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Sweaty men shouldn’t smell good. It was insane that this man did.
“Oh no, Emma. You’re not running off like that after saying what you did.”
She snapped her gaze to his. “What did I say?” Emma ran the conversation through her mind but she couldn’t pinpoint anything. The prickling along the back of her neck was most likely the result of his nearness.
“You mentioned you were returning your work uniforms. I’m not letting you go to the diner alone. I know you have to face him yourself but I will be with you.”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. I’m not pathetic.”
Emma spun on her heel and made a move toward the stairs, only to pause when she realized he held her shirt, keeping her in place.
“Keep talking like that,” he warned, inching closer to her.
She gave a quick shake of her head.
His lips flattened and his tone got challenging. “No man worth their salt would let a woman face another man who’s threatened her. I understand you want to do this on your own. Need to do this, but I know men like him and I’m not going to let him bully you or, for fuck’s sake, even consider putting a hand on you.”
Warmth spread through her chest, pushing away all the fear and insecurity.
He dipped his head, his breath skating along her neck. “And we’re gonna finish that conversation because there are a few things we need to get straight between us.”
“Nothing to talk about. Like I told you, I don’t need platitudes or false compliments. Save it for when we have to act for your investors.”
He licked his lips and she hated that she followed the action in the mirror across from them. There was no way he didn’t notice but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he leaned closer, their gazes locked in the mirror.
“It’s like you want me to prove you wrong. Kiss you until you forget either of our names.” He inched closer, his larger, stronger body dwarfing her.
She gasped at the thought of his hands moving over her and shook her head. “I have to go.”
“You’ll give me a few minutes to get cleaned up and if you say no, I’m going like this and we can let him come to his own conclusions as to why I’m all sweaty.” He arched an eyebrow.
She wanted to laugh at the pure absurdity of this conversation. Emma truly enjoyed how he continued to make her smile.
“That you were all sweaty and yet I’m put together like I wasn’t affected at all?”
Holy hell, what is wrong with my mouth that it isn’t keeping anything in?
Damn his lips, she was fast becoming addicted to watching them. Dreaming about them. Wishing for another taste of them.
He reached around to cover her neck and press her into his chest. She didn’t fight him on it. Lord, even if she wanted to, her body wasn’t listening to any commands she gave, it was in tune to the man touching her.
“Sounds like a challenge, Emma.” She could feel his torso press deeper against her. “I’m looking forward to the day when you’re ready to let me make you this sweaty with me.”
She gulped and gripped his wrist. His lips brushed her cheek as he whispered, “Let’s just tell him we were doing what was in our dreams.”
Her eyes didn’t want to stay open and yet she didn’t want to miss a second of the way he watched her, with a hunger in his eyes that scared and excited her with its intensity.
“If you’re coming, get changed.”
Damn him for being so hot. He smiled, slipped his hand up from her neck to her chin and placed a swift kiss on her lips. “Be right back.”
Legs wobbly, she didn’t move until he vanished up the stairs. Only then did she move to the bench he’d been using and sat down. The shirt she’d brought him stayed on the floor and after a few seconds of staring at it, she rose to set it beside her. Even the music couldn’t pull her mind from the trip it took imagining taking that man up on his offer.
Chapter Eight
Linc hurried down the stairs to the basement, worried Emma might have slipped out while he showered. Yes, he had a shower down there but as he only had so much self-control, he thought it better to be away from her tempting body.
On the last step, he looked in the room and found her immediately. He couldn’t stop the smile from turning up his lips. Not that he wanted to, but she looked so perfect in his house, in his life. How the hell did I not notice her in school?
Her hair was in a ponytail and he was ready to see it spread out on his pillowcases. She stiffened then glanced over her shoulder. He pushed away from the wall and walked to stop in front of her. Holding out his hand, he waited as she looked at the shirt he’d brought her.
