Page 13 of Heart in Waiting
“Why?” She narrowed her gaze. “I’m capable of unlocking my own door.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m sure you are, but I want to check inside before you go in.”
“Do you think Nolan is lying in waiting for me to come in? Then he’ll what? Pounce and kill me?” She rolled her eyes. “He’s not going to attack me. It’s Claire he’s obsessed with.”
“Don’t argue about this. If you want to unlock it, fine, but I will go in first to make sure it is safe?”
“And what if he jumps out of the bushes while you’re in there searching? Should I let him kill me here instead?” This all made absolutely no sense to her. What good would any of that do?
“You can be obstinate. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Not recently...” Maybe she was being too hard on him. It wasn’t his fault she was a disaster. “Let’s get this over with.”
She hopped out of the car and stomped to her front door. He was fast on her heels trying to keep up with her impulsiveness. She had the key in the lock and turned it before he reached her. He placed his hand over hers on the doorknob, preventing her from turning it. “We discussed this.”
“No,” she corrected him. “You talked, and I listened; however, I didn’t agree to anything other than what I’ve done.”
“Please,” he begged. “Follow my lead on this.”
Why did he have to be so nice and ask so sweetly? “All right.” She moved away from the door to allow him past. He went inside and flipped on the light. He was gone maybe five minutes before he called for her to come inside and shut the door behind her. She moved into the living room and plopped down on the couch with the bottle of scotch. “It’s been a really long day.”
“That it has,” he agreed. “What time do you work tomorrow?”
“Not until afternoon.” At least she had some time to herself. Well, not really... She’d have Dane to contend with until then. It had been a while since she had a man in her home. Nolan was the last man she’d dated, and no one had seemed worth the effort since. Dane was starting to look good again. Well, if she was being honest, he’d always been attractive, but she’d never thought of him in those terms before. “Why, do you have a hot date?”
“You’re the only hot anything I have on my schedule for the foreseeable future.”
Reese took the cap off the scotch and took a drink. It burned as it traveled down her throat and did nothing to cool her libido. “I don’t think you understand the meaning of hot.”Hmmm...She licked her lips and stared at Dane’s. She still wanted to kiss him, but contemplated the wisdom of it. “Maybe it’s time to find out if we can burn together.”
“What?” He tilted his head and stared at her. “How much of that scotch have you drunk?”
“Not nearly enough,” she replied. Reese set it on the side table and stood up slowly. “I’m nowhere near drunk if that’s what you’re worried about.” She sashayed toward him, swinging her hips enticingly. She stopped in front of him and trailed her fingers up his broad chest, then tapped his nose lightly. “I promise I am in full control of my actions. You don’t need to worry I’ll regret this in the morning.” She’d given up that foolish habit.
“Regret what?” He stared at her with a baffled expression on his handsome face. It was utterly adorable and sexy at the same time.
“This.” That was the only warning she gave him before she pressed her lips to his. Instant desire flooded her and her whole body went up in flames—burning with indescribable need. She wound her arms around his neck and tugged on his hair. God—how had she never felt this before? Dane was everything she’d wanted and never thought to ask for. This heat between them scorched her from the inside out and melted her brain to mush.
That was the last coherent thought she had...
