that I’m standing outside Dean’s house visualizing sex again, I’m starting to feel highly uneasy.
Dean opens the door, and his scent immediately hits me, causing me to bite my lip to hide my pleased smirk. God, he always smells so good. It’s hard to resist the urge to press my nose into his chest every time he’s near. His cologne probably costs more than my car payment, though.
He props his arm on the doorframe, offering me an easy smile as he stands barefoot in a pair of jeans and an untucked button-down, looking all tall, dark, and Boulder. He’s trimmed his beard to a five o’clock shadow again, and I have to admit, I prefer him this way.
I thrust the Tupperware into his hands that I brought and swipe at the sweat collecting on my upper lip. “It’s a seven-layer strawberry cream cake.”
“I already made dessert,” Dean replies, narrowing his eyes at me. “I told you I was cooking tonight, Norah.”
“You can save it for later then. I’m a baker, Dean. I rarely show up anywhere without something.”
Dean tilts his head and adjusts his glasses while his penetrating gaze takes a slow inspection of my body. “I’m glad you ditched the baker’s coat and classic rock bandana because you look good enough to eat.” He winks before stepping back and gesturing for me to come in. As I walk past him, he leans down and whispers in my ear, “And I’m not just saying that because you’re probably wearing sexy lingerie underneath those clothes.”
“Um…thank you?” I chirp while biting my lip and trying my best to ignore the flurry of butterflies that once again take flight in my belly at the feel of his hot breath on my neck.
As I walk through the entryway and enter the living room, the swirling in my stomach stops when I see the image before me. “I thought you were rich,” I blurt out, pointing at the floor.
“What?” Dean laughs and strides past me toward the attached kitchen.
I point at the seating. “What kind of rich guy has beanbags for furniture?”
“Those are surprisingly comfortable.” He pulls two beers out of the refrigerator and uses a bottle opener before returning to where I’m standing. “Come on, try one out.”
He passes me the beer, and I take a sip, wincing at the bitter taste of the IPA. “Refreshing.”
He pins me with a seductive look. “Now have a drink while sitting on my beanbag.”
I bark out a laugh. “Not when you say it like that.”
“How did I say it?” His eyes dance with mirth as he watches me with a delighted smirk.
My nose wrinkles, and I curl away from him. “Like you just asked me to sit and spin or something.”
Dean lets out a deep, genuine laugh that brings those butterflies back fast and furious. “It’s just a beanbag chair, Norah. Not a sex swing.”
He takes a drink, and my eyes fixate on his Adam’s apple as it slides down his thick neck. “Do you have a sex swing?”
“No.” He nearly spits out his beer. “Do you?”
“That’s a firm no,” I retort and shiver at the thought. “My kinkiness ends at lingerie and pink vibrators.”
“Works for me.” He waggles his eyebrows and takes another sip before gesturing back to the chairs. “C’mon, Norah, squish around in the beanbag chair. It’ll be fun.”
“Sitting is fun?” I roll my eyes before turning to lower myself onto the noisy seat. I look at him, completely unimpressed. “It…feels like a beanbag chair.”
“I know, right?” Dean replies excitedly and flops down next to me. He takes a sip of his beer before frowning at me. “What gave you the impression I was rich?”
“Oh, I don’t know…maybe the fancy clothes you wear and the car you drive…and that pesky half a million you invested in my bakery.”
Dean rolls his eyes “The clothes and car are kind of like your lingerie obsession. You wear sexy lingerie to feel powerful, and I wear nice clothes and drive a nice car to feel successful. I actually agree with you. You get out what you put into the universe.”
“Okay…” I take another drink, my brows still furrowed. “And the bakery?”
He shrugs casually. “That’s business.”
“So…you’re not rich?”
He lifts his shoulders. “I’m comfortable.”
“Why are you being so cryptic?”
“Why are you being so nosy?” He laughs. “Are you rich?”
“Um…I was starting to feel pretty comfortable, but now I’m pretty poor because I’ve re-invested a lot of my money back into my business. It doesn’t mean I can’t afford a decent