Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,278

doesn’t stay there long, because the man is shirtless. I can’t help the way my eyes run down his naked torso, along the lines of his pecs, the way a bead of sweat drips off one nipple. I’ve never been particularly drawn to a man’s nipples, but hell if I can’t stop looking at Fletcher’s. My eyes drop lower, to his abs. They’re not sculpted out like someone on a romance novel cover, but there are six defined bumps that are possibly even sexier than the ripped and toned muscles of a body builder. Just the peak of muscle underneath normal, human flesh makes him more approachable, which I think makes me more attracted to him. He’s not the typical pretty boy, Roman god I go for … there is a real down-to-earth quality about him.

Fletcher has the kind of chest hair that is sexy, without being too much, and it darkens in color as the trail of it slips beneath his waistband. He has on simple black running shorts and black sneakers, with wireless headphones around his head. I wonder what he’s listening to.

“Uh-huh …” He clears throat, and I realize I’ve been staring at him for far too long.

Tapping my one earbud to stop my book, I fight the furious blush working its way over my cheeks. “Sorry, just … in shock I guess you could say.”

He gives me a look as if to say, “yeah, about my body.” Hmm, how adorably cocky.

“Again, sorry. I just saw you and didn’t want to not say hi.”

“I guess it would have been awkward if we were both running around the same lake without saying hi.” A nervous laugh comes out of my mouth.

Also, because you kissed me in the most toe-curling way two days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it. Which I do, right in front of him … start thinking about it. I can tell he’s thinking about it, too.

Lord, that kiss was good. It was the kind of kiss that warms you up from the inside out, like sitting in front of a fire on a cold winter night and allowing sweet, rich hot chocolate to fill your tummy.

“You pushed me away when I kissed you.”

Another giggle bursts from my lips. “Talk about not making this awkward.”

In truth, I was being a coward about it, and he was being more of an adult even with our three-year age gap.

I had pushed him away. The reaction my brain and heart had while Fletcher was kissing me … it scared the crap out of me. It was enough that I thought he was the first decent man I’d met in ages, but then he had to go and kiss me into oblivion and …

Shit.

I sigh. “I know I did. Fletcher … I told you my dating history. It’s not hard to make the assumption that I jump into relationships. I am the type of girl who practically lives with a guy after the first date.”

“Well, my apartment is definitely not big enough for that.” The joke has him smiling, and me giving him a glare.

“I’m serious. I don’t know how to … go slow. I’m not even sure I’m ready to try to date someone, when I don’t even know what I want for myself.”

Fletcher nods and then gives me a look that says he’s going to level with me. “You may jump in too quickly, but I’ve never even jumped in. The longest relationship I’ve ever had was probably a two-month fling in high school where I only hung out with the girl with other groups of people. I’ve spent the last five years completely avoiding dating, so all I know is slow. Or should I say, my dating speed is like one mile per hour, the car is barely even rolling.”

That makes me smile, because he’s so good-looking and honest, it’s a wonder how he’s still on the market.

Fletcher continues. “I think we should stop ignoring this connection between us. There is that spark, and it’s rare. Even I know that, and I haven’t been in a relationship … well, I think we established, ever.”

“What I’m trying to tell you is that I feel that spark way too often. I can’t trust that feeling anymore, because it always burns me.”

He shakes his head, that boyish smile of his making my heart do a backflip. “Nah, I don’t buy that. You might have been attracted to those guys, but you didn’t feel the spark. Your mind has