“It said …” She took in a deep, lusty breath and whispered in his ear, “Robert Downey Jr.”
Beau tickled her ribs, holding her tight enough that she couldn’t escape and loose enough that she didn’t want him to let go. Laughing, she twisted to no avail.
Beau locked his arms around her, and she quit trying to get away. Why bother when she liked where she was so very much?
“So you’re a rebel-without-a-cause type?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“More like a genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist type.”
His hands went up and down her back, changing the tone from light and playful to honest with a hint of vulnerability. Like vanilla flavoring in soda, that vulnerability was delicious and suckered her right into wanting more.
Beau tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The furniture faded away, and somehow all she could see was Beau.
“Tall order.”
“Cute geniuses are hard to come by these days.” Hesitantly, Cindy traced her finger over the cleft in his chin. His two-day stubble was rough against her skin. Wondering how it would feel against her cheek, her eyes fell to his lips.
Beau leaned in and pressed a kiss just under her ear, sending delicious waves of heat coursing across her skin.
“You’re not looking hard enough.”
“Maybe not.” She lifted her chin ever so slightly, inviting him to kiss her.
She expected him to smile that cocky half smile of his that brings in millions of single ladies’ dollars, but he didn’t. He traced her cheek with his fingertips, his gaze much too intense to think this was one of his jokes. And when his lips found hers, they were achingly soft. A barely there brush that left her dazed and dreaming of more. She gripped the front of his shirt in her fists.
“Cindy.” He whispered her name as if it were the only name he’d ever uttered.
“Beau?” His name came out as a question. She needed to know what was happening to her, to them, because the feeling was unlike anything she’d experienced before. It was electric and tangible, like she could grab hold of it as easily as she’d grabbed hold of his shirt.
“Ahem, can I help you?” asked a bald man in a tight pair of pants and bright red sneakers.
Beau grinned. “I was doing pretty well on my own—but thanks for the offer.”
“Actually—” Cindy spun so that her back was to Beau. She thought that would make it easier to think, but his arms wrapped around her from behind, and he tucked her against his chest.
And her brain shorted out.
“Actually?” asked the clerk or salesman or … waiter?
Beau chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest.
For the love…!
“We’re looking for a gift for our friends,” Beau filled in.
“His friend,” she clarified. She wasn’t best friends with Mark DuBois. Not that she would mind being friends with Mark.
Or double dating.
Or double wedding-ing.
Beau kissed her neck. For no reason! He just leaned down and kissed her right there in front of the guy with the red shoes. Like they were a couple.
Whatishappening?
“Are they registered here?” asked the salesman, as he pushed a pair of black-rimmed glasses up on his nose.
“Yes!” She stepped out of Beau’s embrace, and then changed her mind and leaned back against him. “Yes, they are registered here.”
