Ignite On Contact (Brotherhood by Fire #2) -Jaci Burton Page 0,28

at the mall. Just watch.”

It didn’t take long. Within five minutes, a group of boys around the same age walked up to the girls and started a conversation. There was a lot of hair flipping by the girls and thumbs hooked in pockets by the guys.

“It’s like watching a nature show on mating rituals,” Carmen said in between sips of her soda. “This is interesting stuff.”

“Told ya. And then there’s that couple.” He motioned with his soda cup to the young twentysomething couple headed their way. “They’re fighting.”

Carmen’s attention diverted from the teens to the couple. “How can you tell?”

“She’s walking three steps ahead of him, and he’s got his head down and his hands jammed into his jeans pockets as if he doesn’t want to be anywhere near her. And she’s got her chin held up high, her lips compressed tightly. It’s like she’s fighting the urge to turn around and yell at him.”

Carmen studied the couple as they made their way toward them, then walked past.

“You could be right,” she said. “It was like you could feel the tension in both of them as they walked by.”

“Yup.”

She chewed on the end of her straw as she smiled at him, then said, “You’re pretty good at reading body language.”

“I am, aren’t I?”

She laughed. “And you’re so humble as well.”

“I am, aren’t I?”

She rolled her eyes, then squeezed his thigh. “Come on, Mr. Humble. Let’s hit the grocery store.”

He wrinkled his nose. “My least favorite thing to do.”

“Oh, but you’ve never shopped with me. I make it so fun.”

As they made their way toward the exit, he dropped his arm around her shoulder. “Not even you could make grocery shopping fun, Carmen.”

She tilted her head back to look up at him. “But I’ll be cooking for you later. Does that help?”

“Does cooking include modeling your new underwear for me?”

She laughed. “I can’t even imagine what’s going through your head right now.”

He gave her a half smile, one loaded with steamy promise. “Yeah, you can.”

Which reminded her that her grandfather was going to be gone tonight. And that meant being alone with Rafe.

And being alone with Rafe tonight had infinite possibilities.

CHAPTER 12

CARMEN HAD TO ADMIT THAT RAFE WAS HANDY. WHILE she did some housecleaning, he’d installed the new showerhead and handheld in Grandpa’s bathroom, then the new faucet in the kitchen, and was halfway through rewiring the kitchen lights.

She’d made guacamole and salsa and put those in the fridge, then made a marinade for the flank steak she’d bought, intending to put it on the grill for fajitas. She sliced onions and peppers and put those in the fridge as well, then poured two tall glasses of iced tea, handing one to Rafe, who had just climbed down from the ladder.

“Thanks.”

“You’re sweating. You should take a break.”

He took a couple of gulps of tea, then set it on the kitchen counter. “I’m good. I want to get this finished.”

She resisted the urge to lean into him, to rub herself against his sweaty T-shirt and oh, God, what was wrong with her? She was turned on by man sweat? Then again, Rafe smelled good. Maybe there was just something about the guy’s pheromones that got to her. All she knew was she wanted to climb him like a rock wall and have her way with him right there on the kitchen floor.

She sighed.

“You okay?” he asked, tilting his head to the side in question.

“Oh. Me? Sure, I’m fine.” She picked up her glass of tea and took several long swallows.

Walk it back a bit, Carmen. The man is doing your lights, not you.

Unfortunately.

Clearly, it was time to try out the new underwear.

She watched his extremely awesome ass climb back up the ladder.

“Do you need help?” she asked.

“No, thanks, I’ve got this.”

She chewed on her bottom lip and balanced on the balls of her feet, making sure he wasn’t going to check on her. He was focused. Not on her.

“Okay, then. I’ve got to go . . . fold laundry in my room. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Sure,” he said, not even looking at her.

While his attention was diverted on her kitchen ceiling, she dashed into her bedroom, stripped out of her clothes and took a quick shower. She lotioned her body from top to bottom, then grabbed one of the new bras and panties from the laundry basket, happy she’d washed those first while Rafe had been busy plumbing her grandpa’s bathroom. She’d chosen the hot pink one because the color looked sexy