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“It works that way when you give me a better deal.”
The man adjusts his glasses and throws up his hands. “All right! I’ll give you a ten-cent-a-gallon discount. With the amount of paint you need, that will add up.”
I lean into Miles’ ear and pull out my debit card for the business account. “Thank you.”
Miles puts his hand over mine and pushes the card back at me. “No. I’ve got this.”
“But it’s for my property...”
“And I’m the only person you can sell it to for three years, right? The least I can do is help put a fresh coat of paint on it.”
I smile so hard I almost break, trying to play it cool.
I fail miserably.
“But I’m not selling. Plus, she left me a business account for repairs and incidentals. I’m not even spending my own money yet...”
Miles won’t be moved, though, and I look over and see the hardware store owner passing his black credit card back.
“Way to distract me.”
Hiding a smile, he says a few more words to the store owner about setting up a delivery, then slips his arm around me and ushers me out of the store.
“You know, the longer you’re away from the city, the sweeter you are, Mr. Cromwell.”
“Don’t go getting emotional on me, kitten. I wasn’t in the city when we met and you thought I was an absolute bastard then.”
“I know. Now, I’m starting to think you have a heart.”
The exaggerated look of horror he throws back makes me giggle.
He opens the passenger door of his SUV for me.
I step forward to climb in, but Miles leans in, keeping one hand on top of the car.
“Miss Landers, if I’ve grown a damn heart, I’m sad to say you own a significant chunk of the real estate. I wonder what you owe me in return?”
Oh, no.
Why does he have to go and—
Heat drums under my cheeks.
Just like that, his arms are around me, and his mouth moves to mine for a steaming kiss.
I break away from him before I melt into a moan.
“You should take me home. ASAP.”
“I should, shouldn’t I?” He helps me in the car and then gets behind the wheel himself. “What else is on your mind, Jenn? Felt like you were somewhere else while we were deciding on colors.”
“Maybe. My most lucrative contract ended recently,” I say, side-eyeing him.
“Sorry to hear. You should reach out to the boss. I’m sure he’d be interested in keeping you on in a consulting role for future projects.”
“Well, I’m actually glad it’s expired.”
He looks at me.
“There were too many rules,” I say with a smile.
“Rules?”
“You know. About not kissing or the world might end. That kind of thing.” My heart flutters like mad. “Not that I didn’t enjoy a little sneaking around. But only to a point. After a while it’s just complicated. Y’know?”
He reaches over and takes my hand.
“I understand completely. I lost the best damn marketing contractor I’ve ever had recently, though her new role is irreplaceable. She works long hours under me, listening to my every demand, and every time I think she can’t possibly take on more, she surprises me.”
I laugh until my sides hurt. A delicious heat curls through me when he tangles his fingers in mine.
“Will I surprise you again tonight, Mr. Cromwell?” I whisper.
“Only if you last more than five minutes riding my face, kitten,” he growls, looking over as the vehicle stops at a quiet four-way intersection. “And if you can’t do that, you’ll come your pretty little auburn head off for me three more times.”
My pulse quickens.
“You’re more honest here than you are in Seattle, too. And definitely more demanding.”
His eyes flash as he looks at me, hungry quicksilver. The raw magnetism makes me fall a little more stupidly in love with this terrible man.
“Woman, you have no clue, but I promise, you’re about to get one,” he whispers, taking my hand.
By the time we pull up to the inn, he’s breathing through clenched teeth while my hands work, rubbing him through his slacks.
A few days later, I’m sitting on the sandy beach and smiling, pleasantly sore from three nights straight of being kissed, licked, bitten, and fucked into oblivion and back.
If Miles Cromwell sprouted a heart, he’s also made mine completely ravenous.
The quickie this morning before he went off to review his latest reports barely holds me over until evening. It’s just after lunch, and I’m thinking about tonight so much it’s pathetic.
A loud bark yanks my brain off sex.
Long enough to look up and see Coffee and Cream chasing each other into the low tide in wild circles that make me laugh.
The white dog has a piece of driftwood in her mouth. Her brother closes in to steal it away from her, both of them splashing around with every bounce.
They’re thrilled to be home. No question.
