Page 407 of Summer Heat
“Because you’re here.” He tried to pull her in for a kiss but she grimaced and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
She frowned. “You smell like perfume. And before you say it, I know you didn’t do anything, it’s still…”
“Right. Like the kiss thing. Well, as was the case then, I was completely innocent tonight as well. Gabriella was all over me like a barnacle I couldn’t shake.”
“Gabriella? Who’s Gabriella? I thought your date was Victoria.”
“It’s a long story that involves my father.” He stole another spoonful. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just hang out tonight? Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” She started clearing off all the research books on her couch.
“Actually, while you’re doing that can I shower first? If you think this perfume is bothering you, try wearing it.” He made a face.
“Extra towels are in the cabinet above the toilet and if you check the third shelf in the hall closet, you’ll see a bunch of Brian’s clothes. Take whatever you want.”
Connor halted and looked back her way. “Does he do that a lot?”
“What?”
“Leave his clothes here?”
She shrugged. “It’s a collection that’s been building for years. It’s mostly from the times he used to pick up Skylar after seeing Beth. He used to shower as soon as he got here to get the hospital feel off of himself.”
“You wear a lot of his shirts.”
She studied his hooded expression. “Because they’re comfortable. Connor, are you okay? What happened tonight?”
“Still don’t want to talk about it,” he called out, pivoting back on track for the bathroom.
It was a good five minutes before Abby heard any signs of life that confirmed he’d made the journey successfully.
“Hey Abby, can you come here for a sec?”
Walking into the wide-open bathroom, she was greeted by a sight infinitely more decadent than her ice cream.
A wet, naked Connor sitting in her tub.
He grinned. “Remember our first phone call?”
She shivered at the reminder. “Yes.”
“Come here.”
As she took the four short steps to the tub, Connor stood up and sent sheets of hot water rippling down his body.
Holy swizzle sticks.
He reached over and peeled Brian’s old shirt off of her. And then skimmed her bike shorts and panties down her legs, trailing kisses across every new inch of skin he uncovered. “I’ll never get over how gorgeous you are.”
Likewise.
She stepped into the tub and straddled his thighs, smoothing her hands all along the hard, muscular planes of his chest and abdomen…god, touching him was an art of foreplay all on its own.
Speaking of touching—
She gasped. “You went snooping through my drawers.” In her head, the accusation was a whole lot more indignant. Way less breathy.
