Chapter 6
Kelly had just buttoned her jeans when the doorbell rang. Dennis answered the door and she heard voices. Wondering who it might be, she padded down the hall in her bare feet. The couple entering were long-time friends. Pete was never without a woman, but Gail had been in his company more than most. Secretly, Gail wanted to be the only woman in Pete’s life.
“We’re on our way to Jakes,” Pete said to Dennis. “Thought we’d drop by and see if you wanted to go.”
“Sounds good to me,” Dennis replied. “Let me ask Kelly.”
“Kelly? Is she here?” Gail’s voice rose in excitement.
“Right here,” Kelly answered as she stepped into the open room.
Gail screeched like a teenager and ran to Kelly with arms outstretched. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been much too long.” Gail had such a bubbly personality you couldn’t keep from feeding off her energy.
“It’s good to see you, too.”
She jerked back. “Don’t you dare let this much time go by again without visiting. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ll be here for a while.” She took a long look envying Gail’s outfit. Her short black leather skirt showed off her slender legs and muscled calves. “You look great.”
“I’ve been working out.” She glanced over her shoulder to Pete. “Gotta keep fit to keep a certain man’s attention.”
“Well, it shows. You look fabulous.”
“So do you. And I’m glad to hear you’re staying.” She let go of Kelly’s hand and brushed back her long blond hair, causing the dozen or so bands on her arms to clank. A number of chains adorned her neck, and gypsy earrings hung down to her shoulders. Gail loved jewelry.
“It’s good to see you, Kelly,” Pete called from where he stood by the door. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“Till Dennis throws me out,” she answered, rolling her eyes in his direction.
Pete stood an inch or so taller than Dennis. He had a killer smile and exceptional looks, which he was completely aware of. Like Dennis, Pete had that blond, surfer dude look, and his tan suggested he spent a lot of time in the sun. No wonder Gail had fallen for him.
“Ya know, Kel,” Dennis stepped from the door. “You could stay forever if you put a lid on it.”
Gail laughed. “Kelly? Never. Besides, you know you love her barbs.” She’d been witness to many of Kelly and Dennis’s witty comebacks.
“Hey, if you guys are ready, let’s go,” Pete said.
“Give a girl time to get ready. I’ll help Kelly while you guys do your thing.” Gail urged Kelly down the hallway. “I need some girl talk.” Gail looked back at Pete with longing. It was there for the world to see. Kelly wondered if the ‘girl talk’ meant things were heating up between Gail and Pete.
“How are things going with you and Pete?” She asked in a whisper as she was whisked down the hallway.
Gail practically shoved Kelly into the bedroom and slammed the door.
“Is it that bad?” Kelly was afraid to ask.
“You know how it is with him.” Gail gave a dismissive wave and plopped down on the bed. Her hair hung in her face where Kelly couldn’t see her eyes.
She stepped closer to the bed and angled her head trying to read Gail’s body language. “Is he still seeing other girls?”
Gail’s head jerked up and sure enough there were tears.
“Ah, honey.” Kelly sat on the bed and slipped an arm around Gail, giving her a hug.
“I can’t help it. I keep hoping.” She sniffed and swiped at her tears. “It’s been going really well lately. I haven’t seen him with anyone else. He’s very affectionate with me.”
“You mean you’re having sex.”
“Yeah.” Gail shoulders dropped with her sigh.
“Well, maybe that’s a good sign. It could mean you’re the only one.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
Surprise, then anger, filled Kelly’s chest. If Pete was sleeping with Gail, surely he would not be with anyone else. “You think he’s having sex with someone else?! The nerve of that. Call him out on it. Ask him point blank.” Damn him. Kelly jumped from the bed, but Gail grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?” Fear glimmered in Gail’s eyes. Terror and dread crossed her face.
Seeing Gail’s expression, Kelly immediately stopped her ranting. It wouldn’t do Gail any good. “I’m just walking off my irritation.” She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe he’d be with you and another woman at the same time. I thought Pete was better than that.”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“If you even suspect, then he probably is.” Robert flashed in her mind, causing her irritation to swiftly rise. “Men are baboons. With animal instincts. Eat, shit, sex. They think of nothing else. They don’t need anything else.” She got up on her soap box and allowed a string of curses to flow. She needed this. She’d not vented her frustration since the scene with Robert at the Heritage.
Had she been holding everything in?
Well, no more. She cut loose. And it felt good. She paced and spewed every evil thing she could think to say about her married ex until she ran out of steam. Exhausted, bit by bit she became aware of her surroundings. Gail perched on the bed with one arm braced to the side and a look of long-suffering tedium on her face.
“Are you through?”
“Uh, guess I got a little carried away.”
“A little? The girl who charmed men and loved fun has turned into a resentful, aggrieved woman? What happened to you? Someone has definitely wronged you. You’re ready to lead an assault against men.”
Kelly closed her eyes and inhaled. She counted to five and exhaled, forcing away the distressing emotions the thought of Robert had forced upon her. She felt the touch of Gail’s hand on her shoulder.
“Kelly? What happened?” Gail had no idea that Kelly’s outpouring came from her latest breakup.
“My last relationship was with a married man.”
Gail sucked in air, her gasp sounding harsh to Kelly’s ears. “What?”
“My ex was married.” It hurt to admit that. Yeah, sure, she hadn’t known, but what did that say about her?
“And you have the gall to criticize—”
“No, Gail, wait. I didn’t know. When I found out . . .” Tears threatened and she wondered why the hell she was crying. She’d been too angry to cry when it happened. She’d been shocked, enraged, and bitter. She hated Robert. She hated all men. Then Dennis had held her, and she’d bawled like a baby. She thought she had gotten it out of her system.
Evidently not.
“Come sit down.” Gail patted the space beside her. “Tell me what happened.”
The damn man wasn’t worth her tears. Kelly tossed her hair out of her face and met Gail’s worried gaze. “I’m supposed to be comforting you. I’m so sorry.”
“Forget that nonsense. Now, tell me.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m more angry than hurt. After all the hoopla was over, I actually felt relieved.” She took the tissue Gail handed her and blotted her cheeks. “I have no idea why I’m crying. I feel like such a fool. Robert betrayed me. I didn’t mean to unload on you.”
“Now at least I understand the tirade. You were speaking from your own experience. I thought you were being a little harsh.”
“I thought we were an item and then I found out he was married. I would never date a married man.”
“How did you find out?”
“Oh, this is the best part.” Kelly swiveled around to face Gail. “Robert cancelled our date, so my friend and I kept the dinner reservations. He was there.”
“With another woman?”
“That’s what I thought. I confronted him. When I asked who she was, she said she was his wife.”
“That must have been quite a shock.”
“Yeah,” Kelly snorted. “Not only was he with another woman, but a wife. Double whammy.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not.” Kelly sniffed and wiped her nose. “I left and put him behind me.”
“Sure you did.”
“I’m . . .”
“You came to Dennis.”
“He’s the first person I thought of. He’s my best friend.”
“I’ve always wondered if there was more between you two,” Gail said, with a knowing watchfulness. The look suggested Kelly and Dennis were lovers.
“Oh, no,” Kelly rushed to correct her. “You’ve got it wrong. We’re just friends.”
“Um hmm.” Gail nodded her head as if she didn’t believe it.
“Really,” Kelly’s voice grew more determined. “Dennis and I have never crossed that line.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Maybe, but the one who had her interest had dark hair and blue sparkling eyes. Eyes that glowed with desire as his gaze devoured her naked body. She wasn’t ready to share that incident. Not yet.
“How did we get on this anyway?” Kelly wanted to change the subject and realized the topic was her fault. “Never mind, I did it. What I really want to know is what are you going to do about Pete?”
“He’s good to me, Kelly, he really is. I just wish he’d make it permanent.”
“You’ve loved him for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Since the night I first saw him five years ago.”
“Five years?” They’d been dating for five years?
“I know. It’s too long to be following some guy around like a sad puppy dog.”
I’ll say.
“Well, that’s going to change.” Kelly stood and helped Gail to her feet.
“What do you mean?” Gail asked uneasy. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“I’m talking about the puppy dog part. You’re not going to dog Pete’s heels, not anymore. As a matter of fact, you’re going to do the opposite. Ignore him.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“I don’t mean totally ignore him. Just don’t be so available. Notice other guys.”
“What do you mean notice other guys? I told you. I don’t want anyone else.”
“It doesn’t hurt to look, does it? Maybe the next time he calls, you’re busy.”
“No,” Gail said in a panic. “He’ll find someone else.”
“Don’t you want him to want you? The way you want him?” Kelly tried reasoning with her. “What if you waste years on Pete and he never commits to you?”
“But I like being with him. I can’t do it.” Gail looked so pitiful. But she’d be worse off if she spent years chasing a man who didn’t want her.
“I’m not saying cut things off with him. Just once or twice, throw him a curve. You’ll find out if he’s really interested in you.”
“At least you’re not telling me to drop him all together.
“I wouldn’t do that. Not when you care about Pete so much. But you need to think about yourself. Take care of yourself.”
“Kelly, are you giving up on all men?”
She had done that very thing—until she met Craig. Good lord. It hadn’t even been a week before another man made her break that vow.
“We’ll see. Right now, I need to get ready to go out. We both should concentrate on having a good time and forget the inner working of the minds of men.”
~ ~ ~
The neon sign flashed Jake’s Pub. Craig had been here before, but never alone. The noise suggested a large crowd. He pushed open the door. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. A band at the far end of the room played loudly, customers shouted to be heard.
“Hello, handsome.” A pretty, buxom redhead in a tight-fitting outfit winked and flashed a mouth full of perfect white teeth.
“Hello, yourself.”
“What’s your pleasure?”
Wasn’t that a loaded question? “If there’s a spot at the bar, I’ll have a beer.”
“Sure thing, sweet cheeks. Come on.” She twirled on her toes and swung her hips, making him happy to follow her anywhere.
“Hey, Jake. Got a live one for ya.” She gestured to a barstool with a shrug of her shoulder and flashed another blazing smile. “I’ll catch ya later.” She winked again, and with a tray of drinks in her hand, she melted into the crowd.
Normally he’d be willing, and looking forward to enjoying himself. But a woman with blond hair and amber eyes kept flashing in his mind like that neon sign outside.
This wasn’t exactly what he’d planned, but after today he needed some space between him and Kelly. He’d nearly given in to his attraction today. Damn, the woman had a body made to drive men wild. He’d been no exception. Dennis showing up when he did slammed him back to reality. Kelly belonged to his friend.
Craig ordered a Bud and pulled out his wallet. The bartender slid a bottle across the counter and Craig handed him a bill. “Keep it.” He took a long draw, relishing the cold freshness in his throat. There was nothing quite like a cold beer.
He took a long pull, hoping to evade the image of Kelly in her bikini, the flash of mischief as they’d frolicked in the pool. A twinge tugged at his groin. He enjoyed her company too damn much. Her beauty attracted him, yes. She was sexy as hell, and the chemistry between them drove him nuts.
He shifted on the stool, trying to get control of his arousal. He needed to get his head in the right place, meaning off his best friend’s girl.
He turned, with beer in hand. The harder he tried to think of something else, the more Kelly popped right back into his mind, especially after their time at the pool. He couldn’t help but notice how her breasts quavered as she frolicked in the water, and how quickly she’d responded when she brushed against him. She seemed to like him okay. More than like. If they hadn’t been in plain sight of everyone, he could have participated in some adult rated fun.
Couldn’t friends tease and joke around? Couldn’t he enjoy himself and spend time with Kelly as a friend? She was fun. She surprised him when she tried to pull his feet out from under him. He got a good shot of her tight buns angled up in the air.
Christ. If he didn’t block these images now, he’d have a full-blown erection.
He tipped up his beer, downed it, and ordered another.
The band finished one song and began a new tune. In his peripheral vision, he noticed the entrance door open as more people filled the bar. For some reason, a tall blonde caught his attention. His breathing hitched. In a flash, she disappeared.
Damn. Now he was hallucinating. Seeing Kelly’s image. He lifted the bottle and took a swig. Phrases of conversations drifted within his hearing.
“There’s a crowd in here tonight. Bet you’ll see a lot of people you know, Kelly.”
His arm froze in mid-air and his fingers tightened on the longneck. He swiveled to the right.
There she stood. With Dennis, Pete, and Gail.
As Dennis approached the bar, a redhead waylaid him. The same one who’d wiggled her backside while leading Craig to the bar. She cozied right up to Dennis, slipped her arms around his neck, and planted a big one on his lips. Same ole, same ole. Dennis put way too much enthusiasm into that kiss for a man who had a girlfriend.
Craig quickly looked at Kelly, judging her reaction.
“Casanova is alive and well.” She laughed and didn’t seem distressed in the least. Damned puzzling. He’d seen women fight like cats over less. Possessive she was not.
Pete and Gail stood behind her. Pete spotted someone across the room and nudged the two girls through the crowd.
Craig stayed silent. Kelly hadn’t seen him. He simply enjoyed watching her. Her friendly personality exhibited confidence and an elegant demeanor. The woman had class.
Before she slipped into the booth, she glanced back at the bar, evidently in search of Dennis. Without a moment’s hesitation, she joined in with her friends’ conversation.
Craig turned around and found the redhead rubbing her boobs against Dennis’s chest. Dennis leaned down and whispered something in her ear, then gave her a wolfish grin. If Craig knew his buddy, he’d just made a date.
It pissed him off.
Dennis was a fool. Craig didn’t understand how Kelly could ignore his behavior. She must be an exceptional woman to put up with her boyfriend kissing other women. He’d heard love was blind, that love made people do things they normally wouldn’t do. Did Kelly love Dennis?
Craig took a gulp of his beer. If Kelly were his, he would be glued to her side.
A twinge tore at his chest. He hadn’t known Kelly long, hell, he’d just met the woman. The thought of her in love with his best friend churned his insides.
Today at the pool, she’d been teasing and suggestive. She’d flirted and rubbed her sexy body against him. Hell. He was getting hard just thinking about it. He smacked his brew on the counter harder than he’d intended.
“Hey, ole buddy.” Dennis lightly punched Craig on the shoulder. “What are you doing over here?”
Shit. Dennis might be a good friend, but he wouldn’t mind punching some sense into the idiot. “Having a beer.”
“You look like you lost your best friend.”
“You’re my best friend.” Craig grumbled the words. At the moment, he wanted to punch his best friend.
“Well, I’m not going anywhere. Besides, you came to Charlotte to see me, didn’t you? I’ll not let you sit here and drink alone. Come on.” Dennis slapped him on the back. Craig rose and followed his buddy, thinking he’d be better off if he headed for the door. As they drew near the booth with Kelly, Dennis called out. “Hey, look who I found.”
Kelly’s head came up with a start and her amber gaze fastened on Craig. The tightness in his chest eased when her lips lifted in a teasing smile.
Pete spoke first. “Hey, Craig. Glad you could join us. That’s two surprises in one night.”
“Good surprises,” Gail added. “First Kelly, now you.”
“I’m glad you consider me a good surprise.” An inner voice wanted Kelly to think it good as well. Even though his conscious reminded him she was with his ass of a friend.
“I’m glad to see you Craig. Although, I expected Dennis to bring over his lady friend.”
The way Kelly said lady didn’t bode well for someone.
Dennis took her hand and lingered too damn long while he kissed her fingers. “My attention is only on you.”
Craig felt a twinge somewhere in the pit of his gut. The hell of it was they made a nice-looking couple.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes adoringly, until Kelly giggled. Pete and the others laughed outright.
“He lies with such perfection,” Gail snickered.
Kelly batted her eyelashes. “Yes. Straight from his heart,” she said and chuckled again.
“So, Craig. What brings you here?” Pete asked.
“Seemed like the place to be.”
“One of our favorite hang outs. You visiting Dennis or you have business in Charlotte?”
“Just came to see my buddy.” Craig tilted his bottle neck toward Dennis. He in turn clinked his beer against Craig’s. “Looking for some down time. Unwind.”
“How long are you staying?” Pete rested his elbows on the table top.
“For the weekend. Maybe longer.” Although he doubted it. If he couldn’t cool his jets around Kelly, he might be headed to the West Coast sooner than he planned.
“Stay longer. We can catch up,” Dennis added.
“How about a round of golf? I have an open spot at the Country Club every Tuesday,” Pete told him. “Larry can join us and make it a foursome.”
“Depends on what’s happening at the office.” Craig mumbled the first excuse he could think of. One he’d used before.
“You’re not going to work while you’re here, are you? You just said you came for some R&R.”
Dennis slapped him on the shoulder. “Golf sounds good. Let’s do it. I need the practice.”
“Right,” Craig said with sarcasm. “The last time I played golf with you guys, we did more drinking than playing golf.”
“Who won the chariot race?”
“Chariot race?” Kelly and Gail chimed together.
Pete leaned both arms on the table, a maneuver to draw their attention, as though preparing to tell a story of great importance.
“Well you see, girls. The golf carts are the chariots and we had a round of jousting.”
“Jousting?” Kelly’s beautiful amber eyes glowed with suspicion and curiosity.
“We made these swords out of cardboard and tin foil.” Pete continued the story until Gail and Kelly were in stitches.
Craig balanced his weight on one leg while he shook his head. They did have fun on their golf dates.
~ ~ ~
Dennis drew him to the side as the girls headed for the ladies’ room. Was there some girl code that said females had to go in pairs? Women never went to pee by themselves.
“Hey, buddy, will you take Kelly home for me?”
“You have got to be kidding,” Craig blurted in irritation. He knew his buddy had made a date with the sexy redhead. But he sure as hell couldn’t figure out why. Not when Dennis had Kelly by his side.
“What? You can help a guy out, can’t you?”
“Fuck, Dennis. Kelly came here with you.” Craig didn’t like being put in this position. Yeah, Dennis was his friend and he’d done such things in the past. But neither one of them had been attached.
“She’s no problem. She’s cool.” Dennis seemed to think Kelly would accept the idea of him leaving her while traipsing off with another female. Craig couldn’t believe it.
“You’re just going to shove her off on me and go off with another woman?”
“Hey, man. I didn’t think you’d have a problem. Look,” Dennis said, as he placed a hand on Craig’s shoulder. “Kelly is a knockout. I thought you liked her.”
Craig scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t have a problem with her. It’s you. You shouldn’t treat her like that.”
“I told you. She’s cool. She knows how I am. Trust me, buddy.” Dennis tightened his grip on Craig’s shoulder. “She’s fine. And the Craig I know would normally jump at the chance of a hot woman.”
Jump, leap, hurdle, as in shackles couldn’t hold me. Yeah. But not when she’s his buddy’s girlfriend.
“Damn, Dennis.”
“You worry too much. I’ve got a live wire over here, and I’m not going to turn it down.” He glanced to the redhead and his smile grew to leering proportions.
“You son-of-a-bitch.”
“Yeah,” Dennis laughed. “You’re jealous. But you don’t have to be. Look what I’m leaving you.” His gaze fixed over Craig’s shoulder.
Craig turned to find Kelly slipping into the booth. A familiar lurch twisted in his gut. A knee-jerk reaction just at the sight of her. Damn, she was gorgeous. Even though Craig was getting the better end of the deal, he wanted to wipe the smile off his buddy’s face with his fist. It would serve Dennis right if Craig stole Kelly away. Fat chance.
“She doesn’t deserve you,” he told Dennis.
“She reminds me of that all the time.” His buddy gave him another slap on the back and strode off.
~ ~ ~
The driver’s side door opened and Craig slipped in. Although the interior of his truck was big, he filled the space with his masculine presence. Kelly wondered if Dennis had intentionally thrown her a bone by dropping her in Craig’s lap. Well, not literally. Although, she wouldn’t mind being in his lap. The man was sexier than any man had a right to be. Inky black hair, blue eyes you could lose yourself in, and a body to get every woman’s motor running hot.
She shook her head. He hadn’t done anything, made a move, or offered a pick-up line. Which confused her. He’d been polite and attentive. The sparks were definitely there, but he didn’t act on their obvious attraction to one another. All night she’d been thinking about kissing him. She shouldn’t. Hadn’t she sworn off men? A woman could not trust a man.
But oh, how his lips beckoned.
Happier than she’d been in some time, Kelly leaned back in the comfort of leather. “Nice vehicle.”
“So’s yours,” Craig replied as he drove out of the parking lot. “Dennis likes your car.”
Where did that come from? “What’s Dennis got to do with anything?”
“He’s the reason I got into trouble.”
“Trouble?” With her mind still wondering what his kiss might be like, she had to concentrate on what he’d said.
“The ice water in the shower.”
Oh, yeah. Heat flushed her cheeks. She’d thought of that scene many, many times. And each and every time, her body heated with the memory. She sat up straighter and turned, facing him.
“Would you care to explain?”
“The other day when I showed up, I saw his car in the parking lot. He’d taken yours for a drive, but I didn’t know that at the time. I saw his car and thought he was home.”
“Oh, I see. Blame Dennis because he took my car, which made you throw ice water on me.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Makes sense,” she giggled.
He gave her a long look, a sexy grin on his lips. “You agree. It’s his fault?”
“Sure.” They both laughed. The deep rumbling sound sent prickles vibrating over her skin. “It is definitely his fault.” Kelly studied Craig’s fingers as he gripped the wheel and eased into traffic. Nice, strong fingers. He handled the car with ease. She wondered if his fingers would be gentle or demanding.
“Not one of my finer moments.”
The ice in the shower? A moment she would never forget.
“It was quite a surprise seeing you. That is, seeing a strange man. I thought Dennis was up to no good.”
“We used to do that kind of stuff in college. Seems like a long time ago.”
“Evidently not so long. You’re still playing pranks.”
“Only it backfired on me.” The expression on his face was lacking remorse.
She giggled again. “The look on your face.”
“Not the lasting impression a guy wants a girl to remember. Barging in on her privacy. Still, I can’t say I’m entirely sorry.” He glanced her way with a playful grin, then turned his focus back to the road. “I hope I’m not stepping out of line.” He hesitated. “From what I saw, you are definitely one well put together female.”
Her pulse fluttered. She’d been standing there naked- of course he’d looked. What guy wouldn’t gawk at a naked woman? Hearing him say he appreciated what he’d seen thrilled her as much as when she’d seen approval in his lingering gaze. Her body temperature rose several degrees. Before she traveled down a path of fantasy, she reminded herself she hated men.
Sorta.
“It would be interesting to see how you would have reacted had our roles been reversed,” Craig said.
She shifted in her seat to face him. “Do you think I would have been horrified at seeing a naked man and run screaming out the door?” Hell no. She would have looked, stared, lingered. After seeing Craig by the pool, she more than likely would have had a meltdown. Oh, yes. Her reaction would have been much different. She would have been in no hurry to apologize and leave.
“I don’t think you would have played the brazen hussy and joined me.”
Damn. He had to go and plant that idea in her head. Joining him sounded pretty darn hot.
Breathe. In. Out.
“Maybe I would have stood there and stared at you.” She was playing with fire and she knew it.
“I assure you, I have little modesty. If a hot woman wants to stare at my bod, I say go for it.”
Oh, God. Now she wanted to see him naked.
“You don’t give the impression you’re egotistical.”
“I’m not boasting. I’m thinking more along the lines of opportunity.” His smile nearly melted her into a puddle on his leather seat. “I’ve got what God gave me. I see no reason to hide it.”
Yeah, He gave you more than most.
“A typical man.”
“I hope you won’t put me in a category with all men.” His eyes searched hers for a long moment before he fixed his gaze on the road.
How could she deny his words when she’d been doing that very thing? Robert had made her skeptical of all men. Dennis reminded her all men were not the same. But Craig, he drew her like a magnet. Mystery, charisma, sensuality, he captivated every part of her. She’d never been so attracted, nor so at ease with a man. Yet he held a part of himself back.
“Are you going to try to convince me that all men don’t think about the same thing? Sex?”
“Can’t argue with you there,” he replied on a chuckle. “Begins at puberty. But I will say this. Not all men think about sex the same way.”
Before she had time to contemplate or ask him to explain, he drove into the parking lot of Dennis’s building. He shut off the engine and stared at her in silence. Awareness fizzed in the air between them.
“Are you coming in?” Her voice sounded breathless with want.
“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“Why not?” She bit her tongue, surprised at her outburst, but she wanted to know. One minute he seemed interested, the next he put on the brakes. She yearned for him to breach the distance, reach for her, take her into his arms.
Craig got out of the car without answering. She trembled as she waited for him to come around to her side. He opened the door and held out his hand.
“I’ll see you to the door.”
Tingles shot up her arm as his fingers closed over hers. Judging from his reaction, he felt the same spark, but he didn’t look too happy about it. This man puzzled her in so many ways.
Crickets echoed in the night, hiding from the glowing lights aligned along the walkway. The soles of her shoes tapped up the steps leading to the front doors of the building. Silence filled the elevator, making Kelly conscious of the man standing beside her. He smelled so delicious, she wanted to snuggle up to him and take a bite. Sexual tension hung in the air, and when she thought she couldn’t stand it another moment, the bell dinged and the doors opened.
Her shoulders spiked with tension, feeling Craig’s vigilance as he followed her to the apartment. The click of the lock resounded and he opened the door, but not enough for her to walk through. Mere inches separated them. She glanced up. His eyes blazed with intensity.
She leaned forward.
He stepped back.
“Good night, Kelly.”