“I can’t believe you did that,” he said. “That was…uh…something.”
“It was terrible,” she said with a laugh “I know it was, but I don’t care. That wassomuch fun.” She put her hand to her chest; her eyes were bright with excitement. “I swear, I have wanted to sing karaoke for so long, but I couldn’t do it in Boston where I know people. This was the perfect place for it. Now no one I work with has to know just how bad a singer I am.”
“Unless someone captured it on camera and you turn into a YouTube sensation,” Matt pointed out.
She brought both hands to her cheeks as a look of horror stole over her face, but then she laughed. “You know what? I don’t even care. It was worth it. It’s been so long since I did anything like that. Just crazy, and silly, and free.” She looked over at him, her eyes soft. “Thank you. I needed this tonight.”
“You’re welcome,” Matt replied.
“Was I really that bad?” she asked.
“Yes.” He laughed. “But if you wanted to do it again, I would walk down to that stage with you and cheer you on from the very front row.”
“You would really do that for me?”
“Damn right. Even though the crowd would probably rise up in protest if they had to go through that again.”
Her features relaxed into an easy smile. “Your brutal honesty stings, but I think you still might be the sweetest man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
She closed the distance between them and melded her lips to his. Matt soaked in her flavor, detecting her essence despite the spicy food and beer she’d consumed. Her mouth was sweet and delicate, and it tasted better than just about anything he’d ever had in his life.
He was completely lost when it came to this woman. Everything he thought he knew, everything he thought he held dear—his candidacy, keeping his family’s lies hidden—all of it meant nothing when pitted against the chance to feast on Tamryn.
“Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked once they came up for air.
She opened her eyes; her lips hovered a millimeter away from his. “Where to next?” she asked.
“I haven’t given you a proper tour of the Gauthier mansion yet,” Matt said.
He studied her face as the smoldering look entered her eyes, and he knew that she understood exactly what he was suggesting.
“I think I’d like that,” she said.
He released the breath he’d refused to take until he had her answer. Now that he had it, Matt knew that the half-hour bike ride back to Gauthier would be the longest of his life.
Neither saying a word, they gathered their things from the table. Matt dropped a fifty in the center of it, disregarding Dooney’s insistence that his money was no good there.
He was ready to jump out of his skin as they made their way out of the bar. The anticipation of what was to come had him so on edge, he missed the kickstand when he first tried to release it. Matt took a moment to pull in a deep breath. Then another. He took several more, allowing his body the opportunity to find some control.
“Are we leaving?” Tamryn’s warm breath fluttered against his ear, and all the control he’d fought so hard to find rushed out of him.
Matt turned and caught her lips in a deep, fierce kiss that left them both breathing hard. He handed her the helmet and said, “Strap this on. We’re about to break every speeding law in the state.”
“I’m pretty sure that would be an unwise move for a state senate candidate.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t give a damn.”
Matt revved the bike and took off, winding back the way they’d come. By the time he drove through the open fourteen-foot iron gate at the Gauthier mansion, he was holding on to his control by a flimsy thread. He rode down the driveway, parking at the back of the house.
Tamryn alighted from the bike. As he studied her legs in the skintight jeans, the bottom halves tucked into the equally tight, calf-high boots, the remaining bits of his hard-fought control vanished.
Matt climbed off the bike and took her by the hand. He fitted the key into the lock, but turned to her before opening the door.
“Just so we’re clear, the tour comes after.”
A sexy grin curled up the corners of Tamryn’s lips. “You took the words out of my mouth.”
Tamryn faintly registered the sleek stainless-steel appliances and ash-colored cabinetry as she entered the house through the kitchen door, but she scarcely had time for more than a passing glance.
