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And because she reallywasn'tthe type to do the whole tipsy one-night stand thing, she forced herself to voice the words that left her face flaming and her body pulled taut. "Do I need to...worry about anything else?"
Everett stretched out a hand and gently cradled her hot cheek in his palm, his thumb stroking over her cheekbone in a way that left a shivery ache behind.
Yeah,that'swhy they'd wound up in her hotel room. Because when that thumb stroked down her cheek and under her chin to gently tip her face toward his, her knees nearly buckled despite the horror of their conversation.
"No. No worries."
"Good," she said, exhaling the breath she didn't realize she'd held. "N-neither d-do you." Maybe it was a sign of the times, but that didn’t make their conversation any easier. But after her last boyfriend had cheated on her, she’d wanted to make sure he hadn’t done more damage.
"I don't know what you're thinking, but Vegas was a novelty for me as well, Isabel. I’ve never…forgotten myself that way."
Awkward silence descended between them, and she took a step back to get some breathing room as she tucked her hands into the pockets of the loose dress she wore.
Everett had to be lying. He couldn't look like that and not have women throwing themselves at him.
Doesn't mean he takes them up on it.
But what kind of man didn't?
Oh, she so wasn't going to go there. "So, um, I guess we wait and... I'll let you know when I find out. I'm sorry I didn't respond when you called a-and texted. I thought… I’m not sure what I thought, but it's been a crazy week. I'm sorry you had to make a trip here just because I was stubborn. You could’ve left a voicemail, though."
“I believe this news is best delivered in person.”
Yeah, she could see that. Izzy stared up at him and wondered at the expression she saw in his gaze. Like he wanted to say something but it wasn't the right time. But good grief, what more could be said?
She didn’t dare let herself wonder what else could go wrong.
"I didn’t mind the trip. In fact, I plan to stay in town while we sort this," he said, his dark brown gaze holding hers in a stare that made butterflies flutter low in her belly. "Perhaps you would show me around while I'm here?"
She glanced toward the door and the house beyond. "Um. Everett, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Afraid you won't be able to keep your hands off your husband?"
Despite the chill in the evening air, sweat trickled down her back beneath the dress she wore, her entire body flushing from the images of Vegas that popped into her head at his words. There was that truth. Because even though he'd dropped a bomb on her by showing up in Carolina Cove, she'd be lying if she said she couldn't imagine snuggling up against his broad chest so he could keep her from thinking about the consequences that had brought him here in the first place.
He wasn’t the only one totally distracted.
"I think it's a great idea," he said with an enticing smile.
Yeah. Turned out the Babes weren't the only ones impacted by those dimples. "I'm afraid I’m too busy. I-I have to work, t-to catch up on projects. It’s my livelihood," she added defensively. “I don’t create, I don’t eat.”
"Mmm. You wouldn't be trying to avoid me, would you, Isabel?"
"Why would I do that?" She flicked her tongue over her too dry lips and barely suppressed a groan when she watched his gaze lower.
His rumbling chuckle made her toes curl.
"I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Wait, I just said I can’t. Everett—"
"For the brunch."
She blinked at the reminder and then wanted to pull her hair out at the thought of spending quality time inside the house with the Babes and her family assessing and critiquing them as a couple. "Right. You can’t just come up with an excuse to get out of it?"
"Why would I? Your family and friends are charming. I'd like to get to know them better."
"Why?"That's the last thing she wanted. "Everett, you'll give them the wrong impression. They'll think we're... They'll think we'redating."
