“Reallygood cologne.”
His smile widened. He reached across and undid her seat belt. And Lord almighty, his thick forearm grazed her nipples, and they turned rock hard.
He helped her out and then it was like her body had a mind of its own, leaning into him, letting him take half her weight as they walked toward her door.
“Do you always drink this much at Trap?” he asked.
“No. This excessive drinking is totally stress-induced.” She took her keys from her pocket and handed them to him. “You do it. We don’t need a repeat of that whole your hand on my hand, guiding the key into the door scene.”
“Repeating that doesn’t sound so bad to me.” He opened the door.
“Of course it doesn’t.” She sighed as she stepped inside and toed off her shoes. “I love my home. My safe little sanctuary.” She moved through the hall, then stepped into her bedroom. Without thinking about what she was doing—without caring in the slightest—she pulled off her top, then started on the button of her jeans.
A voice cleared behind her. “Uh, want me to go, Sunshine?”
She turned.
His eyes flared as he took her in.
“Why? They’re just panties and a bra.” She pushed down her jeans. Sure, this was Drunk Polly talking. Sober Polly would be mortified and want to kick her ass, but that bitch wasn’t here right now.
He shoved his hands into his pockets, the veins in his biceps popping, and the brown-green of his eyes looked more like charcoal.
She was suddenly vividly aware of how close he was. How alone they were. And how easy it would be to close that distance between them and?—
Joel turned. “I’m going to grab you some water.”
The spell broke. Snapped like a twig.
God, what was wrong with her? She shouldnotbe considering kissing him again. Even Drunk Polly should know better.
Quickly, she grabbed her oversized sleep shirt and threw it over her head. Then she reached beneath it and unclipped her bra.
She’d just set her clothes in the wash basket when she wobbled on her feet. She touched her head.
Too many beers. Damn her and her poor judgment.
“You okay?”
Warm hands touched her upper arms. They were so large and hot, they warmed almost her entire upper body.
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe she was just finally doing what she wanted without fear or apprehension, but she turned and leaned into him. Her forehead touched his hard chest. And just like in the car, the world continued to sway behind her lids. Joel became her steady.
“I just need to stand here for a second,” she whispered.
His hands slipped down and wrapped around her. And then he was holding her. It felt good and natural and familiar in a way she’d never experienced before. Because a man had never felt any of those things.
“Can I ask you a crazy question?” she asked.
“I love crazy questions.”
“Will you lie with me? Just until I fall asleep?”
A soft kiss touched her forehead. “Only because you’re cute when you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.” She wrinkled her nose. “Okay. Just a little drunk.”
While he turned off the lights, she slipped beneath the covers, and the world did that tilt and spin thing again. But then he was back with her, in her bed, pulling her against hischest. Her cheek lay over his heart, and his strong arm wrapped around her shoulders.
