Page 36 of Anything for You
“Can I help?” A sturdy pile still waited for him, and I wanted to prolong our time together.
“No, that’s not your job.”
I moved past him on an odd whim, sliding my hands into the gloves and diving in. “It’s not my job, no, but I want to help. It’s the least I can do.”
“This isn’t right. You’re a guest.” He shifted beside me, scowling.
I grinned over at him, oddly pleased by the opportunity to ruffle him a little. “Let it happen, good sir. You can wrap up what we didn’t eat while I do this.”
For the next few minutes, he shuffled around tidying up and I finished washing a few things he clearly hadn’t planned on me touching. When I went to remove the gloves, despite their being big enough for his much-larger hand, they stuck.
I tugged at the left one, but before I reached the right, he was there.
“Let me,” he said, towering and a little broody as he slowly pulled off the glove.
My breath caught, the slide of rubber over my skin a sensation that should not be sexy in any way, but here it was. Happening in real life just like I told Elise I’d never see outside a historical.
A man is sensually removing one of my gloves!!!
Oh, but the things that could come next! He might brush his thumb over my pulse point—he’d feel the way my blood surged at his nearness. He might take something else off next—another glove? Perhaps unlace a corset and slide his hands under a chemise?—
I made a weird sound not unlike a gurgle, and Dorian asked, “You okay?”
“Mmhmm. Yes. I just… really enjoyed you letting me help.” I planned to beam at him, all kinds of casual and hiding the internal riot happening, but when I looked up, his honey-brown eyes were so intently focused on me, it stole my breath.
Our gazes stayed like that, locked for a beat, before Bear nudged under my hand and broke the spell.
We wandered toward his front door, sensing it was time for me to go even though I didn’t want to. He didn’t seem in a rush for that, either, but I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.
At the front door, he lingered, not reaching for thehandle. “I’m glad they settled in Silverton, too, by the way. I don’t get into town all that often, but I like it.”
It shouldn’t have made my heart flutter, but it did. “Yeah? What about it do you like here?”
He rubbed a hand over his beard, the bristles against his skin making a fine rasping sound. “Love the trees, especially on this property. Love the mountains.” His gaze settled on mine. “Have to say I love the people.”
My heart flipped. Obviously, he wasn’t confessing his love for me, but those eyes and that voice. The way he towered over me. The way he’d been so tender and supportive, and how this felt like something more…
Honestly,the way he just removed my glove!
“What was Jo supposed to have told me?” he asked, halting the direction of my thoughts.
More like bringing all thought and breath to a screeching halt. Because I couldn’t possibly tell him I’d said something about offering him mymaidenhead, I believe was the term I’d used after a particularly unbroken stint with historical romances.
Cheeks aflame in seconds, I cleared my throat. “Oh, nothing. Just how amazing it was.”
One brow raised.
“The food was great. I just… conveyed that with enthusiasm.”
I just said, “Tell him I’ll trade my maidenhead for a chance to eat this food regularly, how about that?”
A maniacal giggle burst from me, and I reached for the knob. “So, Dorian. Thank you so much for a lovely afternoon tea. I’ve never done that before, and I loved every second.”
He nodded, then whispered, “What’d you say?”
Shocked he wasn’t letting it go, I shook my head and skittered out the door. “Thanks, Dorian Q!”
He hollered after me, “What’d you say, Dove L. Jensen, the sixth?”
