by ANGEL PAYNE
In short, it was a typical weekday afternoon in La La Land. And I didn’t want to be anywhere else except here, next to the girl taking dainty bites from her meal like the Queen of freaking England. She was constantly a revelation to me. A divine surprise.
“Have you lived in LA for a long time?”
“My whole life,” I said freely.
“Wow.” She popped up her eyebrows again. “A real California boy? Should’ve known those sun streaks in your hair were natural.”
My cheeks ached from a fresh grin. She’d noticed my streaks?
“Damn straight they are,” I supplied. “In all those years, I’ve seen the city go through so many changes. Some good, some not so good. But I love it here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” I cut into my lunch with the plastic knife, watching the cutlery yield to the flakey crust.
“Do you travel a lot?” Rio asked, going with the finger food approach.
“For work, yeah.” I gave up and picked up the doughy pocket too. “But not that much for pleasure.”
“Why not?” she asked around a bite.
“It’s not that much fun when you’re alone, I guess?” How sad did that sound?
“Why are you alone?” She watched me thoughtfully.
I refrained—barely—from choking on my next bite. “Damn. You dig right in, don’t you?”
“I guess I do. Sorry?”
I laughed. “When you say it like a question, it doesn’t sound very contrite.”
“Well, I’m not trying to be rude.” She took a sip from her soda. “It’s just my way, I guess.” And then she shrugged her petite shoulders. “I’ve always been this way. I don’t see the point of tap-dancing around a subject, you know? When people hem and haw, scrambling to be nice when being direct would do the job better, it drives me crazy. I want to yell, ‘Oh my god! Say what you mean!’”
I let out another laugh, assuming she’d finish by doing the same. But when she simply took another bite and seemed to drift off in thought, I indulged the chance to take in her stunning profile. The woman’s features never ceased to fascinate me. Those dark lashes framing such expressive eyes. Her chiseled cheekbones balanced by that full bow of a mouth. Her adorable short haircut surrounding such blatant feminine beauty…
Finally, I ripped myself free of her allure long enough to reply, “I can appreciate that.” After thinking about it more, I nodded. “Yeah, I think my days would be a lot easier if people just said what they meant.”
“See? I’m smarter than people think I am.”
Now she did laugh, though averted her gaze from my probing one.
“Do you think people don’t find you intelligent?”
“Grant. Be serious.”
I intentionally said nothing. Not a damn thing. I wanted Rio to give up and look at me, but she busied herself with her lunch like it was her job. And she was going to be the best damn empanada eater there ever was, by golly.
“Blaze,” I finally uttered.
“What?” She verbally stomped on the final consonant.
“Look at me.”
I purposely used that voice this time. On that name for her. Concluded it with a quiet, dangerous pause that left no room for confusion—or discussion. The combination accomplished its purpose. She snapped her head back up. Within seconds, she’d also locked her curious stare to mine.
“You are smarter than most of the overeducated jackasses I deal with on any given day. That’s a fact, plain and simple. You’re clever, creative, and witty. And Jesus, you’re smart. No…you’re wise. Like an old owl.”
And here came her little slap back—in the form of a biting giggle. “An old owl, huh? Now don’t you know how to flatter a girl?”
I quirked up one side of my lips. “Ah, she mocks. But did you know owls have superpowered hearing and were the Greeks’ symbol of victory in battle?”
She ticked a finger on the air. “And swallow their prey whole.”
“Well, there is that…” I only paused to insert half a laugh before pushing on. “The point is, whoever made you feel less than any of those things doesn’t deserve the power you’re giving him.”
She dropped the last bite of her food into the plastic basket, swallowing so hard, I could see her throat work to move the food down.
“Grant. Stop.” She quickly shot to her feet. “And stop calling me that,” she mumbled while she shuffled her lunch trash together onto the red plastic tray and reached for mine, but I shot my hand out and grabbed her wrist to stop her.
“Sit down.”
And fuck if she didn’t drop right back down to the concrete bench next to me—almost making me wish I’d resisted my instigating move. Almost. I couldn’t bring myself to full remorse when so much of my body was cheering me on for it. But damn, I’d pay the price for it later. Fuck it, my clamoring muscles and roaring bloodstream were paying the price now. If only the woman knew how her reaction called to a side of me she knew nothing about…
Yet.
No. Bad Grant. Married woman.
Maybe if I kept repeating it to myself, it would sink in. This little firestarter was off-limits. A complete no-fly zone. No matter how hot she made me burn inside, no matter how my temperature rose from just being beside her—like sitting too close to a campfire right after someone stoked the logs.
So, despite how Rio Gibson’s body called to the dominant nature of mine, I had to behave. But there was just no way I could miss how her chest was rapidly rising and falling and her jaw kept ticking with involuntary pulses.
“I’m not finished yet.”
I said it—dictated it—with quiet purpose. I took a long drink from my water bottle. And I never let go of her wrist. I couldn’t will my own body to do the right thing and release her. Not yet.
“There’s nothing left on your plate.”
“Did you have enough? Are you still hungry?” I asked instead of addressing her comment.
She moved to pull her hand from my grip, and I let her. “Yes, thank you. I…I have to go, Grant.” She pushed down another heavy gulp, destroying any believability in her determined tone. Still, she added, “Traffic’s probably already picked up. If I don’t get on my way…”
You can stay with me.
Screw the fact that I didn’t yet have a place close by. I had a dozen downtown hotels already on speed dial in my phone. With any other woman also stored in that phone, those words and my panty-dissolving grin would have ensured my night was already cinched.
But Rio Gibson wasn’t any other woman.
Nothing about her ever would be.
Acknowledgments
An independent note of gratitude to Scott Saunders: Not only do you have an amazing gift for storytelling and instinctively know how to make my words better, you do it with a level of grace and professionalism that is unmatched. You’ve made me a better writer and a more patient responder in conversation, and I appreciate those gifts. Being able to learn new things, especially life skills at this stage in the game, is a precious treasure, and I’m grateful beyond words. —VB
And lastly, welcome into my world, Megan Ashley! Already, I don’t know how I survived before you pulled your chair up next to mine. But damn, girl! I’m so glad you did! XOXO VB
—Victoria
* * *
Victoria: you are amazing, astounding, and so damn talented. I am so grateful for you and for getting to share this special journey with you. Thank you for being in my life.
Speaking of special people: the care and feeding of a writer is never an easy task—and those who dare to be there as friends for one are special creatures sent by the heavens. I am beyond grateful for the individuals who have helped me become more aware, more human, more self-forgiving, and more grateful. “Thank you” hardly seems the way to encompass my gratitude for you…Shayla Black, Rebekah Ganiere, Meredith Wild, Nelle L’Amour, Carey Sabala, Jillian Stein, Liz Berry, Jodi Drake, and Sierra Cartwright. You goddesses mean so much to me. Your humor, light, and love ar
e pure, spun gold.
A special shout to the crew at Requiem Anaheim: Gideon and team, you keep me supplied in so much love…and lattes! I am forever grateful to have found you and the special, safe place you’ve created for my soul. I hope to be writing in the tree with you for years!
—Angel
* * *
Our Shark world continues to grow with the support of the most remarkable team at Waterhouse Press, guiding and encouraging our efforts along the way. Thank you to those who have given their time, commitment, and individual talents to help make our story the best it can be: Meredith Wild, Jon McInerney, Robyn Lee, Haley Byrd, Keli Jo Nida, Jennifer Becker, Yvonne Ellis, Kurt Vachon, Jesse Kench, Amber Maxwell, Dana Bridges, and Scott Saunders.
We’re also thankful to the Waterhouse proofing, copyediting, and formatting teams. Thank you for making the finished product sparkle!
Thank you to Martha Frantz for keeping our fan groups organized and running smoothly. To every single member of Victoria’s Book Secrets and Payne Passion: Our words are for you, and because of you! Enjoy them with your whole hearts!
A special thank you to the beta readers who made sure we were on the right track: Amy Bourne and Martha Frantz. We love you two so much!
—Victoria and Angel
Also by Angel Payne & Victoria Blue
Shark’s Edge Series:
Shark’s Edge
Shark’s Pride
Shark’s Rise
Grant’s Heat
Grant’s Flame
Grant’s Blaze
* * *
Secrets of Stone Series:
No Prince Charming
No More Masquerade
No Perfect Princess
No Magic Moment
No Lucky Number
No Simple Sacrifice
No Broken Bond
No White Knight
No Longer Lost
Also by Angel Payne
The Bolt Saga:
Bolt
Ignite
Pulse
Fuse
Surge
Light
* * *
Honor Bound:
Saved
Cuffed
Seduced
Wild
Wet
Hot
Masked
Mastered
Conquered
Ruled
* * *
Misadventures:
Misadventures with a Time Traveler
* * *
Cimarron Series:
Into His Dark
Into His Command
Into Her Fantasies
* * *
Temptation Court:
Naughty Little Gift
Pretty Perfect Toy
Bold Beautiful Love
* * *
Suited for Sin:
Sing
Sigh
Submit
* * *
Lords of Sin:
Trade Winds
Promised Touch
Redemption
A Fire in Heaven
Surrender to the Dawn
* * *
For a full list of Angel’s other titles,
visit her at
AngelPayne.com
Also by Victoria Blue
Misadventures:
Misadventures with a Book Boyfriend
Misadventures at City Hall
For a full list of Victoria’s other titles,
visit her at
VictoriaBlue.com
About Angel Payne
USA Today bestselling romance author Angel Payne loves to focus on high-heat romance starring memorable alpha men and the women who love them. She has numerous book series to her credit, including the action-packed Bolt Saga and Honor Bound series, Secrets of Stone series (with Victoria Blue), the intertwined Cimarron and Temptation Court series, the Suited for Sin series, and the Lords of Sin historicals, as well as several standalone titles.
Angel is a native Southern Californian, leading to her love of being in the outdoors, where she often reads and writes.
She still lives in Southern California with her soul-mate husband and beautiful daughter, to whom she is a proud cosplay/culture con mom. Her passions also include whisky tasting, shoe shopping, and travel.
For more information, please follow Angel Payne at:
AngelPayne.com
About Victoria Blue
International bestselling author Victoria Blue lives in her own portion of the galaxy known as Southern California. There, she finds the love and life-sustaining power of one amazing sun, two unique and awe-inspiring planets, and four indifferent yet comforting moons. Life is fantastic and challenging and every day brings new adventures to be discovered. She looks forward to seeing what’s next!
For more information, please follow Victoria Blue at:
VictoriaBlue.com