“Ourghost?” He smiled, his lips curving into something halfway between a smirk and a pout. “I don’t think so. I think she just belongs to you. And maybe Rufus too.” His arm slid around her waist, easing her up against him without moving to kiss her. “You’re a hell of a woman, Leslie Nakano. Talking to ghosts. Demanding information from them. And just standing there when they nearly blow the damn house down around you. I just want you to know—damn.”
They both looked down, for the phone in his pocket had begun to tinkle with “Brown-EyedGirl.”
He groaned and released her. “Hey, Steph,” he said as soon as he’d worked the device out of his jeans pocket. “What’s up?” He listened, and his cheeks turned a little darker. “I’m working… On a project—what else? I…” He listened for a sec. “What time? Can’t you get a ri—” His face fell. “All right. I’ll be there in about…ten minutes.” He looked down at Leslie, who’d taken the opportunity to settle her hands right on his chest and ease in oncemore.
Because when it came to a choice between maybe finding a dead body or getting cozy with her blacksmith, Leslie was going to choose the latter. Everytime.
She smoothed her hands up and over his shoulders, her hips settling against his. He was strong. And tall. And hard. And warm. She shivered deep inside.Oh,yes.
“Uh…closer to twenty minutes,” Declan said, and to her ears, he sounded delightfully breathless. “I’ll be there in twenty—definitely by thirty…minutes…”
His voice trailed off as Leslie pressed a light little kiss on his jaw. He tasted warm, a little salty; he smelled like popcorn and delicious man; and she immediately wanted a whole lotmore.
A whole lot more than twenty minutes’worth.
Fifteen
Declan droppedhis phone onto the counter with a clunk, causing Leslie to laugh and surge into him with greatenthusiasm.
He started to say something, but she covered his mouth with hers, tasting his warm, full lips. She sighed and shivered from heart to belly to lower and dove deeper, pulling himcloser.
He was an amazing kisser. She hadn’t remembered that wrong. His mouth was so soft and sensual, nibbling and teasing and kissing her so delicately…and yet with passion and need. Hewantedher. She gripped his shoulders, feeling the taut slide of muscle beneath her fingers, and the heat from his body leaching intohers.
Their feet touched and mingled, her toes sliding on top of his as she pushed him back against the counter, when all atonce—
“Dad?Dad?”
Declan thrust Leslie away with shocking speed as they both looked down at his phone…which was somehow still squawking athim.
“Steph?” he said, fumbling as he picked it up. “Sorry. It didn’t hangup—”
“What are youdoing?”
Leslie could hear the girl’s voice blaring through the speaker, and she could hardly contain her horrifiedlaughter.
“I’m sorry about that. Butt dial,” he said—which made no sense—but his face was flushed with irritation and frustration, even as his lips twitched with barely controlled laughter. “I’ll see you in thirtyminutes.”
This time he made certain the phone call actually disconnected before looking at Leslie, who’d been laughing silently during the whole conversation. Her lips were still warm and throbbing—as were other parts ofher.
“Thirty minutes, huh?” she teased, sliding back toward him. “You sound pretty certain aboutthat.”
“Believe me, the last thing I want to do is leave here in thirty minutes. Or even sixty.” He glared down at the phone and shook his head. “I’m here for three hours, and I don’t hear a word. Even through ghostly encounters. Even through tornado-like winds. But the minute things start to get…interesting…” His voice lowered to a delicious rumble, and his eyes scored her with bottle-green heat. “Damn,” hemuttered.
Then, just when she thought he was going to slide right in again, he surprised her and dropped a quick, loud kiss on her forehead. “It’s just as well. I’d better go now before…well, before thirty minutes becomes ahellof a lotlonger.”
Leslie stepped back and watched with a smile. He was a good father. Her heart swelled at the thought. “I guess I’ll be digging around in the hollow of the step by myselftonight.”
“Be careful.” He paused from locating his keys. “You don’t know what might be down there. Old nails—are you up to date on yourtetanus?”
Leslie rolled her eyes. “Right. I’m refurbishing an old house and I haven’t had a tetanus shot. Me? The superorganizer?”
“Right. I should have known, you little general. You probably bought the cat carrier the first day after you sawRufus.”
She laughed in surprise. “How did youknow?”
His gaze turned soft. “Wear gloves. Andshoes.”
“Iwill.”
