He shrugged. “Maybe not. Humor me.”
“I, well, I just… I told him I had just broken off with my boyfriend and wasn’t ready for a relationship.” What would Smith make of that, since she’d done sexy things with him in the short time she’d been away from Cody?
Smith seemed to relax. “Well, that’s true. Probably a good answer. Brad’s a good guy, but he’s a fireman. And they’re like pus—ah, they seem to attract a lot of women.”
“What were you going to say?” To her amused astonishment, he seemed to be blushing.
“Erin.”
“Tell me.”
“I was going to say pussy-magnets. Happy now?” He stroked her cheek and slowly leaned close.
She waited, trembling.
The kiss barely landed, a feather of touch, and it shook her balance. Literally. She teetered in her haste to get closer and fell into him.
“Oh.”
He didn’t move, not at all fazed by her weight. She gripped his arms, in lust all over again. The humor and desire in his gaze made her breathless. “You’re strong.”
“Uh huh.” He kissed her again, teasing with the brush of his mouth. “And you’re a lightweight. Thank God.” He nibbled his way across her cheek to her ear and took her earlobe in his teeth.
She clutched his arms, aroused, confused, and feeling more for him than mere physical attraction.
“How about having dinner with me tonight?” He blew in her ear, and she gasped. He pulled her closer, rubbing that huge, hard body against her. “Yeah. Just you and me and a pizza. Maybe we can watch a movie again…or something.”
She blinked when he moved back, putting distance between them. “A m-movie?”Get it together, Erin!She didn’t like his smug satisfaction. But the sight of his obvious erection helped soothe her ego. “And pizza. I can do that.”
“But only if you bring some of those lemon things you gave Tilly. I think they might be even better than the molasses cookies.”
It took her a moment to understand what he was talking about. “You liked my cookies?”
“I love your…cookies.” The look he shot her breasts and the rest of her body told her what he really meant.
“Smith.”
“Erin.” He smiled, and the unguarded happiness on his face stunned her to silence. He sighed. “What now?”
“I just realized what a huge pain you’re turning out to be. Now I need to make more lemon meltaways.”
He huffed. “I’m a pain? Baby, look in the mirror. You’ve got me hurting from sunup to sundown.” He grabbed her hand and held it against his impressive arousal.
She wanted badly to squeeze, to watch him come this time instead of feeling it in her hands. And then she wondered how she’d become such a sexual creature when for years she’d never had the courage to do the things she’d done with Smith.
“But I won’t hold it against you.” He squeezed her hand on him and groaned, then deliberately tugged her away. “This thing between us, it’s strong. I don’t know what it is, but we’re gonna find out together. And no more ignoring me.”
“You were ignoring me,” she said in a small voice, thrilled and scared that he felt the same connection she did, so soon after her mistake with Cody.
“Whatever. Point is, it’s confusing.”
“I know.” She sighed.
Which seemed to please him. He hugged her, then pushed her toward the door. “Yeah, yeah. No skimping on the lemon things. See you at six, okay?”
“If I can get them done by then.” She frowned. “How come this dinner comes with strings attached?”
“Because I said so.” He smiled and shut the door in her face.
