Page 14 of Suddenly Yours

“Remember, smugness privileges can be revoked at any time,” I told him. “Especially if more water ends up on my floor.”

He stood up and I noticed just how wet his T-shirt was. The fabric was practically translucent over his chest.

Dear God…

I forgot how to breathe.

He glanced down at himself, then up at me, then dragged a sopping hand back through his soaked dark hair, slicking it back. Dear God!

“Do you have a towel I can use,” he asked, “to dry off?”

“Dry off?” I croaked. “Why? You’re… fine.”

He raised a brow. “Fine?”

“Fine as in good,” I sputtered. “As in, your shirt, uh, still exists. So. Fine.”

His lips pulled to the side as he chuckled. “You’re staring.”

I jerked my eyes away from his chest and zoned in on his eyes. Big mistake. They were as mesmerizing as his soaking-wet chiseled chest.

“I wasn’t staring,” I squeaked oddly.

“Mm-hm.”

“Just admiring your, your technique.” I lifted my chin slightly, a move I always did when I was lying. I should have known Cade knew all my moves.

“My plumbing technique,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.

“Exactly!” I pointed at him.

His eyes narrowed, proving to me that he knew exactly what I was doing, “Right,” he said slowly.

The man knew everything about me. Hell, he probably knew what I was thinking.

Something in the air shifted. Thickened.

Screw it. For once, I wanted to shock him. To do something so crazy that he didn’t see it coming. Something I didn’t even see coming.

Before I knew I was doing it, before my brain even caught up, I leaned forward and kissed him.

Soft. Fast. Warm.

Like lightning in reverse, building silently, quietly, trembling underneath the surface, then striking in one single flash.

His lips were still parted when I jerked back.

“Oh my God.” My heart hammered. “Oh, I, I didn’t mean, I wasn’t thinking… I’m so sorry.”

He blinked, stunned. Then slowly, too slowly, he started gathering his tools.

“It’s fine.” His voice was lower. Rougher. “Really.”

He didn’t meet my eyes.

That hurt worse than the embarrassment.

“I should get home,” he said, slinging the bag over his shoulder.