Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
She sits up straighter. “Exactly. It’s weird to even think about going in tomorrow, or how I should act.”
“It’s tough, when your work future is unclear,” I admit.
With a sage look, she says, “So, you’re okay to skip the whole what-do-you-do conversation right now? We can discuss it later.”
Later, as in after I take her home. Or later as in later in the week when I take her out to dinner. Either works for me.
“Then, it’s a topic for next time,” I say, then meet her brown-eyed gaze straight on. “You want to get out of here?”
“Now?” Her voice pitches up.
“Yes. Now. But if you’d rather not, that’s cool. If you’d rather wait, next time is more than fine too.”
She hesitates, seeming to weigh up my offer as she nibbles on the corner of her lips. “I don’t want to take advantage of you, Drew. Your injury and all.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “Honey, you’re not taking advantage of me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Your goose egg, I mean.”
Like I’d let that stop me. “Want to check it?”
“Yes.” Gently, she pushes the ice pack aside, brushing her palm over my head again. Her touch is reassuring. Caring. But also, arousing. She runs her long fingers over my head, and I’m picturing her hands tightening in my hair as I spread her legs and taste her.
Like maybe in the next fifteen minutes.
“What’s the report?” I ask.
“I think your goose egg is history, Drew,” she says.
That is excellent news. I lift my hand and tuck a strand of her soft hair behind her ear, then run my fingers down the strand. “Then, I’m good to go. Are you?”
Her eyes twinkle. “Let’s get out of here.”
3
All the Innuendo
Drew
* * *
I silently curse my board shorts. They don’t hide a tent at all. But I’m both a gentleman and a strategist.
“After you,” I say when we rise from the table. As she walks ahead of me, I recite a new passing route in my head. Boom. Five seconds to deflation.
There is nothing to send a dick downward like thoughts of work.
We stop on the street at Carter’s truck, parked at the corner of the boardwalk with my board sticking out of the bed.
Brooke glances at the board, then looks at me. “I’m nearby, but if you’d rather drive, we can do that,” she offers.
“I can handle a short walk.”
“You’re so tough,” she says drily.
“That’s me. Hardy. Able to withstand short walks from the beach on a beautiful day,” I say, as I set a hand on the small of her back.
“You’re not going to get a parking ticket, are you?”
I stop and tug her close until she’s only a few inches from me. Sliding my hand through her hair again, I whisper, “If I do…worth it.”
Her cheeks pinken. Then a soft breath flutters past her lips. “Walk faster.”
Ten minutes later, after a few turns here and there in the neighborhood, we reach her home, a cute little white bungalow. The porch teems with potted plants and flowers, as well as pizza coupons and takeout menus stuffed behind the mailbox next to the doorway. She turns to me and says in a professional tone, “Thank you. For the drinks and the speed walking.”
Whoa. With her cool tone, she sounds like she’s done. I might have whiplash.
But then a wicked grin spreads on her bee-stung lips. “Just kidding. I’m not done with you,” she says as she unlocks the door then beckons me in.
“Good. Because I’m not done with you either, but for trying to fake me out I’m going to make sure you get all the innuendo you can handle,” I say in a low, domineering tone.
“Oh. So me being sassy gets me—”
I close the distance and crush her lips with mine. A hard, firm kiss that lasts five seconds. “You were saying?” I ask innocently.
She stammers an uhh.
Yes. Kissed speechless. That’s such a good look on her. I pull back, enjoying the view. She leans against the wall in her foyer, catching her breath. That pose shows off all her assets—the swell of her breasts in her tank top dress, her curvy hips, her strong legs.
Her parted lips too. She licks them and swallows. “As I was saying…more innuendo,” she murmurs.
A rumble works its way up my chest as I step closer. This time, I take my sweet time, my hand traveling along her arm, her skin soft and inviting.
Goose bumps rise in my wake. “Do you know what I’ve been thinking about?” I ask.
“What’s that, Drew?” Damn, my name sounds sexy on her lips.
I brush her hair off her shoulder, cataloging her reaction to my touch. The way she shivers. How she sways against me. The rush of breath on her lips. I bring my mouth to her ear and whisper, “What it would be like to kiss you…everywhere.”