Instead of responding, I lifted her hand and set it on my chest. She slipped it upward, over my shoulder, until her palm cupped the back of my neck. It was only another second before she stepped closer, fitting the front of her body against mine.
“But maybe I have time for a kiss goodbye,” she whispered. “If you don’t mind, I mean.”
“Not at all,” I whispered back, and I set about prolonging that goodbye for almost half an hour.
GardenofDelightshadan interesting impact on my business that week in the form of another huge influx of customers toting lavender bags. No one expressly stated that Eden had sent them, but most of them ended up making a purchase. Several inquired about upcoming event nights, half of Olivia’s newest prints were sold, and three people placed special orders for products I didn’t have in stock.
None of them felt like pity-shoppers.
I was contemplating the phenomenon when Olivia showed up Friday evening with a new batch of artwork—with Adelaide in tow.
“Can’t stay and chat, we have a reservation,” Liv called as she passed me the bag of prints. “But in case this uptick in sales continues, here’s a new batch for you.”
Adelaide grinned at me. “Who knew there’d be such a crossover between nerds and naughty underwear?”
Olivia leaned in close to Adelaide’s ear and whispered, “I did.”
I laughed and waved them off for their date night, then hurriedly closed the store so I could pop over to see Eden before she locked the doors. Maverick had managed to coordinate another game night for Sunday evening at his place, but I hadn’t gotten a whole lot of private time with Eden during the week. I wantedto make sure she was really okay with being surrounded by the vast majority of my family all at once.
Two women were leaving Eden’s store as I arrived, so I held the door for them and then met Eden’s smirk from across the shop. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, which gave me a chance to admire those long, dark locks against the pale blue fabric covering her upper half above the counter.
“What’s that look for?” I demanded.
“Just thinking that chivalry is definitelynotdead.”
I headed straight for her, ignoring the racks of satin and lace on either side of me as the rest of her dress came into view. It was a different style than I’d seen on her, but no less mouthwatering. The wide neckline exposed just a hint of the tattoo on her collarbone, and I admired the way it clung to the curve of her hips before kicking out in a little ruffle at her knees.
“I’m thinking some very unchivalrous thoughts right now,” I growled.
Her lips, glossy pink and utterly kissable, curved upward. “Oh? So I shouldn’t wear something like this to game night?”
After ascertaining that we were alone in the store—I probably wouldn’t have noticed a brass band in the corner after I caught sight of her—I circled the counter until her hands landed at my waist, then I bent my head and brushed a kiss to her tattoo.
“You could, but I’d definitely embarrass myself in front of my brothers. Carter would get a pretty graphic anatomy lessonand I might end up dragging you into the coat closet to make out instead of playing video games with my family.”
“Not much room in a coat closet,” Eden mused, but she shivered under my lips.
“We could always skip game night and have dinner at my place again.”
“No can do, cowboy. I promised your nephew I’d show him a master in action. But if you want to cook for me again, I wouldn’t turn down an invitation for next week.”
Oh, I could work with that.
“Count on it, then. You, me, no interruptions. Maybe we’ll both stay awake this time.”
“If I recall correctly,” she teased as she twirled away from me and started her closing routine, “you have a number of tricks up your sleeve that woulddefinitelykeep me awake.”
“Christ,” I muttered, closing my eyes as blood rushed immediately away from my head.
Eden’s laughter was light and carefree in a way that more than made up for my inconvenient reaction to those mental images. My eyes were still closed when I felt her dress brush my arm, so I reached out and snagged her around the waist.
“Temptation personified,” I muttered. “That’s what Olivia called you.”
Her lips lifted at the corners. “Did she? The one who’s out with Addie tonight?”
“Yeah. She had a table of artwork at Comic Con and caught me staring at you across the room that day. She referred to youas my rockabilly goddess. As soon as you walked up to me at the bar, I thought it fit you perfectly. And you’re definitely a walking temptation.”
“No one’s ever called me a goddess before.”
