was what they had in mind when the term drool-worthy abs was coined.
A quick dab and—okay, she might have looked a little longer than was kosher for a smash-and-dash, but he had the kind of good looks usually reserved for the big screen.
He was clever, and tender, and felt things deeply. And the way he’d held her, as if he never wanted to let go—Annnnd... this was the reason she was pulling a smash-and-dash.
She believed him when he said no fake promises, but he’d never promised her anything resembling a relationship. So before she went and got herself all moony over the man, she needed to retreat to her own bed.
Her eyes had a mind of their own and lingered for another very long moment before she forced herself to turn and walk away. She made it to the bedroom and was just reaching for the handle when she heard him chuckle.
“You weren’t going to invite me to share the bed?” he said, his voice all rough and sexy with sleep.
She turned around. “We’re back to roommates, remember.”
“Roommates who’ve seen each other naked.” He appeared at the end of the hallway, hands on hips, everything else on display, as if proving his point.
“That doesn’t imply morning cuddling or any other benefits. Remember?”
He laughed. “Then what the hell was that?”
Arousing amusement in a naked man didn’t say a whole lot about her casual sex sophistication. Neither did gawking at him—all of him—as he snagged his sweats from the floor and stepped into them. With a smile that promised all kinds of things she was afraid to address, he stalked toward her.
Every step he took, she retreated backward—right into the door.
“Anh?” he whispered, closing the minuscule gap.
Sucking in a breath, she reached behind herself, blindly grabbing the doorknob with both hands—which was better than reaching for him because, blindly or not, she knew where her hands would end up.
He reached too—around her, capturing both her hands with one of his. “What was it?”
“Me taking a calculated risk,” she whispered.
She expected him to get mad, but instead he grinned a boyish grin that did her in. “Was it worth it?”
She nodded, watching as he slowly lowered his head. With their gazes locked, his lips brushed hers, gently probing until the kiss became more of a conversation. A back and forth of emotions and questions they were too uncertain to voice.
But, man oh man, was she in trouble. If this was how he kissed when he was free and clear of any entanglements, she could only imagine how it would feel to be kissed by him when he was all in.
He pulled back, and it took Annie a moment to realize she was wrapped around him like a koala in a eucalyptus forest. “Good night, Goldilocks.”
The door opened behind her and a rush of cool air rolled over her, causing her to break out in goose bumps.
“Good night,” Annie said, but he’d already disappeared into the darkness of the house.
She backed into the bedroom and closed the door. Arms out to her sides, she fell backward on the bed and looked up at the ceiling with a goofy smile.
“Don’t be stupid and fall for him.” Then she told her heart, which was getting way ahead of itself, to slow its roll. Until further notice, it was on total lockdown—all perimeters were secured, and no unwanted emotions were permitted to enter or exit the premises.
Unfortunately, her heart was too busy rolling over and offering up its soft underbelly to get the memo.
Chapter 21
Feet propped up against the wall and her head hanging off the end of the mattress, Annie stared at the doorknob, willing it to turn.
There was no light filtering under the crack in the door, and she hadn’t heard so much as a rustle since Emmitt kissed her good night. But she could sense that he was still awake.
She’d made the right call. Her heart was already becoming too involved with Emmitt, and her life was becoming intertwined with his family’s. But as she lay there in his bed, all she could think about was how much more comfortable it would be with him in it.
Annie had never considered herself a cuddler, but she had a strong suspicion that if Emmitt slid in beside her and wrapped those strong arms around her, she’d be a convert.
Who was she kidding? After tonight she was already a convert.
Annie let out a frustrated sigh. She’d been lying there with the window open, listening to the rain