Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,26

back a week or two after the rest of the renovations are done?”

The corners of Kase’s lips quirked up, softening his granitelike features. “I’ll come back as often as you’d like.”

The back door of the shop opened, and Aurelia was surprised to see Ben with an enormous duffel bag slung over his shoulder, holding B’s carrier in one hand and several big department store bags in the other. His eyes connected with hers, and that killer smile she loved reached his eyes. The image of him in a towel shot into her mind like a flaming bullet, and just like that her heart ricocheted.

So much for leading with my head.

Ben’s gaze shifted to Kase, and he threw his shoulders back, lifting his chin the way guys did when they were showing dominance. His killer smile morphed into something possessive and dark.

Kase’s blue eyes found hers again, and he said, “Whenever you’re ready for me, I’ll be here.”

Tension billowed around Ben like dense fog as he approached.

“Hey, Ben.” Aurelia’s brow furrowed and she said, “What are you doing, moving in?”

“Maybe,” he said evenly, eyes trained on Kase as he walked away.

She bent down and tickled B’s chin. “Hello, sweet girl. Did you have a nice day with Daddy Ben?”

“Did that guy ask you out?” Ben asked.

She stood up and said, “Seriously?”

“Is that why you took off like a bat out of hell this morning? To come back here and see him?”

“Ben, don’t be an ass.” She walked away, needing to put space between them. She didn’t care that there were four men watching them and she probably looked like a bitch with steam coming out of her ears. He had no right to size up the guys she talked to.

He set down the bags and followed her, still holding B’s carrier. “What? It’s a legitimate question. You’re single and hot. Why wouldn’t he ask you out?”

She stopped in the middle of the store, crossed her arms, and held his steady gaze. “You’re right. I’m definitely single. Thanks for the reminder.”

He stared at her as if she’d said something wrong, his nostrils flaring, jaw clenched so tight it had to hurt.

“What, Ben? Do you have something to say? Because I haven’t slept in two nights, and I’m not really in the mood to go through an inquisition. I’ve spent practically all my free time with you since I moved out of the city, and now I’m staying up all night with you and B.” Holy shit, the word vomit just kept coming, and the more she said, the angrier she got and the more it tumbled out. “You know what? I hope he asks me out. At least then there would be something for you to get all overprotective about.”

“I’m not being overprotective,” he seethed, and set the carrier down beside him.

She half laughed, half scoffed. “Oh no? What do you call it? Because I have no idea what you want from me, but if it’s a temporary baby mama—”

He hauled her against him and crashed his lips to hers. His fingers pressed into her arms, and his tongue plunged into her mouth, fiercely possessive and utterly intoxicating. One strong arm swept around her, crushing her against his hard frame. The other pushed into her hair, fisting tight, angling her mouth beneath his so he could take the kiss deeper—and boy, did he . . .

His kisses were rough and thorough, claiming more of her with every swipe of his tongue, like he’d been thinking of exactly how he wanted to kiss her for years. And Lord knew she had been doing the same. She clung to his arms as heat spread through her body like wildfire, filling up her chest and pooling low in her belly. He eased his efforts, kissing her softer, slower, so tenderly it sent shivers down her spine and goose bumps rose on her flesh. His lips were warm and insistent, and his mouth moved sensually over hers. She felt his arousal against her belly, and when his lips brushed lightly over hers, she realized her whole body was trembling.

“Possessive,” he whispered against her lips.

She was breathless and dizzy. “What?”

“I’m not being overprotective. I’m being possessive.” His lips pressed hard and fast against hers again, and then they were gone, and his eyes drilled into hers as he said, “I get that way over things that are mine.”

She shook her swooning head, confused by his kiss, his words, and the way he was looking at her, like