Chapter 7
MICAH
The Tight Line was packed, comfortably crowded with a bunch of my teammates and their women, spread out at the two long high-top tables we’d pushed together near the front window.
The late lunch hour sunlight streaked through the glass, glinting off silver napkin dispensers.
Laughter rolled through the air, warm and familiar, and I watched them eat.
Specifically, I’d been keeping an eye on the three white ceramic dessert platters in the center of the table. The desserts that had been laid out on them were almost gone.
“What the fuck is in these?” Brady asked, lifting a gooey apple-crumble square and taking another massive bite.
Crumbs clung to his jawline as he closed his eyes and groaned.
His wife, Talia, giggled and brushed them away before snatching the rest of the treat from his hand and popping it in her mouth.
Brady scowled at her and playfully slammed her up against his chest. “You’re gonna pay for that. ”
That was my cue to leave.
Huck and Raiden were standing a few feet away, eating some of the mini cinnamon honey cakes. After swallowing the last bite, Huck licked the frosting from his fingers and hummed with appreciation. “Those taste like fall and…I don’t even know. My childhood, maybe.”
Raiden smirked. “Wait until you try the Sideline Bars.”
“I think I just got a taste of heaven,” Sylas muttered around a mouthful of blueberry blondie. “Micah. Marry the girl. I’ll officiate.”
Huck held up a half-eaten Sideline Bar like a ring. “If you don’t, I’m proposing to Rylin myself. I’m not gonna let this one get away.”
I looked up slowly, met his eyes, and let my stare go flat.
Huck froze mid-bite.
Sylas muffled a laugh, and Raiden snorted. “Don’t threaten his territory, man. I’m pretty sure Micah’s just waiting for the right moment to bite somebody.”
“Relax.” Huck laughed uneasily. “Just saying the girl’s got magic in her hands.”
Yeah. No shit.
I scanned the room, looking for dark honey hair and intense hazel eyes, but I didn’t see her. Her apron had been hanging by the kitchen door a few minutes ago, but now it was gone.
Setting my napkin on the table, I leaned over to Raiden. “Be right back.”
He raised a brow. “Tell her she’s a fucking genius.”
I nodded, already walking away.
The kitchen doors swung lightly as I pushed through, and it only took half a second to find her.
Rylin stood just inside, her hand pressed to her chest like she was trying to hold in the sound of her own breath.
Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her eyes were bright and glassy.
The soft overhead lights glinted off her hair where it was twisted up into a messy knot.
She wore a pale-yellow T-shirt that hugged her curves like a damn prayer and tight jeans that clung to her ass in a way that made my hands flex.
She hadn’t noticed me yet, so I took a moment to observe and appreciate her beauty. Inside and out.
Her gaze was locked on the pass-through from the kitchen to the front counter, watching the crowd as they devoured every last crumb she’d made.
I came up behind her slowly, letting my body brush hers as I leaned in.
“Told you,” I murmured, my breath causing the flyaway hairs on the back of her neck to dance.
She jumped, then let out a soft laugh and a little shiver. “You scared me.”
Grinning at her reaction to my touch, I cupped her hip and leaned a little closer. “Sorry. You were just standing there, beaming like you’d won the fucking lottery.”
Her smile grew as she looked up at me over her shoulder. “They really liked them, didn’t they?”
“Baby.” I turned her to face me. “They’re losing their minds out there. You should see what’s left. Or more accurately, what’s not left because I don’t think you’re going to find even a single crumb. Especially not those blueberry blondies.”
She pressed her hand to her mouth, shaking her head. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I almost didn’t put them out. I got nervous.”
I leaned in and brushed my lips over hers. “You need to stop hiding your light, sweetheart.”
She tilted her head back to meet my eyes, her breath shallow.
My heart beat harder as heat crept under my skin.
Her shirt clung to her in all the right places, and I wanted to strip it off and see if her skin also tasted as sugary sweet as her lips.
Then I wanted to cover her pussy in frosting and bury my face between her thighs until she screamed.
Patience, Daughtry.
Yeah, I was so fucking done with that word. I slid my hand around the back of her neck and lowered my head to kiss her.
She melted instantly. Her mouth parted, and her hands fisted in my shirt as I deepened the kiss, angling my head so my tongue could sweep inside her mouth to taste more. All of her. Everything.
A little moan slipped past her lips as her body pressed against mine, all soft curves and heat, and I groaned into her mouth. Fuck. I was fast approaching the edge of my control.
Then the roar of laughter from the front broke the moment.
I pulled back with a low growl, resting my forehead against hers.
“When are you finally going to let me take you on a date?” I asked, brushing my thumb over her lower lip.
She blushed hard and spun around, pushing through the door without a word.
Grinning, I followed. “That wasn’t a no.”
We stood just off to the side, watching everyone devour her desserts like they hadn’t eaten in days.
Raiden hoarded the last Sideline Bar like a dragon with a piece of treasure.
Prentice had chocolate frosting on his tie.
One of the rookies was trying to talk to Coach O’Hara with a mouthful of cookie and failing.
And as predicted, Huck shoved Sylas away from the last blueberry blondie, then snatched it and held the baked treat against his chest like it was the one ring.
“You did this,” I murmured. “You’re amazing.”
She swallowed hard. “You know, I almost went to culinary school.”
I turned to look at her, my brows rising. Almost?
“I had a scholarship,” she explained, shrugging. “But then the fund dried up, and I couldn’t cover the tuition.”
After chewing on that for a beat, I chose my next words very carefully. “Have you ever thought about trying again?”
She bit her lip and seemed to really consider my question before answering. “Sometimes, yeah. But it’s so expensive. And I suppose I don’t need it to keep The Tight Line supplied with desserts.”
I held up one finger. “Okay, first, at some point, we’re gonna talk about why you refuse to see yourself the way I do. But not today.” I held up another finger. “Second…”
I stared at her. She knew exactly where I was going with this.
Rylin turned to me slowly, her hazel gaze holding a warning I had no intention of heeding. “Don’t say it.”
Bending my knees, I stopped when my face was level with hers. “I’m going to say it.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“If you want to go to culinary school, I’d love to help.”
She didn’t say anything, but her lips were pressed tight, and she was practically radiating with stubborn energy.
“I know, I know,” I added before she could scold me. “You don’t want a handout. And you think letting me pay would make you feel like you didn’t earn it. Still, it was worth a shot.”
With a sweeping gesture, I indicated the crowd, laughter, and empty plates.
“I also believe you don’t need school to make this your future.
You just need a shot.” Turning, I gently took her by the shoulders and shifted her so she was also facing me.
Then I pushed my fingers through the hair on both sides of her head, framing her beautiful face. “And I’m giving you one.”
She swallowed hard, and I could see her fighting herself, trying to believe that something good was happening to her. Without strings or ulterior motives.
Wanting to drive that home, I added in a rough voice, “Whether you date me or not, baby.”
Her mouth opened slightly, and her eyes widened. Smiling, I locked our gazes and continued, “This isn’t about charity, nor is it a quid pro quo. This is about belief. I see how brilliant you are. And I think the rest of the fucking world deserves to taste what you can do.”
She blinked fast as moisture glistened in her hazel orbs.
I let a crooked smile tug at my mouth. “Doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about keeping it all to myself.”
Her laugh sent warmth streaking through my whole body, and for a second, I was distracted by thoughts about the feel of her mouth on mine, the taste of sugar on her skin, the way her hips swayed seductively when she walked away, and how hard it was not to drag her to the nearest closet and fuck her. No pun intended
“Yo, Micah!” Saxon yelled. My head swiveled to look at him, and he grinned. “We’ve got to hit the road. Stop hogging the chef and let us say goodbye.”
There was a smattering of laughter as I sighed and stepped back from Rylin. Then I clasped one of her hands in mine and led her around the counter to face her admirers.
Little by little, my friends filtered out, each of them stopping to compliment Rylin and tell her that they looked forward to seeing her again. The women all tossed me a look when they said this, and I nodded, making them grin.
I nearly took off Huck’s head when he hugged my girl, but he was a fast motherfucker and gone before I blinked.
Raiden and Marissa were the last to leave, having stayed to help us clean up.
Then we were alone. Rylin looked up at me, overwhelmed but glowing.
As much as I wanted her in my bed, I also craved her smiles, the way she lit up from the inside when she was happy, and the incredible sound of her laughter. Looking at her at that moment, my thoughts were about the life she deserved—and how I’d do whatever it took to make sure she got it.