Page 40 of Burning Love
“Better now?” he asked, lifting his head. “Because I sure the hell am not.”
He shifted back to give her space. “Oh, your living room looks great.”
She walked in and looked, but he reached for her arm and spun her, her skirt shifting and flying open high on her thigh.
“Christ. I feel like I’m going to get arrested being with you if we go out. You look like you’re in high school.”
Her head went back, her throat exposed, the laugh sexy coming from her lips. “Hardly that.”
“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that you commented on a crop top.”
“And you reminded me you weren’t sixteen.”
“I’m not. And women my age and much older wear clothing like this all the time.”
“But they don’t look likeyouwearing it,” he said.
“I guess that means we are staying in,” she said happily. “And your living room looks awesome. You did such a great job now that it’s all visible.”
“I’m not sure I want to stay in,” he said. “You’re way too tempting.”
She turned and angled her head. “Am I?”
“You know very well you are, Talia.”
“That’s the first you’ve called me by my name.”
“What?”
“You know my name, but you haven’t addressed me by it. Say it again.”
“Talia,” he said, moving closer to her.
“I like how it sounds.” Her hands landed on his hips while she stepped into his personal space.
“I like saying it.”
“You know what else I’d like?”
“What’s that?” he asked, his mouth just a whisper away from hers.
“For you to cook me dinner again.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. “It’s not what I hoped you’d say.”
“I know,” she said, patting his cheek. “We’ll get to that soon, but not tonight. Or is that a problem? Do you think I’m teasing you?”
“You are in that outfit.”
“I know. I planned on it, but more as a joke.”
“It’s not funny, but I can appreciate it. As much as I would have liked you to say something else, I also wasn’t expecting it. As you said, you’re not like most women.”
“Is it a problem that I might not be moving as fast as you want?”
“Absolutely not. Don’t think that. I don’t want you to. I’d call this fun flirty banter.”
