Page 358 of Summer Heat
Brian. The mental splash of ice-cold reality was just as effective today as it’d been the other night. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he switched over to small talk. “Yeah, he’s one of the good ones. Have you two been dating long?”
She replied very…carefully, “What has Brian told you?”
“Nothing at all, really. I was actually surprised to see you with him at the party.” Stunned was more like it. Seeing Brian with any woman other than Beth had been an altogether surreal experience. “You look cute together.”
Okay, now the shifty woman looked like she was chewing on an old wad of gum.
His eyes narrowed.
Had he been right in his accusations earlier? Maybe she’d just used Skylar as her cover. A very effective one.
“How serious are you about Brian? If you don’t mind me asking.”
With a quick glance at the clock, she evaded poorly, “Oh, look at the time. I’ve got a meeting to get to and I need to shower first.”
She reopened the front door. Subtle.
“Thanks for the flowers, Connor. I accept your apology, of course.”
Briskly ignoring his body’s response to the image of her in the shower, he caught her by the elbow and crowded her against the wall.
“You’re hiding something. What is it?”
She shook her head in denial and suddenly, the warm scent of chocolate assailed his senses.
His gaze dropped down to her lips. “Hot cocoa,” he murmured. So the empty mug on the kitchen table hadn’t been filled with coffee then.
Her response was barely a whisper. “I was cold.”
His blood fired. Imagining all the ways he could’ve helped warm her up nearly brought him to his knees.
Tugging on her elbow once more, he pulled her body flush against his.
Jesus, every inch of her fit him perfectly.
Damn it.
CHAPTER FOUR
“I’M NOT POACHING my brother’s woman,” he rumbled in her ear, his words a hot, rough brand against her skin.
Abby shivered, arched her neck at the sensation. No, of course he wouldn’t poach. Not Connor. She’d been hearing about Saint Connor for years now from both Brian and Beth. A bit of a man whore, yes, but an otherwise great guy.
A noble bad boy.
And all the more irresistible for it.
A large part of her reasoned she should set the record straight right now. Explain that she wasn’t Brian’s woman. Free Connor’s guilty conscience.
Give the green light for the kiss they both wanted.
Instead, she turned her head away. “You should go.”
His sharp inhalation cut the air like a knife as he backed quickly away from her. “Abby, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
The slamming of a car door had them jumping apart another three feet. Abby shifted her gaze to the driveway and saw Brian bounding toward them, sprinting through the rain.
Geez, when it rained it poured.
