Wrapped Up in You - Jill Shalvis Page 0,47
She sighed. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what exactly?”
She gestured to the coffee she hadn’t yet taken from him.
“You mean being nice to you?” He shrugged. “I like you.”
She just looked at him.
“Blame your sunshine-y sweet nature,” he said dryly. “And don’t worry, I’m not expecting anything in return. Take the coffee, Ivy.”
She did, and sipped cautiously but didn’t burn her tongue. It was the perfect temperature for gulping, so she did exactly that. A minute later, she drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Thank you,” she said, refraining from letting him know that in that very second, she’d have given him anything he wanted.
“Was there any trouble after I left last night?” he asked.
“Yeah, some guy was parked out front of my place all night.”
Their gazes met. His easygoing expression never changed, and she realized that though she’d thought she was the master of hiding in plain sight, she was nothing but an apprentice, because the real master stood right in front of her. “I almost called the cops,” she told him. “But they don’t like to go out to that area if they don’t have to.”
“A good reason to get into that condo in Caleb’s new building sooner rather than later.”
“I’m working on it. And the neighborhood’s not that bad,” she said. “I’ve—”
“—Lived in worse,” he finished for her. “Yeah, I know.”
She laughed a little, not sure if she was flattered or uncomfortable at how well he’d come to know her in such a short time. She began prep work for breakfast. “If it makes you feel better,” she said while she chopped, sliced, and diced. “I’m hopefully moving soon.”
He smiled.
“What?”
“You look excited whenever you talk about your new place. It’s cute.”
“I’m not cute. Take it back.”
“Can’t. Cuz you are cute.”
“No. Cute’s for . . .” She searched her brain. “Puppies and kittens.”
“And sexy women who don’t even realize they’re sexy.”
Shaking her head—and ignoring a serious tummy flutter—she plated three breakfast tacos and handed them over.
Kel looked down at the plate in surprise. “What’s this?”
“Maybe I’m trying to be nice to you too.”
His dark eyes warmed. “I didn’t ask.”
“I know. But I also know you love my food.” Which she took great pride in. She was also a sucker for anyone who appreciated her, so she gestured to the stool in the corner. “Sit. If I know Caleb, it’ll be the only time you sit all day.”
He did and immediately dug in, letting out a rough, heartfelt groan, the sound of pleasure pulling at spots inside her she’d forgotten about. She wondered if he made that same sound when he was in bed with a woman.
Not that she was ever going to find out.
Unless . . . that was what he chose as his spoils from last night’s bet. Because it would be rude to back out on a bet, right? Rolling her eyes at herself, she turned back to her prep work.
“Tell me about the condo.”
“You’ve been to the building. You work in that building,” she said. “You probably know more than I do.”
“I like the light in your eyes when you talk about it.”
More tummy squishing. “It’s a great location. It’s got a great view. And the kitchen . . .” She couldn’t hold back a grin. “Once I get in there and start cooking, you’ll have to come over—” She broke off as she realized he’d be gone.
His smile faded. “I would’ve liked to see you in it.”
Their gazes met and held. She shrugged off the unmistakable sense of longing and kept working.
When he finished eating, he cleaned up after himself and then removed the knife from her hand before pulling her into him. Then he kissed her. It was a pretty great kiss, and when their tongues touched, she moaned.
Pulling back, eyes on fire, he took a deep breath, like it’d been hard to stop kissing her. “If you have any problems,” he said. “Any at all, I want you to call me and let me help you take care of it.”
“Always the cop.”
He smiled against her mouth, taking her bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a naughty little tug that caused a secondary reaction deep inside. “Not always.”
She had to bite back another moan. “Okay,” she managed breathlessly. “So when you’re not a cop or cowboy, you’re . . . what? A Boy Scout?”
Cupping the back of her head, he held her still and kissed her again, taking his sweet-ass time as he took her completely apart, and