It was obvious they were at a standoff.Neither one spoke but the current of tension buzzed in the air far greater than the excuse of cool air spewing from her ‘on its last leg’ air conditioner unit.
Finally Connor spoke, but it was actually more of a growl.“You’re damn stubborn, BB.”
That brought a smile to her lips.“Yes, I am.”
It seems that neither of them was willing to push the issue any further.
Thank goodness.She wasn’t ready to have a Battle Royale when all she wanted to do was spend grown-up time with her handyman who just happened to be an elite professional hockey player.
Aspen decided a change of course was needed.Immediately.
“I’m feeling the need for a Wheel rematch.You up for a game, Connor?”she moved behind the counter to turn off the lights and shut down for the day.“I mean, I’m not sure how we can top last night’s...post-Wheel adventure, but are you interested in some pot stickers and Pat?”
“Oh, I think we can top last night, BB,” Connor retorted, the glean in his eye resulted in a flutter in her tummy and her legs to clench at the sudden pleasure washing over her.“And pot stickers it is, you stubborn wanton woman.Besides, the quicker we clear your inventory, the sooner we can add a little variety to your diet.”
Thirty minutes later, they were settled on the couch where last night’s monkey business took place.
“Flamenco dance lessons!”Aspen shouted, and then waited for Pat Sajak to reveal that she won.“Take that, Mister I-always-win.Always.”
“Good play, young Padawan”
“Padawan, my butt.I’ve been playing this game a long time,” Aspen said, then leaped up to do her own, quite pathetic, version of the running man dance.“I don’t need no stinkin’ vowels.”
“All right,” Connor said earnestly.“So that’s the second game you’ve won tonight...as pure luck might have it.”
“Skill, dude.Pure skill.”
“Uh-huh,” Connor deadpanned.“So your first prize was a shoulder rub.Let the record show I was so focused on giving you pleasure that I didn’t have the ability to solve the flamenco puzzle.Tell me what your prize is for this particular, and very exclusive win?”
Could Aspen be so bold?She was mega attracted to Connor and she was quite certain he would reciprocate.
“I thought we could graduate from the couch and retreat to my room down the hall,” Aspen explained slowly and pointed her thumb over her shoulder to emphasize the location she meant.
Connor turned to look down the hall, then returned his hot stare back to Aspen.
“I need your words, BB.Where do you want me to take you?”
“My...uh...my bedroom.”
“And what, pray tell, will we do there, BB?”Connor skimmed his finger across her collarbone and she tamped down the overarching desire to jump on him and offer a repeat of the couch performance from the other night.
Be a vixen.Be a vixen.
“I thought we could do what we did the other night...just not on the couch.”
A savage look crossed Connor’s face.Without a word, he stood and swept her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing more than the cupcake liners used to hold the batter for her creations.
Connor marched her down the hall to her bedroom and unceremoniously tossed her to the middle of the bed.Aspen began launching the decorative pillows and shams to the floor in anticipation of what was to come with Connor.
“One sec,” Connor moved toward her wireless speaker on her nightstand and brought the device to life then began fiddling with Aspen’s phone, also on the nightstand.“Lose the clothes.Now, BB.”
As Aspen finished shimmying out of her clothes, the most beautiful notes fell from an opera singer and poured through the speaker.
“Is that...”
“...O Mio Bambino Caro.”
“It’s beautiful.”
