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chest at that smile.
    And he probably knew it.
    Pieces clicked into place. That smile. That was all it took.
    That smile had fueled her teenage dreams, right up until she tumbled straight into the arms of Noah Benningfield.
    Son of a bitch—
    She swallowed and had to fight the urge to bolt off the stool and take off. It was the last thing she could do, because drawing attention was bad. Very bad. And Adam would notice. Adam had always noticed everything.
    Adam Brascum. Son of a bitch, why did she have to plunk her ass down in front of one of the very few people who just might recognize her, even after all this time?
    His eyes roamed over her face and she took great care to look bored, uninterested. He’d always been a hellacious flirt, and if she gave him any sign he’d pick up on it. And she wouldn’t be able to hide from him.
    At the subtle shift in her attitude his brow went up and a faint smile crossed his face. She wanted to punch him. The need to hit him was gut-wrenching and she couldn’t even understand why, but it was there. Instead of giving in to it, she just looked down at the menu he pushed in front of her. “Now that I think of it, horse doesn’t sound all that appetizing anyway. I guess I’ll just go with a burger.”
    She gave him a polite smile and handed him the menu, looking away.
    You’re dismissed, bye-bye now.
    He read the message loud and clear. From the corner of her eye she could see how his expression changed, and she breathed a little easier as he tucked the menu away and rang up her meal.
    The friendly smile stayed on his face, but she’d bet it was the same friendly smile he had given the guy sitting next to her. All business, it seemed.
    She tried not to feel the sting.
    She needed Adam not to notice her, so it was best if he wasn’t flirting.
    Flirting, not good.
    She caught sight of the name emblazoned over the mirrored wall across the bar and she could have kicked herself. Shakers. Shit. His parents’ place. She should have paid attention when she ducked inside, but she had been more focused on getting away from cops.
    Although really, considering where she was and the size of the town, she was likely to see people she knew everywhere.
    What she had to do was not react.
    And eat her food, so she could get out of here without him figuring out who she was.
    *   *   *
    She had a mouth he wanted to taste.
    Adam had thought maybe, just maybe, he could get over the month long self-enforced dry spell. Ever since he’d left Jez sleeping in her bed over at the B and B outside of town, he hadn’t enjoyed a woman in weeks.
    He wasn’t going to include Layla.
    Layla hadn’t been about escape or release.
    She’d been an … aberration.
    That was all there was to it.
    Yeah, he wouldn’t have minded seeing just where things might have led with the pretty lady with the big eyes and that top-heavy mouth. That mouth. He was going to think about it more than once, but thoughts would have to suffice, because he’d gotten that message loud clear.
    In the blink of an eye, she’d turned hello, honey, to Get me a burger, kthxbai.
    Too bad, because standing next to her had done something to him that he hadn’t felt in a good long while. She had a narrow, fox-like face, and those cute retro glasses made him think of sexy, wicked schoolteachers, and he’d just love to have a lesson or two from her … or give her the lessons.
    But there wouldn’t be any lessons. Nothing to be done for it.
    Adam knew his way around women too well and he knew that look. It was entirely possible he could charm his way into her panties. He’d done that more than once, but the past few years he’d given it up. He’d rather walk away from a woman knowing she wasn’t glaring daggers into his back, looking at him with disgust in her eyes.
    He woke up and saw that look every time he looked in a mirror. So he’d rather leave the women with a smile.
    A short time later, he served up the burger and chips and