“It’s not reallythatcompetitive,” he promised.
When she reached up to push her hair back again, her finger caught in a clump of paint and she winced. “I wish Mom had let us clean up before starting dinner.”
“She probably knew if we all scattered and took showers and then sat for a minute in the air-conditioning, she’d play hell getting us all gathered together outside again.”
“True. It was hot today.” She turned and gave him that little smile that brought a heat no air conditioner could cool. “Do you still have chocolate ice cream in your freezer?”
“I told you I would.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d eaten it by now. By yourself.”
“It’s not as satisfying eating ice cream alone. I might have snuck a few quick bites here and there, but mostly I’m saving it for you.”
She laughed, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. “Are we still talking about ice cream?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.” He laughed. “It works on so many levels.”
After taking a deep breath, she locked her gaze with his. “Feel like company later?”
“Yes.” He didn’t even have to think about it.
“I’ll stop over for some ice cream later, then, once everything’s cleaned up and everybody’s settled into whatever they’re doing tonight.”
“If you’re thinking about using some shrubbery to disguise yourself as a bush and sneak your way to my porch, be careful crossing the street.”
She laughed and slapped his thigh and then let her hand linger there. “I was actually thinking I might just walk across the street because I’m a grown woman and I can do what I want.”
Even as distracted as he was by the very welcome sensation of her hand on his leg, Case recognized her words as a big step for her. She was going to cross the street to visit him without trying to hide it from her family.
“I’ll probably wash the paint out of my hair first,” she continued, and he laughed with her.
He didn’t care if she had paint in her hair or not. All that mattered to him was Gwen was willing tonothide the fact they had a relationship outside of working together on Sutton’s Place. She wasn’t hiring a skywriter, of course, but it wouldn’t be long before word got around and she knew it. It was a big step for her.
And he’d make sure tonight was definitely worth it.
Chapter Fifteen
The Hall family would like to thank Dave Wagner for finding their beloved ferret, who slipped from his harness during his daily walk. And Dave would like to thank the Stonefield Police Department for responding so quickly when he called them because he was (and we quote) “just screaming like that goat on the internet because something furry ran over my face while I was watching the ball game.” The ferret is safely back in the Halls’ home and Dave’s eye has almost stopped twitching.
—Stonefield GazetteFacebook Page
Having spotted Boomer’s nose pressed against the window, Gwen wasn’t surprised when the door opened before she even had a chance to knock. Case’s welcome smile shifted into an amused grin, complete with raised eyebrow, when he saw her.
“Can I borrow your shower?” she asked, holding up her tote bag.
“Absolutely,” he said, stepping back so she could enter. “Can I help?”
She laughed while she greeted Boomer. “Mom got her notebook out and the conversation was getting intense. I was trying to sneak away for a shower when I heard ‘we need to make a list’ and I’m not proud of it, but I threw some stuff in a bag and ran.”
“That paint’s been in your hair awhile. You might need some help washing it out, and I’m happy to volunteer for the job.”
She gave Boomer a final pat and turned back to Case, hauling him in for a sizzling kiss that had him moaning against her mouth. “I kind of thought you might.”
After giving Boomer a fresh dog chew to demolish and putting a baseball game on for him, Case grabbed her bag and led her up the stairs.
It didn’t take long for Gwen to realize Case’s fingers gently working shampoo through her hair while his naked body pressed against hers was one of her new favorite things. When he found a clump of paint, he’d work it with his fingers until it broke up and could be washed away. And he even managed to stay focused while she was running her hands over his slick body.
She couldn’t help herself. She loved the feel of his lean muscles under her hands, and if she didn’t explore him thoroughly, how would she know he had a ticklish spot halfway up his right side?
