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“That’s an actual valid excuse.”
He came closer, his woodsy scent washing over me. Gripping my ponytail, he ran his hand from the elastic all the way to the end before flicking the length of it over my shoulder. His fingertips grazed my skin at my collarbone, and my already tingling body went electric.
“I guess we could stay in and do other things.” His gaze dipped to my mouth. Framing my face gently, he lowered his head.
Nervous, I stepped back and stammered, “I, um, have a change of clothes in my SUV.”
“Too bad. I was just warming to the other idea.” His eyes lit with mirth at my expense.
“I’ll go get them.” I started to move around him, but he grabbed my arm.
“Hold on.” His gaze dipped to where he gently gripped me. “Man, your skin’s soft. And I love the way you smell.” Stroking my flesh with his thumb, he looked up, meeting my eyes slowly.
“It’s my lotion.” Fire licked my skin.
“You have that in your SUV too?” He grabbed both my arms and pulled me closer.
“Yeah,” I said huskily. My pulse pounded to the back-and-forth rhythm of his thumbs as he caressed my skin. “In the center console, along with a change of clothes.” After a couple of spills at the bar, I’d learn to always keep an extra set handy.
“I’ll get it for you.”
“I can get it,” I said, shaking my head.
“What kind of gentleman do you think I am?”
“Well, I don’t know, really. You were my best friend, and now you’re ...” I stopped myself, about to sayboyfriend. We were going too fast, or I was in my mind.
“What am I, Addy?” His increased intensity pulsed between us.
“An old friend,” I said. “One I’m getting reacquainted with.” I slammed on the brakes, putting him in a safe category, slowing this down.
“You do a lot of kissing with your old friends?” He was pressing me, probably not liking being placed in the friend zone.
I hadn’t done any kissing in years, none since Paul, and no dating since then. Nothing. But I didn’t want to rehash that. It just made me seem sad and feel sad.
I cranked up my chin. “We haven’t donea lotof kissing.”
“Yet,” he said, and my nipples tightened beneath my damp exercise top.
“Maybe you should get my stuff.” Feeling warm and light-headed, I crossed my arms over my breasts to cover my response to him.
“I’ll show you the bathroom,” he said. “Get you situated first.”
“All right.” I gave in, anything that facilitated spending the dayoutsidehis apartment seeming like a good choice. “Lead the way.”
“Thought you’d never ask. I love to lead, and the lead is something you rarely give.”
He took my hand. Threading his longer fingers with mine, he took me into the hall that I’d noticed on the far side of the main living room. Having our fingers intertwined was comfortable, reassuring, and exciting.
“I like your place. There’s a lot of natural light,” I said, noting the tall windows that stretched to the high ceiling.
“I hoped you’d like it. Music room.” He pointed to a closed door as we passed it. “Tommy’s room.” Another closed door. “Bathroom.” An ajar door. “My room,” he said in front of an open door at the end of the hall.
Oh boy.I gulped, and he let go of my hand. He entered first, and I followed him inside.
“What do you think?” he asked, turning to face me.
“It’s big,” I said, blurting the first thing that came to mind as I glanced around. The leathery scent that was light on him was stronger here, and now I got why.
