morning was fun, but you don’t owe me anything and I don’t owe you anything.”
“You’re right we don’t owe each other anything. But you got part of that wrong, Blondie. This morning was incredible.”
She tossed him a cool look. “It was good.”
“Incredible.”
“How was breakfast with your mother?” she said, changing the topic. Fine. He’d made his point.
“It didn’t happen. It was pretty plain it was going to be another hour of her trying to get me back in line, so I left. I didn’t come back upstairs because she would’ve followed me to get the last word. So, I walked out the front door, ran into Dirk and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“I see.” She clasped her hands primly in front of her.
He hated to break it to her but her obviously erect nipples ruined the whole prim setup.
“Do you? You were definitely the best part of my morning.” He took a step toward her. “I’d like for you to be the best part of my afternoon.”
She sidestepped his advance. “That’s sweet, but I told you I’m going for a ride.”
Regroup. Reload with fresh ammo and try a different assault tactic. “How was your morning? What’d you do?”
She walked over to the antique desk on the wall opposite his bed. Running her fingers over the wood, she answered him. “I had a nice long soak in the tub, tidied my room and went downstairs. The rest, as you say, is history, since you saw me working on my bike when you came in.”
“I see.” What he saw was unless she’d spent enough time in the tub to turn into a prune, that hadn’t filled all of her time. She’d been waiting on him. He bit back a satisfied smile.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Not even remotely.” He was simply glad to know why she was so pissed. He hadn’t gotten back when he thought he would...and she’d been waiting on him in bed. He knew it.
He looked down at her sweet nipples teasing him through her shirt and then deliberately looked back up into her eyes. “Come here, Blondie.”
“I’m going for a ride, Marine.”
“That’s exactly what I’d like, too.” He just happened to have a different kind of ride in mind. “Great minds think alike.”
“On my mountain bike.”
“I was thinking of something a little more personal.”
“Maybe later.”
“Well, would you take pity on a poor soldier and tide me over with a kiss?”
“That’s a bad idea.”
“I’m striking out here. I can’t come up with anything that works for you. No rides. No kisses. Work with me, Blondie.”
“You’re on your own, soldier.”
“But I’m wounded. I had a really rough morning. A hug? Just a hug? I’m appealing to the caregiver professional here.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes full of reproving skepticism...and a glimmer of humor. She was beginning to crack. “So, I’m supposed to believe you went from wanting a ride to a kiss, then to a hug and only a hug? I’m a caregiver professional, but I’m not an idiot.”
He pulled out his last bit of ammunition, which was the white flag of surrender. “You’re the squad leader, here, Blondie. I just wanted to talk to you—” She snorted and he shrugged sheepishly. “Okay, busted. I was hoping for more than talk, that’s true—but you gave me the five minutes I asked for, so now it’s up to you.”
“I don’t trust you.”
He held out his hands, palms up, a classic show of no weapons in hand. “I don’t have any hidden agenda here.” He dropped his hands and arms back to his sides. His shrug was a tad self-conscious. He had never worked so hard for a woman’s temporary affections. And crazily, he’d never wanted a woman’s temporary affections the way he wanted hers—the way he wanted her. “I want you. You turn me on. I’ve been up front with you from the beginning.” He bowed from the waist. “And the next move is yours, Blondie.”
“So, I can walk out that door and go for my bike ride and there will be no hard feelings?”
“None whatsoever. It’s not my feelings that are hard.”
She nodded, still considering.
Lars spoke again. “But can I make a request?”
“Sure. It doesn’t mean it’ll be granted, but go ahead.”
“Before I leave, the next time we’re together, would you wear that outfit?”
That took her aback. “My biking gear?”
Apparently she didn’t have a clue the way the tight shorts showcased her thighs and booty. “It’s hot.”
“This?” The look on her face was priceless. She was so