Chapter Sixteen
BEA
I hang up my phone, trying hard to rein in my smile as I watch Kit make his way across the packed space. Confident, masculine, and so bloody beautiful. People seem to part to make way for him. At the bar, his hand grasps the back of my chair as he leans in to press his lips to my cheek like we’re long-time friends who always greet each other like this. As he pulls back, everything south of my waistline tightens and clenches as I realise he’s also inhaling my scent.
‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, trying to tamp down my exhilaration and keep the excitement from my voice.
‘Would you believe I’ve been visiting my grandmother?’
‘Get out!’ My hand is on his chest, and I stare at it, not sure how it got there. I pat him lightly, once, twice, resisting the urge to cop a feel of the solidness beneath his jacket. Or maybe run my hand across his chest and up his neck. Pull his mouth to mine. I manage not to. Just.
‘It’s true,’ he says with that wicked quirk of his brow. ‘I was summonsed for my quarterly appraisal.’
‘Now I really don’t believe you.’ It’s tough to because he’s so hard to read in contrast to how easy he is to look at.Midnight blue pants and a white button-down with silver cufflinks.
‘I can take you to meet her if you want.’ His hand rasps against the scruff covering his jaw, and I suppress the shiver of pleasure rolling down my spine as my mind imagines what that scruff would feel like between my thighs.
‘That, ah, won’t be necessary.’ I slide a chunk of hair behind my ear, my heart beginning to pitter-pat as I stare up into his face. ‘Are youstaying in the hotel?’ His expression doesn’t alter, though his eyes seem to darken.
‘If I said no, would you offer me a space in your bed?’
‘What?’
‘What are you doing in here?’
‘I’ve been in the city at a medical conference.’
‘And now?’ He slides his large frame into the stool next to mine, and with a mere raise of his finger, he summons the barman.
I remember how effective those fingers are...
‘Not that it’s got anything to do with you, but I’m enjoying a drink. And people watching.’
His eyes slide over my body in a way that makes my nipples pebble and between my legs feel wet. ‘You seem dressed for something else.’
My eyes snap up to his immediately. It’s no use denying it, but I still want to wipe the smug smile off his gorgeous face. ‘Oh, I see. That’s whatyou’redoing in Edinburgh. So I must be doing the same?’
He laughs low and sultry, thanking the barman for his newly delivered drink. ‘How is it the saying goes?’ He takes a sip. ‘To get over a man, get under a new one?’ As an encore, he swipes his tongue over his full bottom lip.
‘Is that an invitation?’
‘Didn’t I already make that clear in the hallway of the club?’
‘Been toyourclub recently?’
‘I have. Friday, in fact.’ His expression barely alters. ‘Why, Dr Honey? Are you after a bedtime story?’
My heart jolts because yes, that would be amazing. I’d pay good money to hear about his latest bangfest, particularly if it’s man-on-man.
I can always insert myself into the scenario. Later. When I’m in bed.
‘I’ve no idea why you would say that,’ I answer a little primly as Kit brings his glass to his mouth again. ‘Gin and tonic? I thought you were a whisky man?’
Suddenly, he grabs the back of my chair, swinging me to face him. His long legs bracket mine, his forearm brushing my waist.
‘I don’t like the idea of you trawling hotel bars.’
I snort to cover my flash of panic. Was I so obvious? How long has he been watching me?
