Suda Kaye clapped her hands and bounced on her feet. The maxi skirt she wore tinkled and chimed as she did so.
“Hey, she might move to Colorado Springs, so don’t get too excited,” Evie pouted.
“What’s all the screaming? You okay, brown eyes?” a deep voice said from somewhere behind Suda Kaye, but I couldn’t see who it was with the displays in the way.
Brown eyes? Camden, maybe?
Suda Kaye turned around in a flourish, the tinkle of her skirt going along with her movements cheerily. “Kyson, you have to meet my sister, Isabeau.” She reached out and dragged someone from behind her over to us. The tall man maneuvered around a large display and I lost my ability to breathe.
Time stopped.
My heart rate pounded.
My skin prickled.
My mouth went completely dry as Suda Kaye ushered the most gorgeous man to our huddle.
His blue eyes locked on to my hazel ones. I could barely take in all of his beauty at once. I didn’t want to miss a single speck of his perfection.
The cornflower blue of his irises was framed by thick, pitch-black lashes that curled up just so. The rounded cheekbones and strong jaw currently had three, maybe even four, days of scruff. His bow-shaped bottom lip was paired with a lovely, heart-shaped top lip, both looking plump and utterly kissable. I wanted to kiss those lips on sight, not even knowing the man who was attached to them. They were that magnificent.
His nose was far from perfect, but it was stunning on him. Normal in size but with a bit of knot at the bridge, showing he’d likely broken it in the past. Still, that imperfection added to his good looks. Even though his face was a showstopper, his hair was a thing of brilliance. Dark brown with some hints of a natural caramel tone running through it as though he might spend some time in the sun. It had lots of wave and curl, combed up and off his forehead even though the back and the sides were a little overly long. He could have used a cut, but I wouldn’t dare. No, I’d rather have my fingers running through those locks of love, preferably while in a romantic clinch.
He wore a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans that had seen better days but were definitely well loved, much like my own. Only he filled his out to the max. His thighs stretched the durability of the denim the same way his broad chest tested the cotton of his tee. He wasn’t as big as Milo, though I didn’t think many men were, but he was far from small. More like Henry Cavill during his time as Superman.
“I said hello. My name is Kyson.” The bow-shaped bottom lip I had locked my eyes on stretched out across his face, the heart-shaped one flattening with the movement.
I blinked a few times and then frowned. “I’m sorry. What?”
He laughed and I felt the rumble push through my chest and down my body. He held out his hand. I took it and held his gaze with my own.
“It’s good to meet you, Isabeau.”
“My, uh, friends call me Izzy,” I finally croaked out.
“Hmm, friends.” His lips twitched and I was rapt, watching them.
“This is my long-lost half sister. And it sounds like she will be moving here. Isn’t that great!” Suda Kaye announced.
Kyson’s eyes slid up and down my form and I swear I felt my nipples pebble and my back arch, wanting to get closer.
Before he could respond, Jasper stepped in front of me and held out his hand. “Hey, hunk-a-licious. I’m Jasper. I can tell from the way you’re eyeing up my bestie that you’re all about the ladies, and she’s definitely single, but if you know anyone that looks like you, or is even half as hot as you, and is into dudes, you let me know.” He hooked a thumb toward his own chest.
Kyson took my friend’s hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Jasper. And, uh, thanks for the compliment. I think,” he chuckled.
“Oh, it was a compliment. As you can see, my best friend is drooling like crazy at all that is you...” He waggled his finger up and down in front of Kyson.
I covered Jasper’s mouth from behind. “So rude and embarrassing. Shush,” I said loud enough for all to hear.
He nodded his head and I let his mouth go.
“Fine. I’ll just be over here looking at all this fab-u-lous-ness!” He sashayed over to a display case that had a variety of sunglasses and scarves.
I turned back to the hottest man on the planet, realizing that Evie and Suda Kaye had disappeared from our little huddle, leaving me alone with Kyson. “I’m really sorry about that. He’s extremely forward and has no filter. Though to be honest, that’s actually a good thing. You always know where you stand with him and he’s genuinely loving and the best friend a girl could ever have.”
Kyson crossed his arms over his chest as though he was settling into my blathering. I had to clench my teeth to avoid focusing on his large biceps as they bulged and flexed.
“I, uh, well...yeah.” I waved my hand. “Isabeau. The new sister. I’m sorry if my friend offended you.”
“No offense taken.” He smiled, and my knees quivered. “And I quite like the idea of you drooling over me.” He gave me a saucy grin.
I’m pretty sure my face looked as starstruck as I felt by his comment because, after I didn’t respond for a full thirty seconds, he laughed heartily. I watched him avidly and allowed myself to swoon from his attention.
“How’s about since you’re new here, I take you out, show you a little of what might be your new digs?”
Stupidly, I blinked again, waiting for my brain to catch up with his words. “Like on a date?”
His lips pursed with what I knew to be mirth at my dorkiness. “Yeah, Isa, like a date.”
Isa.
Not one person had ever called me Isa. Coming from his rugged, beautiful mouth in that deep, gravelly tone, my heart leaped, and goose bumps appeared on my skin.
“If you’re worried about me being a stranger and you being safe, your sisters can vouch for me.” He moved to gesture to the girls.
I shook my head. “I, uh, yeah. That never entered my mind.” Probably because nothing entered my mind except why such a perfect human would be interested in an unemployed drifter from Illinois who should probably stop eating copious amounts of her own baked goods. Plus, we’d just met. After thinking on it for a few seconds I realized he was probably just being a nice guy. Offering to take the sister of a friend of his out to see the area. Maybe nice guys in smaller locales than Chicago did that.
“You really don’t have to do that. I’m sure Suda Kaye and Evie will show me around so I can get the lay of the land.”
He frowned. “I’m not following.”
“Just saying, you know, you don’t have to be the nice friend of my sisters’ and take out the new girl to try and make her feel welcome.”