Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)(25)

The building might have been shit on the outside, but it was obvious Flint had worked hard to transform it into something nice on the inside. It was simple, but everything was spotless. There were no decorations unless the bookshelves that lined nearly every inch of the walls counted. There was a cheap sofa and a chair squished together with a coffee table in the center of the room. As I watched Flint push himself past them, I gathered that their tight positioning was to allow more room for his wheelchair to pass.

“You want something to drink?”

“Whatcha got?” I asked, following him into a tiny galley kitchen just barely wide enough to fit the width of his wheelchair.

Pulling the fridge open, he said, “Milk, water, and . . . pineapple-banana juice.”

“Shut up,” I whispered.

“What?” He looked over his shoulder.

“I’ve never had pineapple-banana juice!” I squealed.

“Um . . . okay, then. Pineapple-banana it is.” He backed up, unable to actually turn around. Then he removed a glass from the bottom cabinet and set it on the counter.

“This might be the greatest day of my life, Wheels,” I announced, watching him fill the glass with sure-to-be-delicious fruity liquid. “First, Quarry took me to a 3D movie. Holy crap, it was ah-mazing. And now, you have pineapple-banana juice.”

“I’m thrilled my juice selection has contributed to ‘the greatest day of your life,’” he said dryly.

“And you should be. This is two newsies today.”

“Newsies?” He slid the glass in my direction then motioned for me to move so he could back all the way out of the kitchen.

“Yep. I try to do something new every day. And today, I’m getting to do two! I can’t wait to cross pineapple-banana juice off my list.”

“You might be the weirdest person I have ever met. You have an actual list with pineapple-banana juice on it?” he asked with a slight smirk.

It was a rare glimpse at the man hiding under the patchy beard and angry, blue eyes, but amused looked good on Flint Page.

Really good.

“No, it’s not technically on the list. But when I get home, I’m going to write it right below ride a roller coaster, and then guess what?” I lifted my eyebrows, tipping the glass to my lips. I held Flint’s eyes as I took a gulp of the cool, fruity drink before setting it on the counter. “I’m gonna cross it off.” I tossed him a smile, and much to my surprise, he returned it.

Now that was better than really good.

It was gorgeous.

And because I possessed absolutely no filter, I felt the need to inform him of that.

“You know, if you shaved that fuzz and smiled more often, you would be really hot.”

Then it happened.

Something more elusive than the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot appeared in front of me.

Flint Page’s lips parted and a real, honest-to-God laugh erupted from his throat. His shoulders shook and his blue eyes lit up so bright that I almost needed to look away.

I couldn’t though.

I was mesmerized.

“Thanks, I think?” he said, rubbing his chin.

And for some unexplainable reason, my eyes drifted to his mouth. I regretted it the moment it happened, because even though his eyes heated, his smile fell. As sexy as that smolder was on him, nothing could top the laugh.

“Soooo . . .” I spun to face his bookshelves. “You like to read, huh?”

He cleared his throat. “Yep.”

“Are you going to school?” I asked, dragging my fingertip over the dust-free shelf.

“Yeah. I’m starting my second semester. What about you?”

“Nah, not really. I’m just taking some classes online right now.”

“Well, that’s cool too,” he said awkwardly, following me as I inspected each of his shelves.

“I guess. I’d rather be in an actual class every day. Sitting behind the computer can get pretty boring.”

“Yeah, well, sitting in class can be pretty boring sometimes too.”

“True.” I suddenly turned to face him. “Hey, which one’s your favorite?”

“Favorite what? Class?”

“No, I mean book. You have to have a favorite.”

“Shit, I don’t know. I’ve read so many that I wouldn’t even know how to choose.”

“Okay. You’re stranded in a deserted train station during the zombie apocalypse. Quick, which book do you have with you?”

“Hopefully The Zombie Survival Guide.” He laughed again, and I’ll be damned if my eyes didn’t jump right back to his mouth.

What the hell was with my subconscious’s sudden obsession with those two perfectly plump lips?

As if he’d read my mind, his tongue darted out, moistening them and magically drawing the slightest moan from me. Embarrassed, I glanced up to find that his eyes were sparkling with humor. Perfect!

No, really. It. Was. Perfect.

He was flirting. And it made my goal of seducing him that much easier.

Suddenly, Quarry stomped back into the room, interrupting our connection. “Well, that went over like a warm bag of shit.”

Flint stared at me for a second longer before dragging his gaze over to his brother. I, however, wasn’t quite ready for the moment to be over yet, so as he began talking to Quarry, I continued to watch Flint.