“Shh,” he said as he faced her.
“But I just wanted to—”
“Shh.”He laughed quietly and threw a cushion at her that she batted away.“Don’t wake the minions.”
“Cujo, stop.I’m serious.”His hands gripped her waist, and before she had chance to breathe, he flipped her onto her back.Fingers tickled her sides, and Drea giggled.
“So am I,” he said.
She wiggled against him, tried to push him off but he pinned her down.A strange sense of security washed over her.He physically dwarfed her, but she knew she was safe.
“We are not talking about the party.”He playfully covered her mouth with his hand, making her laugh harder.
“And the baker is a friend…” she mumbled, trying hard to ignore the way Cujo’s hard body pressed up against hers.The way his arm brushed against her, the warmth of his fingers on her lips, and the feel of his chest pressing against her nipples was wholly unnerving yet incredibly satisfying.
But it was the intensity in his gaze that caused her to stop giggling.He removed his hand.“… of José’s and she’s agreed to make eight dozen for…” she whispered.
For a moment, Drea thought he was going to let her continue, but the fierce look in his eyes told her otherwise.He was giving her time, a moment to grasp her thoughts and pull away if she so desired, and then it was over.His lips pressed against hers.Drea closed her eyes and finally stopped talking.Stopped moving.And possibly stopped breathing.
His lips were soft and tender, taking all the fight from within her.Any attempt at pretending disinterest was impossible.
He pulled away from her so quickly Drea was left breathless.He let go of her hand, stood, and started to pace.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Drea.”He stopped, placing both of his hands on top of his head before rubbing his hands over his face.“I shouldn’t have done that.”
What Drea wanted to say in response was that she understood.That it was no big deal.So it was as much a surprise to her when she simply said, “Why not?”
His expression was solemn, grave even.It couldn’t have been the kiss, because even by her limited experience, it was one hell of a kiss.A precursor to the epic kind of sex he’d talked about on the beach.It must be her.
“Never mind,” she said grabbing her sweater off the back of the sofa.“I’ll get my bag.”
She marched toward the door, grabbing her purse off the small side table as she passed by.The door was tough to open, and Drea yanked several times as she turned the knob, but it wouldn’t move.Great job, girl—way to make a dramatic exit.
Cujo placed his hand over the top of hers.“Don’t, Drea.”
His body was warm behind hers.Her position of vulnerability was unfamiliar and scary.Neither of them moved.He hugged her from behind.“You have no idea what you do to me.It’s fucked up,” he whispered.
He freed her.“You should go before I convince myself staying out of a relationship is a bad idea.”He walked to the sliding doors, then stepped onto the back patio.
“But why is it a bad idea?”
“Because I don’t do this.I have fun.A lot.And as much as I want to, I can’t do fun with you, Drea.Because you deserve better than that.And it would create one hell of a mess for our best friends if it ended badly.”
Despite the pain inflating her chest, she could see the truth in his words.In a sad way, she appreciated the honesty.The strength went out of her legs as she exited the house through the front door, slumping on the steps.
Regardless of rubbing each other the wrong way, something kept drawing them together.Today had been a wonderful surprise.Seeing him with Zephyr and Amaya, how patient he was with kids, well, it was beautiful.He’d make an amazing dad, unlike hers.But then it sounded like his father was an incredible man to raise three boys on his own.If only her own mother had risen to the challenge.
Drea couldn’t remember a day when she had laughed so much, the pain in her side a testament to how much fun they’d had together.And his arms.Good Lord above, those arms.How strong they had felt around her.How solid and safe.
The timing was all wrong.She needed to head to work at the hotel in another couple of hours.She didn’t have time to deal with this, no matter how much she was secretly beginning to wish she could.
Cujo wasn’t looking for a relationship.Why was she?Why was she even considering it?Had her thoughts been so focused on getting away from Miami, from her mom, from her responsibilities for so long, that she’d lost track of exactly what she wanted.
And then there was the flash drive.And the woman.
Her phone beeped in her hand.
I need to know you got home safe.Text me when you do.
