“My life is in these few square blocks. Yours is on the road.” And if she wasn’t careful, he’d take her heart with him when he left.
“Yet we always manage to find each other,” he said.
She snorted. “Because we’ve never let it go too far. If we did, it would be over, just like that.”
“Trouble, with me it goes on and on. And that’s a promise.”
Her nipples believed him. “When it comes to women, you burn hot and fast. And while I’m sure it would be an incredible night, it’s not worth getting burned.”
“Oh, I’m worth it,” he whispered. “And let’s be real, sex between us wouldn’t just be hot, it would be a slow, scorching heat that would light you up from the inside out and last long into the next day.”
She was afraid it would last forever.
“It’s a work night, and we are on a tight timeline,” she said, and as far as excuses went, it was about as lame as washing her hair, but she was desperate for an out.
“How about this weekend?” he asked, and she was tempted to say yes. How many times had she dreamed of the perfect date with the perfect man? “Wait, scratch that, I have plans.”
“Is this the weekend you have to go to LA to meet with the label?” she asked.
“No. That’s next weekend,” he corrected. “And I thought you were going with me. They want to know how the album is progressing, and what better way than to bring along the talent behind the music.”
“I’m sure your talent will be enough to fill the room,” Mackenzie teased. “Plus, Muttley isn’t air-travel confident yet.” And neither was she.
“Which makes it the perfect trip to practice. I’ll be there, so if anything—”
She rested a gentle hand on his cheek. “We’re not there yet.”
His jaw tensed beneath her touch, as if he had more to say on the subject but was holding back. His chest rose and fell, then a smile tugged at his mouth. “Well then, this is your lucky weekend. As I am spending two nights and three days in the countryside outside Nashville and am in need of a travel companion.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course you are.”
“No planes or trains required. Just a simple yes, Trouble.” He rested his hand over hers and her nipples perked up, giving her the A-OK to accept.
She laughed. “The yes might be simple, but the aftermath, I’m not so sure.”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that this weekend comes with a two-foot-tall, live-in chaperone?” I promised to babysit Caroline so Brody and Savannah can have a little adult fun.” He linked their fingers and slid her hand to his lips, pressing an openmouthed kiss to her palm. “And after the rugrat goes to bed, we can have our own adult fun.”
She could hear the smile in his words; hers was ready to shatter. While three days of adult fun with Hunter away from the security of work was beyond tempting, it was also a colossally bad idea. Spending it with an adorable but unpredictable toddler was a disaster in the making.
She closed her eyes and reminded herself to breathe.
Hunter with his niece would absolutely melt her heart in so many ways she couldn’t even comprehend. Hunter with his niece would also be an aching reminder of just how far apart their worlds actually were. Something that was easy to ignore when cocooned in the security of her house.
There was no doubt that Hunter was born to be a father. And she was equally as confident that parenthood was not in her future.
“Muttley and I meet with our sponsor on Saturdays.” She pulled her hand back. “Plus, I need to get some things done around the house this weekend.”
He was silent for a long while, and she could feel his scrutiny, as if trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. “Well, if you change your mind I can come get you.”
“I won’t.” She untangled herself from his lap and stood. “How long will you be gone?”
“Why, Trouble? Are you going to miss me?” His tone was teasing, but she could feel his disappointment.
“I was just thinking through my weekend plans.” And how, if she was going to fulfill her goal of hitting the market every day, she’d have to go it alone.
At least peaches are in season,she assured herself.
“It’s a short trip.” He stood too. “They leave Friday and get back Sunday night.”
