Page 46 of Hard to Get

Oh no. No, no, no.

“We can go get her and take her for a walk later. She’ll be fine.”

She makes a sad face and straightens. “Yeah, she will.”

Whew.

Right inside my door is a bedroom that I use to store my bike and other sports equipment and we both leave our bikes there. When Stella pulls off her helmet and her gorgeous hair tumbles free, I want to slide my hands into it. She hangs her helmet on the handlebar and follows me out to the living room. Frank is still dancing around us, then runs to leap onto the couch.

“This is a nice place.” Her voice is low and throaty.

“Thanks.” I glance around.

“There are two levels?”

“Yeah.” I shove a hand into my own hair. The living room is the full two stories high, with tall windows on two walls. “There are two more bedrooms up there.” I clear my throat and gesture at the stairs.

“Nice.” She strolls to the windows. “So much light. And a fabulous view.”

“I like it. Would you like a drink? I have beer. Regular beer and some sour ones from Siwash Brewing.”

“Sour beer?”

“It’s non-alcoholic.” I head to the fridge, the kitchen, dining room and living room all open to each other. “Peach. And citrus.”

“I’ll try a peach one.”

I grab two cans and open them, then walk back to hand her one.

She lifts her cross-body bag over her head and sets it on the table, then takes a big gulp. “Huh. That’s pretty good.”

I gesture at the couch and we both sit. I shove Frank out of the way when he tries to sit between us.

Stella laughs. “Poor baby.”

“He’s an attention whore.”

She chuckles again, totally not taking me seriously, crossing her legs so she’s half-facing me. “That’s their purpose in life. To get our attention.”

“Yeah.” I take a drink of my own beverage. “Just not right now.”

Her smile softens as her eyes move over my face and heat builds again remembering those kisses. Her eyes darken. She’s remembering, too.

I reach out to touch her hair, shifting it back behind her shoulder. “That was a fun bike ride.”

“It was. We have to take advantage of nice weather when we get it.”

“I had a plan B if it was raining.”

“Oh yeah? What was that?”

“I’m not telling you because I’m still going to use it.”

“There’s that presumption again,” she teases.

I stroke her hair again. “Don’t worry, I’ll ask.” I lean in for a kiss, eager to pick up where we’d left off. Her mouth clings to mine, then opens beneath mine, and I sink into the kiss, the heat, the erotic softness of her mouth.

She shifts closer to me, a hand gliding around the back of my neck. Christ. Sensation slides down my spine. Her breasts brush against me and I know for sure she’s feeling the same. This isn’t just a kiss. It’s… nirvana.