Page 42 of Some Like It Hops

He flashes a smile, then pulls me against him. My eyes widen when his hardness presses against me. “Let’s get going, or we may have to pick up where we left off right here in this parking lot.”

I swallow hard, then lick my lips and nod. “You may want to do something about that.” I glance down at his slacks, where his erection pushes deliciously against the navy-blue fabric. “Everyone who loves me is inside that warehouse right now.” I look back up at him in time to see the smile fall from his face, then I laugh and crawl into the backseat. “What did you think? It would just be you and me and a bunch of strangers?”

“Well, yeah.” He climbs into the front seat. “And your obnoxious friend.”

I scoff. “Excuse me. Just because she doesn’t like you, doesn’t make her obnoxious.”

His shoulders shake on a laugh. “No, her not liking me is par for the course—I’ve given her no reason to. Her calling for your dad to come rescue you from me the other day at the brewery makes her obnoxious.”

My cheeks heat and I groan. “You caught that?”

“Yeah. Makes me think she doesn’t know you at all.”

“What? Why?” I lean forward so I can read Griffin’s expression.

“You can handle your own.”

I purse my lips, then place a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

He pulls into a parking space a few rows away from the back entrance, then turns to face me. He slides his hand up to my cheek and looks me in the eyes. “Your fire is what first made me want you.” He presses his lips to mine, then pulls back, glances at Pops and laughs. “But I stuck around for the dog.”

Griffin gets out of the car, then helps me out and taps his leg so Pops will jump across. He reaches for the leash, securing it in one hand, while placing his free hand on my lower back. “Ready?”

I nod. “Are you?”

“I’m meeting your dad?”

“Mhmm.”

“And how many brothers?”

“Three.”

His throat bobs as he swallows. “I’ve dealt with some of the worst lawyers in LA. How bad could these guys be?”

I pull my lips between my teeth and start walking toward the brewery. LA lawyers have nothing on an overprotective father and three older brothers.

As we make our way to Pops & Hops, Griffin slides his hand into mine, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I look up at him, wondering if I’m crazy.

Crazy for trusting him.

Crazy for letting him in.

Crazy for wanting him as much as I do.

All I know about Griffin can be ticked off on the fingers of only one hand.

His world may revolve around money, but it’s money heearned.

He knows beer better than I ever gave him credit for.

He lets Pops ride shotgun.

And he wants me.

It’s too early to tell, I know, but my feelings for him can’t be ignored. This man is my complete opposite in so many ways, but is that necessarily a bad thing?

Before we enter the building, Griffin slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close. “You were wrong about one other assumption.”

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