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“Furniture shopping first.”

So close, she could feel the hum of his energy vibrating over his skin, and she burned to close the distance and absorb him. “As friends,” she breathed, not daring to admit she’d been looking for an excuse to get close to him again. “In exchange for you fixing my car. We’ll call it even.”

“As friends.” He traced the contours of her lips with his eyes. “And then we can come back here and finish that one-and-only date, with meaningful, commitment-free sex.”

“How many times can you go?”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“You said one night means more than once. I’m just planning my day.” The irresistible warmth that radiated from him filled her veins. “We could get started now.”

His lips curled into a wicked grin, and he leaned closer. In a fluid motion, he slipped his hand around her. Palmed her backside.

And mated his mouth with hers.

Instantly melting into him, she slid her hands under the hem of his shirt.

The feel of his bare skin rushed warmth over her. Smooth and electric against her fingertips, she craved all of him, their bodies touching, wrapping around him and absorbing his energy.

When the kiss didn’t end right away, when he cradled his hands around her jaw, slanted to deepen the angle, she grasped his waist and clung tighter.

Heat melted her muscles and her mind.

Urgency built as he kissed her again and again.

As if he didn’t need to breathe.

“Let’s shop later,” she murmured against his mouth.

He slid his hand down her arm and laced his fingers with hers, sucked her bottom lip and nipped lightly before releasing her. “As much as I would love to dive in right now… I could use a few hours to catch up. Instead of commitment-free hookups, I tend to… not date. If you catch my drift.”

Oh, damn, he was extra adorable. “How long has it been?”

“Um… a decade.”

“I know that feeling well.” She rose to her heels to steal another taste. “As long as you talk to me all day, I can wait. Maybe you could make an audiobook for me or something, so after today, I don’t have to give up… um, that.”

He stopped flat. Gave her a look that said she might as well ask an introvert to host a party for a few dozen acquaintances.

“Fine, no audiobook, but at least during dinner, maybe you could tell me all about your plans for dessert? In detail?” She climbed in the passenger seat, biting her lip to stop the wicked grin from becoming too obvious. He was absolutely, utterly, too much fun.

She belted in and traced her fingers over the buttery-soft leather seat. She clicked on the seat heater.

As heat radiated into her body, she whimpered with relief.

He glanced at her as he shifted into gear.

“I don’t have these.”

“What?”

“Seat heaters. I’m sapping every breath of life from my car so I can save up for a down payment on something like this… well, something closer to this than my piece of shit.”

“Feel the steering wheel.” He nodded to the leather-bound wheel as he slowed for the stop sign.

She reached across and fingered the smooth material of the steering wheel, heat radiating into her hand. Toasty, her icy hands so happy as she stroked the leather, she traced her thumb over the outer curve.

He bit his lips together as a groan rumbled. “My fault.”