Page 47 of Single-Minded
I couldn’t help grinning at this slightly sloppy version of the rich girl who normally had it all together. What I wouldn’t do to mess her up more thoroughly. But not like this. Not when she was half out of it. If she ever screamed my name, I needed her to be fully aware and willing.
I took in a shaky voice, then blew it out, releasing that idea. Not gonna happen, dude. Not tonight or ever.
I might not be willing to get romantically entangled with her, but I could get her home safely.
“I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it.” I stood and held out a hand for her. “Come on.”
She placed her hand in mine, seemed to gather her strength, then attempted to stand. I helped her up and caught her at the waist as she swayed. She let out a quiet half laugh and said, “Oopsss. Didn’t mean to get this buzzy.”
I held her by the elbow, waiting for her to steady herself, which took a second or two, and steady was an exaggeration.
Grinning, I asked, “What did you drink? Straight moonshine?”
She seemed to think about that for a moment, then looked up toward the terrace where cocktail hour had been. “Those icy, fruity things. They looked frou-frou.”
“They weren’t though?”
She shook her head as she clumsily brushed her hair out of her face, peering down at her feet.
“You ready?” I asked. “Can you make it up the stairs?”
She took deep breaths, not bothering to look up.
Without letting myself think about what I was doing, I picked her up, my arms under her back and legs, princess style, which was strangely appropriate, and started up the stairs.
It didn’t take more than three steps for me to understand this was a dumbass move on my part. The slit in her dress crawled up, baring her thigh under my fingers. Her light, feminine scent surrounded me in the humid night. Her arms fastened around my neck with all the trust in the world, and she nuzzled her head onto my shoulder.
You are a stupid, stupid man.
Nothing to do but play it off, get her up the stairs, and take her home. To her house. Alone.
Shit.
About halfway up, Presley let out a quiet sigh that tugged at something inside me. I did my best to ignore it, watching the steps, determined to blank my mind all the way to the upper terrace.
The employees were gone, leaving it empty. I considered our options, dismissing the idea of walking back through the reception. We could either go through the lobby or around the building.
“Can I set you down?” I asked.
“Mm-hmm.”
I lowered her legs until her feet hit the ground in heels so high I had no idea how she’d been dancing for hours. She held on to my arm, finding her balance, her eyes opening, gaze focusing.
“We’re gonna go through the lobby. It’ll be a lot less attention grabbing as long as you can walk.”
She nodded. “I can walk. But thanks for the ride.”
She hooked her arm through mine and leaned heavily into me.
“Ready?”
“Mmm.”
We made it through the inn’s common room and lobby without running into anyone we knew, then out the main door to my SUV in the parking lot. I held her hand to help her up into the passenger seat, closed the door, walked to the back of the vehicle, and took a moment.
“Fuck,” I said quietly, peering up at the starry sky, trying to recenter myself.
I was on sensual overload from the most tempting woman I’d ever met. Sleep would not be easy tonight, not with the images and scents and memories of how her flesh felt taunting me.
