A shiver races along my spine, then dashes down my legs too. I try to catch my breath, but it’s not easy since I’m also catching a hint of his scent—citrus and cedar and a bit of soap. It’s intoxicating, like it was the night we spent together.
But I don’t get in the car yet, since Captain goes first. Sawyer opens the back door for my pup. “Load up,” I tell the best boy in the world, grateful to focus on him.
Captain hops inside and lies down, his big brown eyes on me, asking if he did good. “You’re the best,” I tell him.
Sawyer reaches for the passenger door and opens it for me. “After you.”
Well, he’s an assanda gentleman. Not the worst combo. “Thanks for the ride,” I say, smoothing a hand over my high-waisted slacks.
“I had a meeting, so it was no problem,” he says, and as I sit down he walks around the front of the car, and I can’t help but admire his strong frame, the way his clothes fit so well and hug his biceps just so. How his shirt stretches neatly over his abs, then dips down into the waist of his pants. Absently, I drag the corner of my lips along my teeth.
He slides into the front seat, then looks my way. “Admiring the view?”
Heat splashes across my cheeks, but I hold my head up high, denying it with, “Of the street, Sawyer.Of the street.”
He peers down the cute little lane, full of petite bungalows and well-kept lawns bursting with summer flowers. “It’s a nice street. That just makes sense,” he says dryly.
“Thanks. The Horny House is at the end of it.”
He whips his gaze to me. “No shit! I knew this place felt familiar.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You know The Horny House?”
“My sister and her husband—longtime friend of mine—own it. They were gifted it by a listener of their podcast, and they turned it into a place for?—”
“Couples retreats!” I say excitedly, thrilled he knows some of the town lore. “I didn’t realize you were connected.”
“I even encouraged my friend to go after my sister. I knew he had it bad for her.”
“Aren’t you just Mister Enlightened.”
“I try.Sometimes,” he says. “Anyway, cool house. Juliet told me what they did with it.”
“A lady named Dottie is the caretaker now when the houseisn’t being used for retreats. She’s amazing,” I say. “She looks out for everyone.”
“I can see now why you were checking out…the street,” he says, deliberately slow and seductive on those last words.
I remain steadfast though as I say, “I was.”
Sawyer gives me an approving nod. “You look great. Very professional. Not that you ever don’t. I’m just saying—this is a good look for the meeting.”
I glance down at the cap-sleeved blouse with illustrations of delicate wildflowers, then back up. “Thanks. I wanted to look…fashionable? Hollywood-ish?”
“It’s working,” he says. “You’re going to nail this.”
I hear my mom sayconfidenceagain. Sawyer has that for sure. I wish it weren’t so…appealing. “Let’s hope so,” I say.
“I have no doubt,” he says, but then he doesn’t move. He does not start the car. Just furrows his brow.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
He pats the steering wheel. “Change of plans. Let’s take your car.”
“What?” I ask, but it’s not answered since he’s already pushed open his door and is striding over to my orange jalopy in the driveway.
What the hell is he up to? I burst out of the passenger door. “You really want to take my car?”
“Sure,” he says, but fear climbs up my spine when he walks right up to the driver’s side door.
