Page 22 of Summer Nights

She gave me a look over her shoulder. "I have calls to make."

"Are you sure you're not avoiding me?"

She rolled her shoulders back. "Why would I do that?"

"You tell me," I murmured as I moved past her toward the primary bedroom. "Are you coming?"

She sighed. "Fine."

When I was fairly sure Dalton and Brady wouldn't come inside, I said, "I was hoping to get a dance with you at the party." Then I turned my attention to studying the ceiling and walls for signs of leaks.

"That's not a good idea, and you know it."

"Why is that?" I was breaking all my rules in even asking her about it, but her ignoring me in social situations didn't sit right with me.

"We hooked up twice. That's all it was. It can't be anything more."

"Is that all it was for you? A hookup?"

She laughed. "What else would you call it? Good sex?"

"So you admit it was good?" I asked, pausing to look at her.

She glanced away from me, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "You know it was."

"You don't have chemistry like that with everyone." I'd never experienced that kind of passion with anyone else. I bet she hadn't either. It might have something to do with knowing each other, being friends, but we weren't that close. I suspected we had one-of-a-kind chemistry, and I wasn't ready to walk away from it.

She pursed her lips. "That's true."

"What we have is good. I want to do it again. Maybe on a softer surface this time. I want to take my time with you. I want to taste you."

She flushed. "Cooper, you can't talk to me like that. Not when I'm working."

"You didn't mind when I fucked you against the wall while we were working."

Her eyes widened, and I knew I was pushing her hard. But I didn't want to risk missing out on whatever this was. "I want that too."

Fuck. Yes. I hadn't expected her to capitulate so easily.

"But it doesn't mean anything. This isn't the start of a relationship."

I shook my head, letting out a chuckle. "I knew that without you telling me."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm glad you think I'm so easy to figure out."

"Oh, I didn't say that." I moved closer to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Her breath hitched, her gaze lifting to meet mine.

"I'm enjoying getting to know you, to learn what makes your breath hitch, what makes your heart race?—"

"That's not necessary?—"

"If I want to please you, it is."

Her cheeks flushed. "You can't?—"

"I can, and I will. You can't control this, Ivy." I gestured between us. It was more like I wouldn't let her take over.

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