Page 76 of Along Came Amor
“I’m sorry your ex hurt you,” Roman said to Ava. Her eyebrows leaped in surprise, probably at the abrupt change in subject. “But I’m glad he was an immature asshole.”
Her expression turned wary. “Why?”
“Because if he’d been just a tiny bit smarter, you and I might not be here.”
Her cheeks reddened. “We would’ve ended up in this wedding together regardless.”
“But you would’ve still been married tohim.”
She blinked, like that hadn’t occurred to her, then shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I already told you, our... whatever this was, it’s over.”
“Is it?” He kept his gaze steady when she looked over at him, willing her to see what he felt for her.
She licked her lips. “Yes,” she said, but her voice was shaky, and it almost sounded like a question. She cleared her throat. “Don’t... ah, don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like... you know what. You’re doing it now.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Like I’m thinking about you not wearing any panties at the engagement party? Like I’m remembering the sounds you make when I—”
“That’s quite enough,” she interrupted, her cheeks flaming. “Speaking of, what did you do with my panties?”
Finally. He thought she’d never ask.
“You mean these?” He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and drew out the small bundle of white lace.
She winced. “Please tell me you haven’t been carrying those around with you.”
He hadn’t, but he’d brought them along on this trip just in case there was an opportunity to tease her about them. Like now.
“I keep them close to my heart,” he murmured, pressing the lacy scrap to his chest. Her eyes widened, in embarrassment or outrage he couldn’t tell, and he had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing.
Clearing her throat, she flipped to a new page in her planner. “I think we need to lay some ground rules before we land.”
He sent her a mild smile. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, and gave him a stern look. “Rule number one—”
“I thought the first rule was that I can’t look at you like I want to spread your—”
“Right. That’s the first rule. Rule number two is...” She waved her hand in a vague gesture. “No... hanky-panky.”
Roman laughed so hard he started coughing. Enrique brought him a bottle of water, and Ava’s face was flushed by the time the attendant left.
Once they were alone again, Roman wiped the corners of his eyes. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Ava sighed and cast her gaze toward the plane’s ceiling. “Honestly, neither can I. I spend too much time censoring myself around twelve-year-olds.”
“Have you ever said ‘hanky-panky’ in front of your students?”
Her mouth twitched. “No. I’d lose their respect forever.”
“So what are we calling it then, if not ‘hanky-panky’?”
She covered her face. “It gets worse every time you say it.”
“Then what should I call it?” God, he loved teasing her like this.
