tell him, turning to the boxes on the table.
It’s insane how little it takes to lose control when it comes to him, especially when it comes to my heart.
Right now, I see his smiling face, blue eyes beaming like lanterns, a brown jacket that hugs his shoulders so tight I can see right through it. God, I can feel those arms around me, strong enough to engulf me in the sweetest kiss or fling me around like a toy.
You’d better believe I’m a sucker for both.
He stirs me up without even trying.
And that scares me almost as bad as Clay Grendal finding us.
He walks over and picks up the box, then looks at the contents and flashes his slayer-grin. “These are sweet. I think she’ll love them...not that I’m an authority on kids.”
I put on my coat but don’t zip up because it’s warm and sunny, probably in the fifties today.
“Thank you. I hope little Josie and her friends agree.”
“I’ve never been to a six-year-old’s birthday bash,” he says as we walk to the front door. “Maybe when I was that age, but not since then.”
Laughing, I bump his shoulder with mine. “Good news, you’re not invited to the party. You’ll be hanging out in the garage with Jess and Tyler while the girls have tea.”
“What about Jess’ boy?”
He opens the door for me and ushers me outside.
“Cody? Oh, I’m sure he’ll be there, too. So will Jace, Alicia and Tyler’s son.”
“Cody’s a good kid,” Ridge says, flashing a grin.
“Why, because he’s a little terror? Now I know what you were like as a kid.” We’ve been to the Berland’s house a few times so I could help Amy with her coffee bar, which turned out fantastic. “Amy said she caught him trying to climb out the upstairs window with a rope the other day, playing freaking Tarzan.”
Ridge laughs. “Now that’s a kid’s birthday party I want to go to. When is it?”
“July for him. He told his parents he wants a pool party.”
Frowning, Ridge says, “They don’t have a pool.”
“That’s what Amy keeps telling him,” I say, laughing.
It’s fun how easy it is to slide into Dallas life. I’m enjoying the friends I’ve made here so much.
One more reason why it’s going to be brutally hard to leave. Harder than leaving the farm, maybe.
“This place could use a pool. Hell, maybe an indoor one so we can use it more than four months a year,” Ridge says. “Right off the sunroom. We can have the kids over and let them go nuts.”
I can’t believe this guy.
Not what he says, especially now, but his generosity leaves me spinning.
“Pretty big decision for a pool party.” I open the truck door. “You must be a softie for kids.”
His smile says it all, and my heart wobbles.
It’s no surprise, I guess, when his own childhood was taken up with films, adult-like pressures always stewing in the background.
“Hey, I might use it too.” He sets the box in the back seat. Casting me one of those smoldering looks that make my knees weak, he asks, “Ever gone skinny-dipping, Grace?”
Here comes the uh-oh...
...but there’s no denying the excitement arcing through me.
Leaning closer, I whisper in his ear, “Until we did it in the bathroom last weekend...no.”
It’s happened more than once the past week. My pulse quickens at the memories, how the warm water just enhanced the sensation of Ridge in all his sexiness.
“Doesn’t count if it’s not taboo. Everybody gets naked in bathtubs.” He slides a hand inside my coat, cupping one breast. “Think how much more room we’d have in a pool.”
Holy hell!
My body reacts to his touch, and knowing where that leads, I lay my hands on his chest and push. “Save it for later, cowboy. We can’t be late.”
“Still plenty of time,” he whispers, finding my nipple through my clothes and giving it a soft pinch that destroys me.
Did the Greeks know sirens weren’t all female?
I’m convinced they could also be drop-dead gorgeous men with filthy minds.
Fighting the urge to give in to him is a special hell.
Nothing but full satisfaction from Ridge Barnet ever totally stops the sizzle he ignites.
I manage to step back, out of his reach.
“Get in the truck,” I growl, hiding the moan of disappointment in my throat.
“Don’t fret.” He laughs and winks. “We’ll leave early.”
God.
It’s not until we’re on the highway that I can actually breathe normally again.
“Amy called earlier,” he says.
“Why? Does she need us to stop and pick something up? I told her we could.”
“No.