When our mouths part, he peers down at me, squinting through the flecks of rain still marking his glasses. Gently, I slide the frames off his face and with the edge of my wrap, kept dry and safe under his tuxedo jacket, I polish his glasses before carefully returning them to his face. Then I sweep my fingers through his waves, savoring their rare untamed state, picturing all the other ways I plan to make him even wilder, more disheveled, lost to himself.

“Beatrice,” he says.

I kiss the base of his throat. “Hmm?”

“You can’t keep looking at me like that.”

I smile against his skin. “Why not?”

“Because.” He clears his throat and not so subtly adjusts himself as my hand wanders up his thigh. “I have plans. The night is young.”

“To hell with the plans, Jamie.” I dance my fingers low across his stomach, teasing his belt buckle.

His hand lands on mine, stilling my touch, but he softens the gesture, linking our fingers together. And then he nods over his shoulder as the car comes to a stop, toward the familiar sight of my tattoo artist’s shop, a knowing grin lighting up his face. “You sure about that?”

I meet his eyes. “Wow. You were serious.”

Arching an eyebrow, Jamie throws open the car door. “When am I not?”

I stumble out, catching myself on his arm as he shuts the door behind me and shields me as best he can from the downpour while we run. Safe inside the shop, we shake like wet dogs, wiping our feet on the welcome mat.

“Bea!” Pat opens her arms and hugs me, then turns and offers Jamie her hand. “And you’re Jamie.”

“Guilty.” He shakes her hand. “Thank you for accommodating us.”

I smile up at Jamie, stunned. “You’re really going to do this?”

He pushes his glasses up his nose, then gives me a narrow-eyed scowl. “No, we’re here for tea and crumpets. Yes, I’m seriously doing this. I told you already, and now I’m starting to get upset.”

Pat’s laugh is husky and unexpected. I’ve never heard her laugh. “I love him already. Okay, let’s take you back.”

I lean in and whisper, “It’s just a little unexpected, that’s all.”

He frowns down at me. “And I can’t do unexpected things?”

“Oh, all right.” I link my arm through his. “I’ll stop asking.”

“Thank you.”