Pushing His Luck - Rhyannon Byrd Page 0,37
son’s eyes. And Paul actually paid attention to him, listening to what he said and making an effort to get to know him, which made Jase like him even more.
And as for Jase’s mom… Well, she was starting to realize that she actually more than liked him, which was as terrifying as it was exciting. Especially since she still wasn’t sure exactly how deep his feelings for her went.
Paul had texted her that morning to let her know that he was going to be at the bonfire that night—adding that he couldn’t wait to see her—and in light of the occasion, she’d taken extra care with her appearance, curling her hair and wearing a new silky, bronze sundress, since Paul had seemed to be a big fan of the similar-colored top she’d worn the night he’d driven her to the hospital. She’d also made arrangements with her parents to watch Jase for the night—not that she was planning on jumping the sexy detective’s bones or anything. But…that also didn’t mean she was going to pass up the opportunity if it presented itself.
And that thought really got the butterflies going in her belly.
It was a beautiful summer evening, with a gentle breeze and the smell of Chris’s BBQ already filling the air, and she couldn’t stop a smile from curving her lips as she stepped out onto the warm sand. And, yeah, the smile got even bigger when she saw that Paul was already there, his tall body standing by the grill that Chris had brought down, talking with her cousin while Chris basted what had to be nearly two dozen ribs. Paul was dressed in a casual gray button-down, with the cuffs rolled up on his tanned forearms, and cargo shorts, his dark hair windblown and still in need of a trim. His profile was so rugged and masculine, she had to fight the impulse to run across the sand and launch herself into his powerful arms, kissing her way up the side of his strong, corded throat, until she was once again lost in the delicious heat and taste of his mouth.
As if he could feel the weight of her hungry stare—of her bone-melting need—Paul suddenly glanced her way, his body seeming to jolt a little when he caught sight of her, the heat in his gaze making her feel a bit lightheaded as he looked her over, from the top of her head down to her bare toes that were digging into the sand.
He walked away from Chris without so much as a word, and she smirked at the sound of Chris’s loud chuckle when he looked over his shoulder and figured out why Paul had suddenly bailed on him.
Shooting her laughing cousin the bird over his shoulder, while he kept running his warm, appreciative stare over every tingling inch of her, Paul huskily said, “You look fucking gorgeous, Rin.”
Her lips twitched with a smile as she responded with a soft, “So do you.”
“We have about twenty minutes before the food is ready,” he rasped, his deep voice sounding even rougher than usual as he lifted his molten gaze—from where it had settled on her braless breasts—back to hers. “Walk with me?”
“I’d love to,” she said so enthusiastically, it brought a smile to his handsome face.
The second he took hold of her hand, giving it a little squeeze, she could literally feel the excitement—the heady anticipation—coursing through her veins. They headed toward the surf, then set off north, the crashing of the waves providing a soothing backdrop to the frenzied rushing of her pulse in her ears.
They’d been walking for less than a minute, when Paul’s deep voice broke the charged silence. “I’ve been too chickenshit to ask over text, but are you seeing anyone?”
She shook her head. “Of course not. You…asked me not to.”
“Good,” he breathed out with a heavy sigh of relief, his hand tightening around hers.
“Um, how about you?”
He shot her a sharp look, dark brows knitting over his intense blue eyes. “Are you serious?”
She gave a nearly imperceptible nod, her breath held tight in her chest as she waited for him to answer the question.
“No, baby, I’m not seeing anyone.” Her instant relief must have been easy to read, because his lips curved with one of those crooked grins that always looked so freaking sexy on him…never failing to make her pulse race, and he shook his head as he said, “Hell, I don’t even notice other women anymore.”
She probably would have rolled her