“Rafe saw us,” she blurted.
Holt’s body went rigid as he turned toward the door.
“Not now,” she said with a huff, moving around the small island. “This mornin’. In the kitchen.”
She felt her face flame from embarrassment. Bailey didn’t know why she was even telling him this. Rafe had no business in her thoughts, much less coming between her and a man she was already developing feelings for. A man she wanted to get to know on the most intimate level.
“Hesawus?”
She nodded. “I don’t know how long he was there, but after … you know … I saw him. He was on the back porch.”
The small smile that pulled at Holt’s mouth was not the response she expected.
“Why are you smiling?”
“It explains why I couldn’t find him today. I think he’s avoiding me.” Holt picked up his wine and carried it into the living room.
Why wasn’t he bothered by the idea? More importantly, why wasn’tshe? From a privacy perspective, of course. For reasons she would never understand, Bailey had thought about that incident so many times throughout the day, but never once had she been bothered by the idea of Rafe watching her and Holt in an intimate moment. The only concern she had was that Rafe was upset with her. He might not want the same things she did, but that didn’t mean Bailey wanted to hurt him. She valued their friendship more than she could ever express.
No, when Bailey relived the encounter, she was turned on by the idea of Rafe watching. And that … well, she figured that was unacceptable behavior. It wasn’t fair to Holt.
“Your cheeks are pink,” Holt noted. “Is that from the kiss? Or because you’re thinking about Rafe watching us?”
Bailey nearly dropped her wine glass. It took everything in her not to spill it as she hurried to set it on the counter. “That’s—I…uh…why—whatwould make you say that?”
“Does it turn you on?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Of course not.”
“Little liar.”
There was no heat in his tone, and Bailey didn’t understand it.
“It’s okay if it does.”
Really?Really?How could he possibly be so cavalier about this?
“Tell me the truth, Bailey.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “Maybe it does. I’m a bad person, okay?” She hung her head in shame. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to see me anymore.”
Holt laughed as he came toward her. She held her breath as he set his wineglass on the counter beside hers. Her chest tightened with fear. He was going to walk out that door, and she would never have another moment with him. She didn’t blame him, of course, but she wasn’t ready for him to go. She wanted more time with him. Lots of time. She—
His fingertips brushed along her cheek, sliding down her jaw. He urged her to look up at him, so she did.
“What if I told you it turns me on, too?”
Her pussy clenched at the thought. It was wrong, but that was her body’s first response. How? How could she possibly be turned on by this?
“Then again, little rabbit, everything about you turns me on.”
His other hand glided down to her ass, cupping it gently as he urged her closer. Bailey leaned in, unable to resist the magnetic pull.
“I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “Even more with every second I’ve spent with you.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” she whispered.
His thumb brushed over her bottom lip. “I knew the first time I kissed you that there was a fire burning inside you. One that’s been smoldering for a long time.”
