Let me make this clear, there is nothing rational about lust.
“Lori’s a good office manager, but a little hard on the help,” he says, casting Lori a critical gaze.
Irene puts her hands on her hips, glaring down at her fair child. “You don’t have to tell me that. Try cooking for her.”
Garrett bends down, planting a kiss on Lori’s cheek. “Well, she’s welcome back any time.”
Irene gives me a parting hug, and treks back to The Creamery with Lori to collect her car, leaving Garrett and I alone.
He gets back onto the creeper and rolls under the car. “I’ll just be a few,” he calls out.
I take a walk down memory lane, checking out the stage where local bands used to play, or rather, groups of teenagers that could barely coordinate their instruments. Somehow, that only made the experience of Janer’s more magical.
The candy counter hasn’t changed much, and I wonder if some of the goods are left over from ten years back.
“You always did have a sweet tooth. A taste for those Laffy Taffys,” Garrett says, startling me.
“Oh, I hadn’t realized you were behind me.”
“Take what you want.”
“It all looks great, but I can’t on account I have to keep in shape for a role.”
His eyes scan my body. “You look plenty in shape. What’s one sweet treat gonna hurt?”
“Oh, I never said I was opposed to sweet treats,” I say with a wink.
Do you really want to complicate your life any more than it already is?my conscience chides.
I look at Garrett, his muscles lined with grease. He smells of sweat and pine, which is intoxicating to me.
That sweet treat is yours for the taking.
His eyes narrow in confusion.
“You look good,” I say with a lick of my lips.
He says nothing, electing simply to stare at me, making me feel incredibly self-conscious.
“I mean, you’ve always looked good. I’ve been crushing on you ever since high school, but man—you grew up. Tall, sexy blue eyes, brooding stare, rock-hard body.”
“Thanks?” he says, his cheeks flushing pink.
“You’re even cute when you blush, which only makes me want to talk more about how hot you are with your sharp jaw and your chiseled chest.” I run a finger down the defined line of his abs.
Now, he looks mortified, unable to escape all the adjectives I’m slinging his way.
“What-what are you trying to do here?” he says, his voice cracking.
I take a step closer and reach up, tousling his hair with my fingers. “I can understand why you got confused the other day. I guess I’d be confused too, so I’m gonna lay it all out for you. I’m stuck here for a while. Coincidentally, you are staying at my parents’ farm for the foreseeable future. The days are long, the nights are lonely, and if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been eyeing me the same way I’ve been eyeing you.”
He swallows, clearly out of sorts. “That’s bold,” he finally says.
“Is it, though? Tell me, Garrett, does thinking you’d like a few late-night stress relief sessions sound so bold?”
“Define stress relief.”
“I don’t think what I’m proposing is very hard to understand.” I snake my hand over his thigh, raking my fingers up his denim jeans, towards the growing bulge in his pants. “I can’t think of a single good reason for you to say no. Can you?”
