“You seemed untouchable,” I told her. “Beautiful and accomplished. The kind of woman I knew existed in this world but was sure I couldn’t have. And so I let you live your life. Smiled politely when we crossed paths, knowing that you were destined for better. But that one night? I couldn’t help myself.”
The way she danced, the way she looked in that dress? I just had to talk to her.
When I was a kid, my dad had given me a talk about using my powers for good and not evil. Most of the time, I did. I swear, but once in a while, I would pop a dimple and drop a sexy smirk to get what I wanted.
And I wanted Evie. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, though she quickly narrowed her eyes on me.
“You sure remember a lot for a guy who didn’t even text the next day.”
Wincing, I rubbed the back of my neck. “You told me several times that night that you weren’t looking for anything. In fact, if I recall, you said it to me mid-blow job …”
Her cheeks flushed quickly, the sight so damn satisfying.
But again, she recovered quickly. “I didn’t want anything messy.”
“And I was nothing but messy back then.” I admitted. “I thought I was doing what you wanted, following your instructions. I felt lucky to have gotten even that little bit of time with you.”
“You’re still messy,” she said, inching closer.
“Maybe. But I’m trying to clean myself up,” I promised. “Become the type of man you’d give a second chance.”
The oven timer beeped loudly, breaking the spell, and Evie blinked rapidly and busied herself donning oven mitts and opening the oven.
“I meant what I said,” she whispered, still facing the oven. “That night wasn’t me. It was like I was being pulled toward you and I couldn’t stop it.” She set the cookie sheet on the top of the stove, and when she freed her hands from the oven mitts, they were shaking.
I swallowed hard, my gut tightening. “Then maybe it wasn’t a mistake. Maybe it was the one time in your life where you followed your heart and did what you wanted rather than what was expected of you.”
She turned quickly, eyes bright. “And look how that turned out.”
I eyed the baby monitor on the counter and crossed my arms over my chest again. “It turned out perfectly.”
I was an easygoing guy. I didn’t push for much, but I wasn’t going to let her off the hook. This was the most I’d gotten out of this woman in a year. So I’d keep pushing until she could be honest with me and herself.
“Can you at least put a shirt on?” she snapped. “It’s hard to argue with you with all those muscles on display.”
I smirked, my chest expanding. “These aren’t even my best,” I teased. “If you want a distraction I’ll turn around and give you an eyeful of my best asset.” Spinning, I shook my ass at her.
She giggled, the sound lighting me up inside.
With another spin back, I said, “I never skip leg day.”
She looked down at her own thick, delicious thighs. “Apparently I don’t skip leg day either.”
“Oh, I know.” I stalked toward her and backed her into the countertop, caging her in. “My girl is strong as hell. And it’d be my absolute privilege to wear those thighs as earmuffs tonight.”
The scent of warm sugar filled the air as we stood, focus fixed on one another, the world narrowing down to just the space between us.
Finally, she exhaled. “You’re trouble, Jasper Lawrence.”
I leaned in, ghosting my lips over the shell of her ear, relishing the way the contact made her shudder. “You say it like it’s a bad thing, Evangelina Marino.”
She gasped at the sound of her name on my lips.
But I kept going, gently pressing my mouth to her neck. “You say it like trouble isn’t exactly your type.”
She tilted her head to the side, giving me more access. “It wasn’t. Until I met you.”
Chapter 27
