She grabbed his hand, then looked up and winked at him before she responded, “Promises, promises, Sheriff,” before she tugged him toward his sister’s shop. And like the catch of the day caught on a shiny hook, he followed in her wake.
Chapter 15
“Michael, are you awake?”
A few seconds after Vanessa lightly tapped on the door, she placed her ear to it to see if she heard movement. From what she knew of Michael so far, he was an early riser. Therefore, when she hadn’t found him downstairs after she’d showered and dressed, she thought she’d knock on his door to check on him.
With her ear still pressed to the door, all she heard was silence until the very last moment when the door suddenly fell open. She tried to prepare for kissing the hardwood floor, then unexpectedly found herself pressed against a wall of hard flesh instead.
Quick yet familiar hands wrapped around her waist, steadying her so she didn’t end up in an embarrassing heap.
“Morning to you, too.”
His voice was rich and deep, as intoxicating as a shot of brandy in her coffee. Though it was the feel of his bare chest, covered slightly with a gentle smattering of fine, dark hair across his pecs, that made her forget exactly why she’d shown up in front of his bedroom door in the first place.
That and how good he smells. Why does he smell so good?
She inhaled deeply and the faint scent of something earthytinged with spice filled her senses and she relaxed against him, taking another long sniff of the glorious scent.
“Are you smelling me?”
She didn’t even have the shame to pretend he hadn’t busted her. Nope, she fully committed and pressed her nose impossibly close to his skin and sniffed again.
He chuckled and said, “I guess it’s a good thing I just showered, then.”
She found enough of her pride left to pull her face away, but when she attempted to separate herself from him completely, he tightened his hold around her waist.
“I don’t think I’ve ever smelled that particular brand of cologne before. It’s very… nice.”
He hitched his mouth up on one side with a cocky, knowing grin. “I’m not wearing any cologne. Just soap and water.”
She closed her eyes and groaned. Him standing under a spray of water glistening with soapsuds wasn’t an image she needed in her head right now. That didn’t stop her brain from conjuring up the image, anyway.
“That’s… um… that’s some… good soap, then.” Even she had to chuckle at her inarticulate response.
“Did you need something?”
Still slightly embarrassed at her reaction to his feel and smell, she lifted her gaze in a side glance to meet his eyes.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You’re usually up before me and I couldn’t find you downstairs.”
“I went for a run in the neighborhood this morning. I’m usually gone and back before you get up. After all our fun at the carnival, though, I got a late start.”
She slid her hands from his chest, down his arms, until they were prying his firm hands from around her waist. This kind of proximity was messing with her head, and as much as she liked the feel and smell of him, she had come in here with a purpose.
“Well, Cree and Janae are going to pick me up in a little while so I can find an outfit for the gala. I wanted to let you know I was leaving.”
He placed his hands on his hips, drawing her eyes to the sharp vee peeking out above the waistband of his sweatpants.
Do not look below his waistband. Do not look below his waistband.
“Vanessa, you’ve decided to attend the gala?”
Thank God for small mercies.
“Ummm… yeah.” She stumbled over her thoughts, fighting to connect the words so they’d make sense when she spoke them. “I… I thought it would be fun. So, I’m going out with the girls to get my hair done and go shopping for an outfit. Remember, I wasn’t supposed to be here this long. I don’t have anything appropriate to wear.”
He stood there nodding, with his hands still sitting low on his hips, looking like a cross between Superman and a male underwear model.
