have the laptop back yet,” he answers, misunderstanding. But I watch his eyes drop slowly to my lips. He wants me, even if he pushed himself away last night.
I lick them in preparation, hopeful for another taste of his strength and heat. Can’t he understand that I’m not scared, that I’ve seen the dark side of him and I’m not going away? I see the way he wars with the decision in his gaze and wonder if he knows that his own lips have parted and turned up at the corners.
Not a smirk, or arrogance, but hunger. For me. The smoldering desire overwhelms everything else, and the whole world fades away. All that matters is Connor.
But he’s not as lost as I am.
He takes a half-step back, swallowing before jerking his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
The order surprises me. I wanted him to do what we both want and kiss me. Hell, I wanted him to pick me up, throw me on my bed, and tear my clothes off before ravaging my more than willing body. So I’m disappointed, painfully so. Especially at my core, which is so wet I might as well be swimming in the ocean.
The sharp stab of the lost opportunity breaks the surface, reminding me of what today is about. My laptop. My manuscript. If Connor can focus, so can I.
“Yeah, let’s go.” I walk quickly out to the living room, where Nut and Juice are now napping on the sofa. I gave up long ago trying to keep them off the furniture, and now, I don’t dare disturb them. They always wake up grumpy, but especially so when I’m leaving. So I’m as quiet as I can be while grabbing my keys and purse. Connor follows, leading me out to his truck, and we drive to the pawn shop.
It’s sunny today, which makes the place look somehow even grungier than it did yesterday afternoon. Against the bright blue sky, the yellow awning appears even more faded and sad, and the dirty windows are covered in streaks from where the rain ran down.
“I need you to do something for me,” Connor says as we park. “Dead serious, Poppy.”
The way he just called me Poppy has me nodding and half melting. God, to hear him say my name . . . “Anything.”
“Keep your mouth shut and follow my lead.”
And there’s my little dose of ice water to put me back on track. “No way.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you had a plan.” He side-eyes me, holding a hand out in invitation to share this magical, mystical, and nonexistent plan. Unfortunately, he’s right. I plan out books and stories in slightly messy but organized ways.
Life? About the only thing I’m not diving for that I want is between his legs, and that’s because I don’t think I can get my head in between his steering wheel and his crotch.
“I’m going to ask for it,” I tell him in reply, acting as if I’ve had a legit plan for hours. “If that doesn’t work, then I’ll demand it. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll start smashing shit and throwing anything in arm’s reach until he gives me the laptop just to get me to stop.”
Connor laughs. It still sounds a little rusty, like it did at his parents’ house, but it’s warm and genuine and sends little chills down my spine. Later, I’ll replay it in my mind and enjoy it, maybe in bed where I can really appreciate it like I did last night. Now, it pisses me off.
“What? You don’t think that’ll work?”
Connor turns to look at me, lifting an eyebrow and studying me up and down. “Could it? Sure. But I think you’d have better luck showing him your tits than destroying property. Or, you know, there’s always the option to buy it. You know, more flies with honey than vinegar and all that?”
“Oh.” Duh. I was more than happy to toss money Manuel’s way yesterday. Now I’m all kick ass and take names. Why? “I didn’t . . . think of that.”
“Let’s try that first. Just follow my lead.” Without waiting for my reply, he gets out and walks around the truck to open the door for me. Gentlemanly, despite the fact that he doesn’t think he is.
The inside of the pawn shop’s about as worn down and grimy as the exterior. Most of the stuff on display looks like it’s barely worth the space it’s taking up, let alone what some of the price