The Lucky in Love Collection - Lauren Blakely Page 0,93
twice about it.”
“You agree, right?”
“Of course.”
“So we’re on the same page,” I say, pressing.
“Let me make one thing clear.” He meets my gaze, his dark-brown eyes holding mine intently. “I had every intention of meeting you on Thursday night, kissing you senseless until your knees wobbled and your panties were so damn wet you had to come home to change. I’d have gotten you so goddamn riled up, you’d be squirming on your bed that night, aching and wet again, and call me, begging me to talk dirty to you till you came hard with your fingers.”
Oh. My. God.
I’m officially a melted puddle of lust. Grab a mop, swab me up. I’m liquid, molten desire seeping across my kitchen floor.
I part my lips to speak, but a moan traitorously escapes instead.
A fucking moan.
I clamp my lips shut.
He arches a brow, his eyes saying he likes that sound. “And I still want that. Do you?”
I test my jaw to see if it works. Oh hey, it does. “Sure. That’s why living together would be a bad idea.”
“Absolutely. Besides, I’m sure I can get the money back from him.”
My shoulders fall. “You already paid for the room?”
“First month’s rent. It’s not a big deal, and we’ll clear it up. I’ll get the money back.”
The knife of guilt slices deeper. “Of course he’ll give you the money back. Did you sign an agreement too?”
“Yes, but we’re all adults here. If you want out, that’s cool.”
I take a drink of wine, noodling on his dilemma. If I’m kicking him out of a deal, I need to find a place for him. I need to understand, too, what he’s looking for and why. “Why don’t you have a place to stay?”
“I’ve been staying at my sister’s house, as I said. Her husband was called overseas shortly after the baby was born, and the timing worked out with me looking for a new job. I took one here so I could be near Jodie while he’s in Afghanistan.”
My heart lurches with sympathy. That’s precisely what he told me when I pulled him over, minus the Afghanistan part. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for his sister—and for his brother-in-law, to have to leave his family.
“How is she managing without him?”
“She’s a tough cookie. It’s not his first time having to go, so she’s accustomed to it. But it’s not easy, especially since she’s a working mom.”
“What does she do?”
“She’s a baker. She sells the best walnut blue cheese bread at the farmers market.”
Pride suffuses his voice as he talks about his sister. Hunger rumbles in my belly when he mentions the bread. “Jodie?”
His chocolate-brown eyes light up. “That’s her. You know her?”
“I know of her. Her bread is legendary, and I might have been known to indulge in a loaf or two.”
His smile spreads across his face. “That’s awesome. I’ll have to let her know. Seems like she’s heard of you too.”
This intel intrigues me. I take a drink of wine. “Is that so?”
His eyes travel along my body. “She might have mentioned yesterday that there was a pretty cop who worked at the market.”
I might love Jodie even more, this baked goods goddess I hardly know. “Pretty cop? I’m flattered.”
He takes another swallow, his eyes never looking away. “And I might have mentioned to her that I’d been pulled over by the prettiest cop in the entire universe.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes. “And now you’re just trying to butter me up to get me to let you stay.”
“If I were trying to butter you up, I’d have brought some of the bread. Anyway, it’s the God’s honest truth. What can I say? I wanted you from the second you pulled me over.”
Is there any word sexier than want? My skin tingles, and my bones hum from the boldness with which he owns his desire.
But this predicament isn’t about desire.
It’s about choices and circumstance, and, well, those pesky things known as bills. I sidestep his comment. “And it’s not working out staying with her?”
“She’s got three kids, and there are no extra rooms. I’ve been sleeping on the couch, so I’m looking for a place somewhere else to stay.”
“It’s tough to find rentals in this town,” I say sympathetically. “The housing situation in California is insane, especially in wine country. It’s hard for me as a regular person—news flash, I’m not making Mrs. Monopoly jack as a cop—to live here. The only reason I can is that my mom’s aunt gave this place to