We do it together, looping the ponytail holder around and around.
“This piece next?” he asks.
I nod, my chin rubbing lightly on his shoulder.
I’m the one with my arms around him, my front pressed to his back, but it feels as though he’s surroundingme.His scent is in my nose and his strength is all around me and?—
He’sall around me.
“Rhodes,” I whisper.
We tie off the next braid.
I exhale and watch as it raises goose bumps on his nape. His fingers tighten on mine and I press closer wanting?—
So much.
This is a bad idea.
Right?
I’m leaving, and we have Chloe to think about. And, for all intents and purposes, he’s my employer.
So yeah, this is dumb.
Except…
Yes, those are all valid reasons.
But that’s not what’s holding me back now.
Do the thing you’re most scared of.
Because Iamscared. Of what I’m feeling and what it might mean and how it may go wrong and?—
“Now what, Stitch?” he murmurs.
“I, uh—” I start to pull back, but his fingers tighten slightly and I can’t keep trying to insert distance between us. Not when it feels so damned good to be close to him.
His thumb traces lightly over the back of my hand, and I shiver again.
And suddenly, I’m no longer behind him.
I’m in front of him, his big body pressed against my spine. Those warm, rough hands rubbing up and down my arms. “I can turn up the heat if you’re cold.”
I’m so far from cold I’m surprised I haven’t burst into flames.
“I-I…” I take a breath, release it slowly. “I’m not cold.”
His hands pause for a moment. “No?”
I shake my head.
He shifts a little closer, the bristles of his beard brushing along my jaw, and I tremble, thinking about what it might be like to have that stubble dragging along other parts of me.
“What’s next, baby?” he prompts.
Heat in my belly.
