“One more thing, how do engaged couples act?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never been engaged before, but I suppose you’ll have to hold my hand.”
Picking up her hand, he placed it against his chest.“What else?”
Chewing her lip, she looked at him.“I’m not one for grand gestures but we should probably exchange a peck or two, just for appearances sake.”
“A peck?”he asked as he bent his head.“Like this?”He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead.
Her soft gasp went straight down to his loins.
“Or something like this?”His slid his lips down her face, stopping just before he’d reached her mouth.
Her eyes darkened.
“Or maybe”—he kissed her lips softly, then lifted his head—“like that?”
Her eyes opened slowly.“What?”
“Whichpeckdo you prefer?”
For a moment, her eyes focused on his mouth.It took all his self-control not to grab and kiss her with all the pent-up desire racing through his blood.
“You decide,” she said loftily as she turned around and walked toward the front door.“Pick me up at around eleven, will you?That way we’ll arrive fashionably late, as engaged couples are supposed to.Thanks for helping a girl out.”She opened the door.
Gnashing his teeth, he put on his jacket and grabbed his hat.It was only as he walked past her that he noticed it—the tiny pulse just below her jawline hammering away.
“Damn it, Willow,” he growled as he dropped his hat and bent down to kiss her.He needed both his hands.The kiss was supposed to express his frustration but the moment his hands cupped her face and his mouth closed over hers, he got lost in her scent, the texture of her skin, the silkiness of her hair.As he sipped from her lips like a man dying of thirst, his hands frantically found their way underneath her top.He touched her breasts, she shuddered.
Swallowing her moan, he pulled her closer still, making sure she knew exactly how desperately he wanted her.Even if she couldn’treadhim, she could feel what she did to him.She was all soft curves and toned lines, her skin so silky and warm he could spend days just touching her.
When he was just about ready to explode, he lifted his head, gasping.“Goodnight.”Without looking at her again, he jogged to his truck, his body throbbing in frustration.Tonight, he was going to need more than one cold shower.
As he drove away, he glanced in the rearview mirror.She was still standing in the doorway, her hand touching her lips.
With a groan, he stepped on the gas.Pretend.That was all this craziness was.It wasn’t real, it wasn’t going to last.He could only be with her until she left for her exhibition.
Hopefully it would be enough time to get her out of his system.
Chapter Five
As Willow closedthe front door, her phone rang again.This time, it wasn’t her mother but Laura, Hayden’s wife.She adored her sister-in-law, but she couldn’t talk to anyone right now.
As soon as the ringing ended, it started up again.This time it was Annie, Becket’s wife.This was her mother’s doing, she just knew it.She let it ring.Again, as soon as the ringing stopped, it started again.Rose this time.
Nothing was wrong; her brothers were fine and she would’ve known if her mother had had another mini stroke.Her mom had given all of them quite a scare when she’d had her first one a while ago.
Sighing, she stared at her phone.If she didn’t answer, though, they’d just continue to ring.
Irritated, she answered.“What?”
Nobody spoke, but there was giggling in the background.Rolling her eyes, Willow groaned out loud.“Okay, yes, Hunter and I are going to try a relationship, I supposed that’s why you are all calling me.But it probably won’t work out so please tell Mom not to book the church or hire a band or place an order for flowers and whatever else she might do.”
At least the giggling had stopped.
“Sorry, already done,” her mother said, sounding very happy.“Oh, Willow, I’m so, so happy for you.”
“Mom!”Willow cried out.“I don’t have time for this right now, I have another painting to finish.”
