It’s everything.
If only she weren’t likely to be involved in a crime I’m investigating.
Her line of sight flickers to the cabinets, her feet following a second later. Setting the flowers on the counter, she opens a door and reaches toward the top shelf, going on her tiptoes. As much as I’d love to stay where I am to enjoy the view of her body lengthening as she attempts to get the vase, I do the gentlemanly thing.
Gliding close, I press my front against her back and intentionally layer some heat in my tone. “Allow me.”
Aside from a tiny gasp and withdrawing her hand from the vase, she barely reacts. On the outside.
If she feels even half of the connection that I do, she’s reacting on the inside big time.
With an aching slowness, I take the vase from the top shelf for her. As my hand drops, I shift my body weight to the side at the same pace, so I’m essentially moving from one side of her to the other. Her beguiling eyes track the path of the vase, but I only watch her. I get a sick thrill of how she’s struggling to remain unbothered by my nearness.
Lila’s body still fits against mine perfectly. Her lush curves have always had a way of awakening something primal inside me. She’s soft and delicate. Warm and inviting.
But that’s not why I’m here, I remind myself for the trillionth time.
When I’ve drawn out the moment as long as I can, I rest the vase on the counter and back away.
She bunches her mouth to one corner and hits me with a faux scowl. “Stop being nice to me, Reed. It’s bad for your brand. You’ll lose sponsors.”
Without thinking, I retort, “Stop being mean to me, or I’ll fall in love with you.”
Her eyes bulge, and she freezes for a split second before busting out in a laugh. I join in, grateful she took it for a joke.
Because if I’m being honest, I’m unsure how much of that was facetious.
Our laughter fades to silence as she fills the vase with water, puts the bouquet inside, and fluffs some of the petals. She stares at the arrangement for a beat, then raises her shoulders with a deep inhale, letting them fall dramatically with her relaxed exhale.
Then she’s gone, dashing out of the kitchen in a sudden rush.
I trail after her. “Where are you going?”
“To take a shower. I have a date tonight.”
The fuck?
Irrational jealousy flares inside me. My pulse ratchets up like it was hit with jumper cables. My tone is swathed in barbed wire as I grit out,“With who?”
I want his name, age, and a description. He’s getting fully investigated immediately. If I find even the slightest smudge on his record, he’s gonna wake up in a cell tomorrow.
Lila pauses in her bedroom doorway and hits me with a playful grin. “With you, silly.”
Oh.
The flare of jealousy I felt at the idea of her dating another man quickly ignites into a fiery ball of lust. I grit my teeth and cast my hands into fists to stop myself from grabbing her.
Seeming to second-guess herself, she nervously tacks on, “Thatiswhy you’re here, right?”
The tender hint of vulnerability in her tone ignites those flames of desire into a raging inferno. The mere idea of her being unsure has me ready to do whatever it takes to remove any trace of doubt she might have.
If I’m here, it’s for her. Period.
And for some baffling reason, I don’t want her to ever have the slightest doubt about that.
“Reed?” she prods, reminding me of her question.
I close the remaining space between us in two large strides. “Damn right that’s why I’m here,” I husk out as I grab her cheeks and lower my mouth to hers.
