Page 80 of Not Part of the Plan
Emma answered his knock in slim cut cropped jeans and an off-the-shoulder cashmere sweater the color of morning fog.
He had intended to say “good morning,” or “hi” at the very least. But her sunny smile hit him in the gut like a fist, and he was backing her into the dining table with a kiss that took both their breath away.
“Wow. Good morning to you, too,” Emma breathed when he finally released her.
“You shouldn’t answer your door looking so gorgeous,” Niko told her, cupping her face in his hand.
Emma raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Are you trying to get out of the farmers market by seducing me?”
“For future reference, everything I do is to get you naked. So if it’s not before the farmers market, it’s after.”
“Good to know, Don Juan.” She shoved an armful of canvas shopping bags at him. “I figured we could shop for dinner tonight. Eva’s in the city overnight doing vague Eva work-related things,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.
“I’m not going to say no to a night with you. Though I can’t believe I’m heading to the farmers market on a Sunday morning with my girlfriend.” He saw her hands fumble her house keys.
“The ‘g’ word?” Those green eyes watched him keenly.
Niko slung an arm around her shoulder and drew her out the door. “I figured it was better than calling you my ‘lady friend.’”
“Agreed. What would you be doing on a Sunday morning in New York?” she asked, locking the door behind them.
“I’m guessing same as you in L.A.”
“Sleeping off Saturday night?” she winked.
“Pretty much. This isn’t so bad though,” he said bringing her knuckles to his lips to kiss.
“Aren’t you charming this morning?”
“I’m buttering you up,” he admitted, walking her around the side of the house.
“For future reference, with you, very little needs to be buttered to get me naked.”
“I’ll file that away, but for right now, your chariot awaits.” He steered her toward the bike.
“Oh, no. Nope. Nope. Nope.” She shook her head and sent her curls flying.
“When’s the last time you were on a motorcycle?”
“That would be never because I don’t have a death wish or a moronic need for speed.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Niko prodded.
“That’s what people say right before they go base jumping and their chute doesn’t open or the alligator they’re wrestling turns around and bites off a limb. Why do we need to ride anyway? It’s just three blocks.”
He turned her argument back on her. “Exactly. It’s just three blocks, Emmaline.” Niko traced a finger over her bare shoulder. “Don’t you want to see what it’s like to have that power between your legs?”
Emma looked down at his crotch. “I think I already have a pretty good idea.”
He tried again. “It’s important to me.”
She rolled those emerald eyes heavenward. “Fine. But I want to be cremated, and I want ‘Down in a Blaze of Glory’ played at my funeral.”
Niko grinned in victory and handed her a helmet. “Safety first.”
“If that were an actual consideration, we’d be driving my car,” she snipped, sliding the helmet over her head. She let him secure it under her chin, and he gave her head a friendly pat before pulling on his own helmet.
“By the way, in the interest of honesty, I bet Carter that I’d be able to get you on the bike. He didn’t think it was your thing. So if you want him to be right, you can still back out.”
