Flukes by Nichole Chase

dangerous option.
    “Sometimes, nothing really does mean nothing.” I looked up at him and hoped my face didn’t give me away.
    “This isn’t one of those times. Devin’s an asshole, but I swear I didn’t know he was watching us.” My heart bucked. He thought I was mad at him.
    “You’re right. Devin is an asshole.” I tried to cross my arms, but there just wasn’t enough room. Giving up, I sighed. “Look, I don’t go around just kissing people. Especially the ones that work for my family.”
    He chuckled. “So I’m the hired help. Ironic.”
    “Irony or not, it’s the truth.” I glared at him.
    “You wanted to kiss me just as much as I wanted to kiss you.” His eyes dropped back down to my mouth and I felt the fire in my stomach rekindle.
    “That’s not the point.” My words were breathless and I frowned, realizing that I had agreed to what he said.
    “And I’m only here for another six weeks. I’m more like an intern than a hired worker. It’s not like I’m getting paid.” He didn’t move any closer, but I felt the tension jump between us.
    “No, you’re here because you beat some kid up. Not really a good first impression.” It was the truth. Even if I did suspect that he had a good reason for what he had done. There was something honorable about Blake, even if he was a bad boy.
    “True enough.” His eyes were thoughtful and I felt like I was walking into a trap. “And you don’t go around kissing just anyone.”
    “Right.” I nodded my head. “I hardly know you. And you don’t know me.”
    “Then get to know me.” His arm moved and he reached down to grab my hand. That warm tingling slid up my arm as he rubbed my knuckles. “I want to get to know you.”
    I looked at him, completely at a loss for words. His warm eyes were earnest as he studied my face. It was one of the few times I had seen him without any guards up or snarky attitude. My mouth opened and the word came out before I even realized that I was going to say it. “Okay.”
    “Okay?” A smile curved along his mouth and I felt my knees grow a little weak. Oh, that sneaky smile was death to my resolve. “How about dinner?”
    “Dinner?” Apparently my mouth was not in the mood to wait for my brain.
    “Yes. Dinner. A date. I know a great little place, unless you have somewhere you’d prefer to go.” His thumb was making little circles on my hand and it was making it hard for me to think.
    “When?”
    “Are you busy tonight?”
    I snorted. I was never busy unless it pertained to the sanctuary. His smile grew; he knew he had won, and, despite myself, I found it charming that he was so excited. “No. I’m not busy tonight.”
    He leaned back, but didn’t let go of my hand. “Good. Do you like seafood? Not allergic? Or does it remind you too much of work?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Seafood is fine.”
    “Then I’ll pick you up around eight.” He squeezed my hand before letting go, and I was sad to lose the feel of his skin against mine.
    “This is weird—you know that, right?” Standing this close to him, I had to tilt my head up to meet his eyes.
    “Why is this weird?” He smiled and I could actually tell that he was happy that I had agreed to the date. There were little crinkle lines at the corners of his eyes and his smile didn’t hold any snarkiness.
    “Because. You just asked me out and we still have to spend all day together.” I motioned between us. “It’s just… weird.” My vocabulary was really astounding today.
    “So? It just means we have more time to get to know each other.”
    I shook my head and turned to crawl up the ladder.
    “Or are you worried I’ll decide I don’t want to go out on a date with you?” I glared at him over my shoulder. His amused grin was all I needed to see to know that his cocky tone was a joke.
    “I’m more worried you’re going to start following me around like a love-sick puppy.”
    He hopped onto the bottom rung of the ladder so that he was pressed