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She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth and swayed forward. "I like that answer."
He shifted toward her. "Do you? How much?"
Lashes fluttered closed, she murmured, "This much," and leaned into him with her mouth pursed. From that point on, he was lost.
•
When his lips touched hers, she whimpered and reached out to wrap her hand around the back of his neck. The ends of his hair curled over her fingers, silky soft and warm.
She sighed, unsure. He tasted like pizza, parmesan cheese and red pepper. And, yum, the flavor wasn’t so bad after all.
Gently, he touched the side of her neck. His fingers barely skimmed over her erratic pulse. Then they drifted down to the very top of her chest, where they followed her shoulder blade to the top of her arm. Pausing his caress at her elbow, he stepped closer.
"You’re so soft," he murmured against her mouth, pulling away long enough to watch his hand slide from her elbow to her wrist and then tangle his fingers through hers. It caused a shiver to race up the back of her neck.
His eyes shot to hers; the heat in their blue depths made her breathless and lightheaded. He dipped his head again. She kept her eyes open long enough to watch his face grow closer and his lashes sweep over his cheeks. Then he kissed her.
Closing the last three inches separating them, Mia leaned against him. She felt it all the way to the tips of her toes; it exploded out every nerve ending on the way down.
This was the first thrill she’d experienced in three years. And even then, it was stronger than any kiss she’d had before. The jolt terrified her.
She broke away. Covering her trembling lips, she stared at him with a wide gaze. His gaze was heavy-lidded. His chest moved in and out, and he blinked a few times before he seemed to return to his senses.
Then he reached out, touched her elbow lightly and asked, "Are you okay?"
She nodded, keeping her hands firmly over her mouth. He dropped his hand.
"You look scared."
She was scared. "I’m fine," she said, the words were muffled behind her palm. Lowering her hands to her chin, she repeated, "I’m fine. I’m sorry I—"
"Don’t apologize. It’s okay. I shouldn’t have rushed you."
"You didn’t—"
Reaching to touch her check, he cut her off mid-word. "Can I call you sometime?"
Mia blinked, totally confounded by this man. Here, he’d practically been eating her alive and she’d loved every minute of it. Then he backpedaled. How did he know she needed to go so slow?
She nodded, unable to deny him anything.
He grinned. "Good." Then he leaned forward and pecked a quick kiss to her forehead. "And you’re wrong," he murmured in her ear. "This can go somewhere."
•
Walking on air, Drew unlocked his back door and entered the dark kitchen, flipping a light on as he went. He couldn’t seem to stop grinning. Floating to his fridge, he pulled it open and dug out a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, he chugged the entire thing, gulping until it was empty.
Beaming as he threw his bottle in the plastic recycling can Amanda had set up for him, he wiped his mouth with his hand and swore he could still taste Mia.
This could go somewhere. Oh, yes, it could. And it would.
He’d barely plopped down in a kitchen chair when his business line rang in the other sitting room. Immediately, he wondered if it was Mia. She’d found his house from the business card he’d given her. That was no doubt the only number of his she had. And he’d asked if he could call her. Maybe she was taking the initiative and calling him.
As he hurried into the other room, he told himself not to expect her. It was just a customer calling. It wasn’t Mia.
But as he answered, he tensed in expectation.
"Harper Studio."
