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“You’re sure?”
He nodded, his jaw still carved in granite.
She moved closer, pressing her baby belly against his flat, firm abs. “Are you going to stay mad at me?”
He stubbornly kept his chin down, head averted toward the door. She leaned in and tilted her head to catch his gaze.
A corner of his mouth twitched.
She held back her smile while gently massaging the muscles of his forearms beneath her hands. He let his arms relax, lowering them to brace on the table on either side of him. Their gazes met, and that familiar warmth curled low in her belly while simultaneously heating up her cheeks. They’d been together four months now, and she wanted him as much now as the first night they’d met, and every time since then. Maybe even a bit more with her sex drive increased due to the pregnancy hormones.
When he remained silent, she slipped her hands under his red Lockhart Construction logo shirt and flattened her palms against the hard muscles of his stomach. The alluring scent of warm male and fresh lumber teased her senses, making her fingers dig into his skin as she fought the urge to strip his shirt over his head.
His eyes darkened as his gaze lowered to her lips, but he did nothing to close the distance between them. Yes, she was deliberately using seduction to soften his anger, but he damn well knew it the same as her. If he truly was upset, he’d tell her to stop and walk away.
She contemplated switching direction to undo the button on his jeans. Even though they’d made love the night before, she wanted nothing more than to go lock the door and be very, very unprofessional with him right then and there.
“Don’t be starting anything you can’t finish,” he warned.
The low rasp of his voice wrapped around her, setting off a throb of desire deep within. Still, she fought temptation and lowered her hands to rest on his hips. “I know. Sorry.” But then she couldn’t help but sneak the tips of her fingers inside the waistband of his jeans.
“That doesn’t feel like you’re sorry.”
She leaned forward to rest her forehead against his chest with a soft whimper. Her belly didn’t let her get as close as she’d like. “It’s the pregnancy thing again. I cry at the drop of a hat, and I can’t get enough of you.”
His hands cupped her face and tilted it up to him. “And after the baby? Will the honeymoon be over?”
Her pulse skipped at the word honeymoon, but she still managed to tease, “Could be. You should probably take what you can now just to be on the safe side.”
His soft, husky chuckle tickled her stomach as he leaned in. “I’m all for some hot office sex, but I’m also still on probation. How about I meet you back here at four?”
“Hmm. So very tempting, but I was thinking after work we’d go to your studio so I could take those pictures.”
“Or…we could go now.” He pulled back slightly to brush his thumb over her bottom lip. “It is work related.”
“Look at you. Still on probation and corrupting your boss.”
He arched his eyebrows. “Is that a yes or a no?”
“That’s a let’s go.”
“Good. And then I’ll still meet you back here at four, too.” When she arched her eyebrows back at him, he grinned. “You’re not the only one who can’t get enough.”
Chapter 30
Merit paced from one side of the art gallery’s back storeroom to the other, fingers clasped behind his head as he tried to get a handle on his nerves. Five weeks ago, Mae had sold two of his paintings to her client, Brennan, and while he was on a high from the sale, she’d talked him into letting her arrange a show.
Now he stood here, wondering why the hell had he agreed to let people view his paintings? Let them stand there and judge his art. Judge him. They wouldn’t know it was him, but that did nothing to alleviate the knots that had been tumbling around in his stomach as the day drew closer. Today, he hadn’t been able to eat a damn thing without feeling like he’d puke.
He’d never expected Mae to plan the damn thing two days before Thanksgiving. He’d thought she’d wait until after the holidays, and then, with the baby due January twenty-third, he figured she’d be too busy to be bothered. Looking back, he should’ve known she’d run full speed ahead the moment he gave her the go ahead. The woman was a force to be reckoned with once she set her mind to something.
Frustrating and scary as it could be when he was on the receiving end, he absolutely loved her strength and independence. Everything about her and the life she’d built for her and Ian inspired him to not be a chicken shit and give it a shot. See what happened…until he had to work up the courage to walk out into the room where his creations hung for the all the world to see.
As the low buzz of voices filtered in from the main gallery, anxiety gnawed at his insides and doubt flooded in once more.
No one will know it’s you.
He raked a hand through his hair, and straightened his spine at the reminder of Mae’s promise. Complete anonymity. Without it, it didn’t matter how inspiring she was, he’d have said no. But she promised, and he had said yes, so it was time to face the music. Or the critics, as it may be.
