already said more to you than…than anyone.” She took a moment, never breaking their gaze, then seemed to gather herself, and he immediately went on guard. “Sean—”
“Holly, don’t think it through right now. Just…can we keep going with the flow? See what happens next? Just…let it unfold, however it does? I know that’s not how you prefer to do things, but this once, give it a shot.” He grinned. “It’s worked out pretty well so far.”
She studied him. “You know me surprisingly well.”
“You have no poker face. I can see the wheels turn.”
She flashed another brief smile. “Good to know.”
“I have to get back across the street. Prep for the dinner rush.”
“Oh, okay.” She immediately started to wriggle out from under the way he leaned over her body. “I—I have a million things to do, too. My—where’s my shirt?”
He hated the sudden awkwardness. “Right here.” He grabbed it off the high back of the divan, but held it out of her reach when she put her hand out. “Allow me.” He was determined to keep her used to him being in her personal space. He wanted her to be comfortable with him putting his hands on her, with him being intimate with her, both casually…and very intently. He could only hope and pray that, at some point, she’d feel the same about him. But it had to start somewhere. He took her hand in his and tugged her up.
“Sean, I can—”
“I know, but I want to. You get to every day. I get to now.” He shook the T-shirt right side out, then bunched it up and pulled it over her head.
She spluttered a laugh as she blew and puffed the hair out of her face. “Bed head, so attractive. New and improved, with more static cling.”
Sean chuckled as she worked her arms through the sleeves, but he was the one who pulled the soft cotton down around her waist, then pinned it with his hands, keeping her rooted to the spot. “You do wonders for static,” he said, kneeling on the floor between her thighs. He lifted up to kiss her mouth, then her nose. “In fact, you’re the best looking electric shock recipient I’ve ever seen.”
She moved her hands up, then her eyes went wide as she realized her long strands of hair were in a static halo around her head.
“Very zero-G, really,” he teased.
She tried to smooth it down, but that just made it worse. “I need some water, it’s the only way to—”
He leaned in and kissed her, then smoothed his palms down over her hair, and magically, when he lifted his mouth, her hair was smooth and back to normal.
“How did you do that?”
He rose and tugged her to her feet, then slipped his fingers through hers so their palms met. “I’ve got a little body heat thing going at the moment. Can’t imagine why.”
She smiled, blushed a tiny bit, then said, “I’m sorry you’re…” She rolled her eyes a little and he was torn between laughing and carrying her off somewhere where he could have her all to himself until the end of time.
“I’ll live, truly.”
“I know, but…I’m generally not so selfish.”
He smiled and pulled their joined hands up between them. “Good to know.”
“Sean—”
She was looking all serious again. Time for him to cut and run while the glow still lingered. “I’ll bring dinner over later. If it’s not too crazed in the kitchen, I’ll bring enough for two.” He leaned in and kissed her, hard and fast this time. At least he’d meant it to be. But somehow his mouth just wouldn’t leave hers, and then her hands were on his shoulders, and his were in her hair, and she was tilting her head to one side to give him better access…and he was a goner for another good five minutes.
When he finally lifted his head, they were both a little unfocused and breathing a bit erratically. “Seriously,” he said, “what you do to me. I’ll be back. Seven thirty, eight.”
And he left her there, dazed and a bit disheveled—both of which he was directly responsible for—and somehow stumbled down the stairs and across the street without giving in to the very strong urge to stay right were he was, until they were both dazed and disheveled some more. A whole lot more, in fact.
As he pushed through the doors to the kitchen, he was immediately enveloped in steam and the rich scent of beef and roasting potatoes and decided that not only