one.” He holds up his bag. “Don’t tell Beau. He likes this gourmet jerky and packed some in the van for me. But I prefer—”
“The shoe leather,” I answer for him.
“Yes. I want to work for my flavor.”
I laugh.
“You? Salty or sweet on a road trip?” he asks.
“Salty in the car, sweet everywhere else.” I clear my throat. “Okay, last one. Be honest.”
“Always.”
“Would you rather know what people are thinking or be invisible?”
“Invisible,” he says, no hesitation.
“So you could sneak around?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.
“Nah, I just sometimes need a break from people,” he admits. “What about you?”
“I think I’d like to know what people are thinking. But only if I could turn it off. I think that power could get overwhelming very quickly.”
“Possibly. But some people don’t have two thoughts to rub together.”
I chuckle. “Well, that’s true.”
I am in trouble, I know that much. I force myself to pick up my phone and check in the app.
Mustang_Ranger: Sounds great. I’ll see you then.
Mustang_Ranger: Looking forward to finally meeting you.
FleetwdLvr05: Me too!
And I am. That’s not a lie. I just know that tonight will more than likely be a disappointment. I’m sure Ranger is a great guy. But I know he’s not Cruz and that thought just makes me already feel like the date is a failure.