He drove to her place, keeping up a steady back-and-forth over her city-girl ways and his country-boy ways.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
Ally texted Hailey to let her know she and Ethan would be a little late on account of a fishing mishap, but to go ahead and start the party without them. Hailey would spread the word to everyone else. Feeling cozy and warm in Ethan’s hoodie, a thick gray sweatshirt that was so big she could sit on it, she was a lot more comfortable on the drive to her place than she was back at the lake. Well, as comfortable as she could be now that she’d crossed the line with Ethan. Her lips tingled at the memory of that incredible kiss, sensual and passionate. That kiss told her Ethan knew exactly what to do with a woman.
And she desperately wanted him to do her.
No other man had ever turned her on so much with just a kiss.
She wanted to trust him. She wanted him. Her body said yes, her brain screamed no, and her heart was not available for comment, locked up in her tight chest.
She blew out a breath. One step at a time.
She glanced over at him in the driver’s seat, looking all composed, not shaken up like her. It was just a kiss. No big. Keep it light.
Ethan parked in front of her building, got out, walked around, and opened her door for her.
“Such gentleman manners,” she teased. “I heard Mr. Campbell taught all you guys.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She laughed and stepped out of the Jeep. He shut the door behind her. “Thank you.”
His gaze raked down her body before meeting her eyes with a hungry look that made her throb. “I like you wearing my hoodie.”
She flipped the hood up over her head. “This old thing?”
He held her chin. “You look like you’re mine.”
She shivered, suddenly breathless, her heart pounding in her ears.
He chuckled, a dirty low sound, and guided her upstairs, one large hand on the small of her back. She moved at a quick pace, spurred by adrenaline.Think practically. They were both soaking wet, the priority was getting warm and dry before joining their friends at the party. Yes, the party! A built-in deadline for them to work toward. As long as they kept their distance for just a little while more, everything would be fine. She’d ignore the lust that made her limbs heavy and her belly flutter and all of her feel alive.
One step at a time.
She glanced at Ethan in his soaking wet clothes and realized he must be cold. It was mid-October and the temperature was dropping enough to put a nip in the air. He was too tough to admit to being chilly.
As soon as she got inside, she took off his hoodie and handed it to him. “Here, so you can warm up while I shower.”
His eyes were hungry, eating her up. “I’m plenty warm.”
She tossed the hoodie at him and he caught it one-handed. She grabbed the remote off the coffee table. “You can watch some sports.”
He took the remote. “Exactly how long are you planning to take?”
“I’ll try to be quick, but I have to deal with my hair, dry it and everything. I’ll get you a towel so you can sit on the sofa.”
“I’ll stand.”
She shook her head, went to her bedroom, got a towel from the closet, and returned, offering it to him. He remained arms crossed, standing in front of the TV. At least he was wearing his hoodie.
She put the towel on the sofa and returned to him. “Now you can take a seat.”
He cupped the back of her neck and squeezed, gazing into her eyes. “You don’t listen very well, do you?”
Her breath hitched, her pulse skittering, nearly light-headed with lust. “I’m being helpful,” she whispered.
“Helpful,” he echoed with a hint of amusement like he was onto her ways, trying to be all practical instead of throwing herself at him.
