Page 31 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“Darn,” he said teasingly, and headed for Cape Stone, to choose the hardscape materials for the new patio at the resort.
Emery sang along to the radio on the way. Every once in a while she’d look at Dean while she sang sexy lyrics, and he found himself confused by her seductive and playful smiles. He wanted to believe each one was meant just for him, but knowing Emery, the emotions of the song were simply playing out in her expressions.
He was sure that one day they’d be meant solely for him.
One daycouldn’t come soon enough.
Half an hour later they walked into the Cape Stone showroom, a hardscaper’s heaven. As Emery took in the displays of stone fountains, pillars, fireplaces, and other design samples, Blaine Wicked approached. Blaine’s whole family worked in the building industry on the Cape. He and his brother Justin owned Cape Stone, while his father and two other brothers specialized in renovations. Blaine was a dead ringer for actor James Marsden, from his dark, always-tousled hair to his shockingly blue eyes and playful nature. His gaze raked appreciatively down the length of Emery’s body.
Dean moved his hand possessively to Emery’s lower back before his competition reached them. Blaine’s gaze shifted to Dean, and a quick raise of his chin told Dean hisshe’s-takenmessage was received loud and clear.
“How’s it going, Dean?” Blaine asked, passing a friendly smile to Emery and keeping his eyes respectfully on hers.
“Blaine,” Dean said. “This is Emery Andrews. I want to get her opinion on a few things. Mind if we use one of the worktables?”
“Hi.” Emery smiled, and he swore the room lit up like the sun had come out.
He wanted to bottle up that smile and keep it all to himself, but he wasn’t that much of a possessive jerk. Or at least he had never been before. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“Nice to meet you,” Blaine said. “Is this guy getting all yourdirty workdone?”
Dean glared at Blaine.
“Not yet,” Emery said. Then her eyes narrowed, and she said, “But he definitely has strong hands and the righttoolsfor the job,” with enough sass to wipe the grin off Blaine’s face. She wrapped her hot little hand around Dean’s biceps and said, “Chiseled from head to toe, and every hard inch in between.”
Blaine chuckled and slid a defeated look to Dean. “Use whatever you need, buddy, and grab me if I can help.”
As Blaine walked away, Emery leaned in, like she was preparing to share a secret.
Dean slid his hand around her waist, pulling her closer. “Darn, girl. What do you say we forget work and go get stuck between a rock and a hard place?”
She laughed, glancing at Blaine. “We should set him up with Violet. He’s got awildlook in his eyes.”
She thought he was kidding? His fingers tightened around her, bringing her attention back to him. The air sizzled, and her amused expression quickly faded, replaced briefly with surprise and then undeniable hunger.
“Dean,” she said softly. “Put away yourhammer, big guy.” She pressed her hands to his chest, forcing space between them. “We have work to do.”
He pulled her against him again, holding her gaze. “What do you see in my eyes, doll?”
As she searched his face, her eyes darkened. “A hurricane,” she said softly. “As dangerous as it is mesmerizing.”
She pushed away again and closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds. When they opened, his hurricane was met with a storm—heat and wariness battling for dominance.
He stepped closer again, their chests touching. Lust thrummed like a heartbeat between them as he brushed his beard over her cheek and spoke in a low voice, “You want the hurricane, but you need the safety of knowing it won’t demolish your shelter. Let me show you we can have both.” He drew back just far enough to gaze into her eyes, recognizing the uneasy look of reluctant acceptance beneath a host of conflicted emotions.
“Breathe, doll.” He felt himself smiling, and with a hand on her back, he guided her toward a worktable by the windows.
“Iambreathing,” she snapped, walking slowly beside him. “Geez, Dean. Give a girl a minute to recuperate after blowing her away.”
“That was awhisper,” he said confidently. “When Iblow you away, you’ll needhoursto recuperate.”
Her cheeks flushed, but that spark he loved rose in her eyes, and she said, “That almost makes me want to throw caution to the wind and accept the challenge.”
“Almost?”
She stopped beside the worktable and stared at him. The longer she looked, the softer her expression became.
“Yeah.Almost.” She turned abruptly away and motioned toward the showroom displays. He noticed her hand was trembling ever so slightly. “This is like a texture wonderland. How do you decide what to use? It’s all so pretty.”
