She led him past a full bathroom down a dark hall toward a large closet. Inside, the water heater labored. He pulled on the chain of an overhead light inside, and she flicked on the hall light, which still didn’t illuminate much.
“Here.” She handed him a flashlight. “Daniel should be coming with those tools.”
She stood close, and Evan did his best to ignore her proximity. But it was as if his every cell was attuned to Kenzie, and he didn’t know how to handle it, having never been so attracted to anyone before. Even Rita had been a slow, steady build toward love. He’d thought her pretty, but his body hadn’t tried to turn itself inside out when near her.
There was something to be said for physical chemistry, he guessed, wondering if Kenzie felt it too.
He turned and tripped over her, of all things. “Oof.”
She stopped him from braining himself on the doorjamb, the two of them standing way too close for his peace of mind. His body started to respond, the feel of warm woman, the scent of lavender and female overriding all else.
“Oh.” Her hands spread on his chest, and she had to be feeling his racing heart. “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to get so close.”
“It’s not a problem.”Unless my heart jumps out of my chest.“Can I ask you something?” His voice sounded impossibly deep, even to him.
“Sure,” she breathed, and the scent of chocolate and mint wafted over him. His favorite combination.
“Is it just me, or are you feeling this too?” He cupped her cheek, knowing he shouldn’t but unable to stop himself. Damn. Shewasas soft as he’d imagined.
She drew in a breath. “This weird kind of attraction?”
He rubbed his thumb over her jawline, staring at her full lips that appeared to darken under the moving shadow of the swaying overhead light. “Yeah.”
“It is different, isn’t it?”
“Why are you whispering?” he asked as he leaned closer, intent on tasting her.
“Why are you?”
His lips ghosted the edge of her mouth. Her fingers clenched on his shirt, digging into his chest, and his body went rock-hard in an instant, a fact she couldn’t possibly miss.
“Kenzie?” Daniel’s voice grew louder as the sound of his feet on the stairs rebounded.
“Ack!” Kenzie shoved Evan back so hard he bumped his head on the doorframe.
“Shit.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled and darted away, leaving him frustrated, aching, and annoyed with himself for starting something he couldn’t possibly finish.
Not now, and not with her brother around.
Chapter 7
Kenzie didn’t know what she’d been thinking. Kissing Evan Griffith with Daniel just upstairs? Was sheinsane?She hurried to get as far away from Evan as possible, standing by the stairwell leading up to the kitchen as Daniel brushed past her with the toolbox.
God, just a breath from kissing Evan and her body had done a complete meltdown. She ached in all the wrong places and had to cross her arms over her chest and pretend a sudden chill to hide the effect that blasted man had on her.
Did he have to exude such sex appeal? Did he have to smell so freakin’ good? He wore a subtle cologne, nothing overpowering, but it made her want to sniff him all over. Then nibble, lick, kiss…
And his chest.Momma.Kenzie had a thing for a firm upper body, and Evan’s promised to be ripped with muscle. Not bodybuilder huge, but that of a powerful man who could lift her easily. Lay her down just so and—
Stop. It.
Fortunately, Lila came over, providing the perfect distraction. “Yo. Anyone home?” she yelled from the kitchen.
“Down here.”
Lila had a key and normally let herself in to work through a separate door and stairwell that led from the backyard. Just past the water heater, that door remained closed, or Lila would have seen Kenzie about to kiss Evan.
