Page 18 of Five Minute Man
Chapter 10
Well, the cottage lookedas good as it was going to. The floors had been swept and Swiffered, the area rugs beaten and aired out. The wood was polished, shelves dusted. She didn’t have an abundance of furniture, but what she did have was vacuumed and treated to a clean-smelling fabric refresher. Max’s toys had been picked up and deposited in the baskets she had in each room, though he was quietly emptying them every time she wasn’t looking. A vase of fresh flowers picked from the garden out back sat on the table, and a subtly scented vanilla candle burned in the kitchen, mixing with the aroma of the lemon cream cake she had baked that afternoon. The cottage wouldn’t win any featured pages inHouse Beautiful, but it looked neat and cozy, and smelled clean and inviting.
Holly changed her outfit no less than six times before finally deciding on a pair of comfortable yet stylish leggings and an oversized tunic tee that was both slimming and managed to make her look a little taller than she was. The resulting ensemble was casual, yet more suited to company than the pajama pants or ancient but oh-so-comfy faded jeans she normally wore around the house.
With a final spritz of light white musk, her favorite fragrance, she checked her hair one last time. She had opted to leave it down, but tamed it with a thin, flexible hairband that she hoped said: “I like you, but I’m not trying to impress you.”
Which was total bullshit, of course.
The sound of a truck making its way up her gravel driveway sent a flutter of butterflies through her stomach.
Max’s ears perked up, and he moved to the big picture window, pushing aside the lace curtains with his nose to get a better look. He glanced back at Holly questioningly.
“It’s okay,” she confirmed, peeking out from the side. “That’s Adam.”
Accepting this, Max went back to looking out the window.
When the doorbell rang a few seconds later, Holly closed her eyes and counted to three, not wanting to seem too anxious. Then she wiped her sweaty palms on her leggings and opened the door.
“Hi,” she said, not having to force or fake her smile.
Adam looked even better than she remembered. Dressed in jeans and a form-fitting black thermal shirt, it was hard not to stare. His dark hair looked damp as if he had recently taken a shower. The scent of male soap and something decidedly warm and musky hit her, and she inhaled deeply, anxious to fill her lungs with it.
“Hi.” He grinned back, holding two large bags in his hand.
Max pushed between Holly and the doorframe, sniffing at the food.
“Max, don’t be rude,” she chastised lightly. She looked back up at Adam. “Don’t mind him. He loves Chinese.”
* * *
ADAM GRINNED AND FOLLOWEDher inside. He had every intention of looking around and checking out the interior, but he could not seem to tear his gaze from the stunning view of Holly’s backside as she walked in front of him. The long shirt covered it, but clung just enough to whet his appetite and be transfixed by the hypnotic sway of her hips.
“Great place,” he said, wishing he had actually looked.
“I think so. How about we put those in the oven to keep warm while I give you the grand tour before it gets too dark?”
“Sounds good.”
What smells so good?Was that her, or something else? Whatever it was, it was making his mouth water. Since his cock was rousing with interest, too, he concluded that it was probably not just the delicious-looking cake on the raised glass display plate.
She took the bags from his hand and placed the containers in the oven, bending over and giving him a perfect view of her ass.Heart-shaped. Firm. Perfect.He just barely managed to contain his groan before she stood up and faced him again.
“This is Max, by the way. Max, this is Adam, the guy I was telling you about.”
Max held up one paw as if to shake.
Amused, Adam went down on one knee and took his paw. “You told him about me?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t have gotten in the door otherwise. He’s very protective.”
As if he understood, the dog smiled, actuallysmiled, at him, revealing some very big, very sharp fangs. Combined with his eyes—one blue, one brown, both outlined in coal black, giving him a demonic appearance—he looked capable of doing some serious damage. Thankfully, he seemed friendly enough.
“Interesting markings.”
“Yeah. He freaks some people out. I was going to call him ‘Devil Dog,’ but he seems to like Max better.”
“Understandable,” Adam said, though he wasn’t sure he understood at all. Then Holly smiled at him and he forgot everything else.
