“Yeah. I wonder why that is.” Her tone was a little cheeky, almost provocative. I looked straight at her. This time she didn’t look away.
“Might I have something to do with it?” I teased, and she nodded.
She was so damn beautiful that I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her. Up close, her perfume was inescapable. It fit her in a way I couldn’t begin to comprehend.
The way she gave herself to the kiss was addictive. I couldn’t stop. I tangled our tongues, deepening the kiss, burying a hand in her thick hair. I couldn’t get enough of this woman, of her taste and the sounds she made. My body reacted to her instantly.
I shifted closer so she could feel exactly what she was doing to me. I’d grown rock hard in the span of seconds. She moved against my mouth, and I nearly lost my mind.
Then everything came back into focus.Fucking hell.My daughter was in the same room with us. Granted, she was sleeping, but what the hell was I thinking?
I paused the kiss but didn’t let go of her hair. Not yet. I needed to touch her for a few more seconds.
“Beckett,” she whispered. “This shouldn’t… Oh God.”
“I know. I know.”
Finally, I released her and took a big step back.
“I didn’t plan on doing that,” I admitted.
“Well, for someone who didn’t plan it, that was a mighty good kiss,” she replied. I loved her sense of humor.
“Nothing is going according to plan when it comes to you, Piper.”
“Then I should really be going.” Glancing at the table, she added, “I’ll grab my laptop, and we’ll be in touch.” Her demeanor had changed. She was nervous.
I wanted to put her at ease, but at the same time,Iwas the one making her nervous.
So I just said, “Of course.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief. She dashed to the table, grabbing her bag and computer. I walked with her to the hallway.
“Before I forget, I have something for you,” I told her. Opening the door to the armoire that served as a coat closet, I took out a box of pralines.
“Oh my goodness. LeBlanc-Broussard pralines. I haven’t had them in ages. I didn’t… Wait. Of course. Why didn’t I realize it’s all connected?”
“You said you like pralines. And these are the best.”
She tilted her head, looking at me. “Your family really does like to be the best at everything, huh? Although you were right about the Sazerac.”
“Let me know what you think about these.”
“Hmm… I’m trying not to eat sweets at night. But one won’t hurt.”
Damn, she was deliciously adorable. She took one out of the wrapper carefully and then popped it into her mouth.
“I forgot how good these are. Where do you sell them?”
“Until recently, they were mostly used as goodies in our bakeries and restaurants. Now we’re in the process of getting them into retail stores as well.”
“I love them. Let me just put the box in my bag so I don’t accidentally forget them.”
“In case you do, I’ll be more than happy to get you a new box.”
She smiled. “I will not say no to that.”
“Piper,” I began as she put on her heels.
