“I’m sure it’s just a jammed doorknob,” Drake concluded. “I’ll just deal with whoever buys me when we get out of here.”
Anna dropped her forehead against his chest, nuzzling her cheek against him.
That was more like it.
She toyed with the buttons on his shirt. Each stroke made his blood pressure rise and made him wish they were somewhere alone that wasn’t technically public.
He trailed a fingertip along the length of her neck.
She shivered and her breath caught. Her lips parted slightly, and he pressed another kiss against them. Anna didn’t hesitate, inviting him deeper into the kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck so his mouth met hers with more desire.
He could conquer anything with Anna beside him. Or, in this case, pressed against the front of him.
“I love you, Anna,” he said for the first time.
“Me, too.” She pecked small kisses against the column of his throat.
“How are we going to get out of here?” he asked, realizing that although he didn’t particularly mind being locked alone with Anna, he needed to use this opening to talk to Medford and ensure he wasn’t purchased by the wrong person.
“Don’t know,” she mumbled as she continued pressing small kisses against his skin. “I’m thinking.”
“I do like the way you think.” His mouth met hers, his heart thudding in his chest as she practically climbed him like she was headed to a treehouse. The heat between her legs pressed against his thigh.
Warmth and passion sizzled in the air as days of pent-up frustration poured into the heat of their kiss.
The door flew open and Anna’s grandmother stood on the other side, her brows furrowed. She tsked loudly. “Vhat are you doing? This is not playtime.”
Drake pulled himself away from Anna, carefully setting her back on the ground. He held her against his side to ensure she had her bearings before slipping his hand down to meet hers.
“The jig is up, Babushka.” Anna pulled Drake closer beside her. “We’re together. You can cancel the auction.”
“Vhat?” The woman scowled deeper. “Vhat is a jig? A dance?”
Anna studied her grandmother. “Also, locking us in here is a little juvenile. Frankly, I would expect something more from you.”
“I did no such thing.” Babushka huffed.
“Uh-huh.” Anna pressed her lips together. “Sure.”
“I did not do this thing you tell me.” Babushka threw her arms wide.
“But you put Drake in the bachelor auction?” Anna asked like she already knew the answer to that and the locked door.
“Now that…vas me.” Babushka grinned a toothy grin. “But it vas Roman’s idea. I buy this man for you.” She gestured toward Drake. “You fall in love. I get more great-grandbabies. Roman is smart boy.”
Drake couldn’t help but grin at the thought of mini-Annas running around. He could definitely handle that kind of future.. “Hypothetically, if itwasn’tyou, how’d we get locked in here?”
“Roman.” Anna pinched her mouth into a line. “This smells like my brother.”
Babushka nodded. “He is young. Smarter with Sadie, but still inexperienced in the vays of love. So much promise with the auction, but he fails vith the lock. He vill learn to be like his babushka someday. Not today, obviously. Someday.”
“God, I hope not.” Anna’s chest rose and fell heavily.
This was fun, really, but Drake had his Anna back and now he needed a job in Denver and an auction removal plan.
“Should we get back out there so I don’t accidentally get purchased?” Drake asked.
Being purchased by a fan with limited comprehension of boundaries would really put a damper on his evening with Anna.
