Page 90 of How to Love Your Neighbor
Her giggles returned with a vengeance. “Stop. Truce.”
“Now, how can I believe you?”
“I swear.” She only laughed harder.
“Say ‘Noah is the sexiest man I’ve ever met,’” he said.
She met his gaze, tried to say the words but got only to the second one before a fit of laughter cut in.
“That doesn’t sound like what I said.” He squeezed a drop onto her forehead.
Grace scrunched her eyes together. “Okay, okay. I’ll do it.”
She kept her eyes shut until she heard him say, “I’m waiting.”
She held back the laughter but couldn’t erase the smile. “Noah is the sexiest man I’ve ever met.” He had no idea how true that was, but she wasn’t about to share.
“‘He’s a painting master and I’ve learned a great deal from him,’” he continued.
Grace snorted, taking advantage of the way his body relaxed. With one hand, she knocked the bottle across the mat while rolling so he was pinned under her. She held both his arms down, knowing full well he could dislodge her with little more than a deep breath.
“Now who’s in charge?” She gave him her best menacing stare.
“It’s been you the whole time.”
Her heart smiled at his words. “Say ‘Grace is the boss of everything, she’s all-knowing and sexier than any woman I’ll ever meet.’”
Humoring her, he nodded. “All true. Grace is the boss, she’s all-knowing, and I’ve never met, nor will I meet, anyone sexier.”
Ha.She started to slide off his body before she attacked himwith more than paint but he moved his arms, capturing her waist. “Not so fast,” he whispered, his voice going husky.
She gave in to the kiss, letting her body meld into his while his hands roamed up and down. The swells of music and the scent of paint faded into oblivion as Grace memorized the taste and feel of him.
When he rolled, bringing her under him again, he brushed her hair back from her forehead. “You’re pretty messy.”
She reached up, cupping his paint-covered cheek. “So are you.”
“We should go.”
“That wasn’t where my mind was headed,” she said honestly.
Desire flashed in his eyes. “As much as I want you, Grace—”
When he paused, embarrassment surfaced. Here she was throwing herself at the man. It wasn’t like he was hard up, and here she—
He cut her off, clearing his throat. “There are just some places a man doesn’t want to get paint.”
Grace’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she envisioned Noah covered head to toe in paint. “Good point.” Maybe her voice was a little huskier than she’d intended but it was tinged with amusement as well. “I think you’d look good with a blue ass.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Flatterer.”
She started to get up, but he pulled her onto his lap as they sat up. “What would you say to heading home? We could shower, have dessert there?”
She wasn’t sure if dessert was code for what she wanted, but she figured she won either way. She got either Noah or sugar—or, best-case scenario, both.
34
Noah dropped Grace off at her house so they could each clean up and grab fresh clothing. As he showered off a rainbow of paint, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun with a woman. And that painting. It was gorgeous. He couldn’t wait to hang it exactly where she’d suggested.
