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Josh gave him a knowing smile as he tried to wrap his arm around Charlie’s shoulder. But she twisted away, and he grasped her hand. Spencer chuckled to himself. Yesterday morning he’d been ready to murder the guy, and now he felt sorry for him.
Spencer wisely decided to hold off his assault while they were in the car, lest she refuse to invite him upstairs. He could see the emotions flitting across her face. She was obviously nervous about being alone with him. He had to distract her.
“So, my mother says your mom’s improving a lot. Maybe they won’t even need her much longer. I hope she’s still looking for a job.”
“They haven’t discussed it with me, but Steven is so overprotective. I’m sure he’ll want to keep Connie employed just in case they need her again. That’s his modus operandi, throw money at things and cover all your bases.”
“I can see that, especially where your mom’s concerned. Actually, he’s pretty devoted to you and your sister, too. You should have seen him when you were in the hospital and then when you went missing.”
“I know. I feel so bad about that. I can’t understand myself, doing stupid stuff like that.”
“Hey, I wasn’t bringing it up to make you feel bad. I just wanted you to know that... that I think he really loves you—you and Charlie, both. I think he loves you as if you really were his daughters.”
“I know. He really is great.”
“You know, if he really were your dad, you wouldn’t feel bad when he wanted to do things for you. Like paying for Charlie’s college tuition.”
“But he isn’t really our dad.”
“I’m just saying, you should look at it from his perspective. He has money and he likes to spend it on the people he loves. Maybe sometimes you and Charlie might hurt his feelings when you don’t accept what he wants to give you.”
“Maybe.” The closer the car got to the apartment, the more she fidgeted. “Spencer, I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to come upstairs.”
“I’d really like a cup of tea. Surely there’s no harm in that?”
“Okay, but you have to promise not to kiss me.”
“Okay, I promise.” But he wasn’t promising not to kiss her back if she started it.
Emily sat on the couch beside Spencer, drinking tea. They both had on shorts, and she was incredibly cognizant of where his muscled masculine leg pressed against her smooth skin. It was as if every nerve fiber was hypersensitive, firing rapid impulses to scramble her brain. He sat on her right side, holding his tea mug casually in his right hand, with his left arm around the back of the couch. She waited tensely for his hand to slip onto her shoulder, but he kept it on the couch. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or irritated. He was being good. He wasn’t trying to kiss her.
Spencer finished his tea and set it on the table next to him. Then he sat back and his hand rested on her leg. And oh-so-casually his fingers moved, gently caressing her skin. And all of her hypersensitive nerve endings started shooting off like fireworks. She put her hand on top of his to stop its movement. He smiled and interlaced their fingers.
“You know,” he said, “I could do this for hours.”
“Do what?”
“This. Just sitting together. Close. Enjoying your company.” He pulled her hand into his lap and turned her arm over, exposing her wrist. He toyed with the soft smooth skin, sliding his fingers up to the inside of her elbow. She felt her heart pounding inside her chest. He was doing it again, making her lose control. She stiffened, prepared to pull her hand away, when he released it and stood up.
“I’m going to get a refill. Would you like one?”
She stared at him, dazed
and confused. He wasn’t trying to get past her defenses after all. “Uhmm, no thanks.”
He was gone for sixty seconds, pouring fresh hot water over the tea leaves. He returned and set his cup down. “I’ll let it steep.”
He rested his hand lightly on her leg, and she waited for his fingers to move. But his hand remained still. “This is nice,” he said, with a gentle smile. She waited for the light tickling motion to assault her senses, but his fingers didn’t budge. At last, she offered him her upturned wrist.
He grinned at her. “Do you like this?” Once again he began to delicately stroke the soft skin.
She let her head fall back against the couch and reveled in the tingling sensation that started on her arm and spread throughout her body. It was so nice. And she could stop him any time she wanted to. She was totally in control.
His fingers traveled up her bare arm and across her shoulder to her exposed neck, feathering the skin lightly with his fingertips.
“Mmmmm,” she moaned. “You... you won’t kiss me, right?”
He leaned over to whisper in her ear, “No... No, I won’t kiss you.” He nibbled her earlobe with his lips, and she squirmed in response. “But if you kiss me, I won’t stop you.” His soft breath in her ear sent shivers through her body. His lips skimmed from her ear down her neck.
