Page 83 of Sit, Stay, Love
She’d sent Tia home early because she couldn’t stand the stress of the young woman constantly beaming at her. Which of course meant she was called to take in a stray dog from a pound a few suburbs over. By the time she’d done all the paperwork, settled the dog, fed all the animals and safely tucked them into their enclosures, she was running late.
She shimmied into the dress, then squeezed her eyes shut and swore. ‘Shit.’ The zip. She couldn’t pull the zip up all the way.
Angrily shaking her head at her colossal stupidity, she tied the big black bow around her waist, slipped on her shoes and looked in the mirror. She tousled her hair, bringing her fringe forward, nodded and said, ‘It’ll do,’ just as the doorbell rang. ‘Shit!’
She grabbed the tiny black satin bag Linda had selected, took one last look in the mirror and hurried out of her room, her heels slipping on the wooden floorboards along the way. She caught herself before she fell and put her hand on the wall for support. Then she took a deep breath, called, ‘I’m coming,’ and very slowly walked down the hall.
When she pulled the door open in a rush, Ethan had his back to her. And when he turned, every trace of air left her lungs, rendering her immobile.
His Tom Ford suit was dark blue with a faint check, and his stylist had matched it with a fitted black shirt, which he wore open at the neck. His hair was pushed up stylishly at the front, and he’d shaved. It was the first time she’d seen him without scruff, and he was beyond stunning.
Ethan blew out a long, low whistle. ‘Holy fuck. That’s one hell of a dress. You look incredible.’
Her face flushed, and she forced her jelly legs to move, turned and lifted her hair. ‘Can you zip me up, please?’
He touched her waist, his fingers wrapping around her middle as he closed the zip. Then he brushed his lips down the back of her neck and breathed in deeply. ‘Mm. You smell good.’
She quivered at his warm breath on her skin, dropped her hair and turned to face him. His electric blue eyes smouldered so hard her knees wobbled.
‘We’re not working now, right?’ he asked.
‘No.’ Her voice was small, barely a squeak.
Sliding an arm around her waist, he yanked her to him. ‘No rules then,’ he whispered, and his mouth found hers before she could even take a breath.
His hungry lips moved with confidence, his tongue deepening the kiss. Her heels popped out of the back of her shoes as she pushed up on her tiptoes desperate to get nearer to him, desperate to delve deeper. The arch of her back forced their hips together, and she curled her fingers into his hair and held on tight, her stomach shooting out of the gate of a roller-coaster, soaring and twirling and flipping.
He tugged her closer, shifting slightly until her whole body was pressed against his. Then he moaned. Actually moaned, deep and sexy.
Oh my god. This is the best kiss ever.
She could barely collect a coherent thought while he kissed her, hot and wet and eager, and she gasped into his mouth as sparks of heat crackled across her skin.
Then as quickly as he’d grabbed her, he gently let her go.
She almost slid to the floor.
‘I’ve been thinking about doing that all day,’ he rasped.
A tiny squeak escaped her and she touched her lips.
‘Oh god,’ he groaned. ‘Did I mess up your makeup?’
‘Is it messed up? It’s supposed to be kiss-proof.’ Lipstick had been the furthest thing from her mind. If she looked like Ronald McDonald right now, she wouldn’t care.
‘Ooo,’ he growled and quirked a brow. ‘Good planning. And you’re still perfect.’
She blushed for the two hundred and eighty-second time. ‘Do I have dog hair or poop on me or anything?’
He laughed and took her hand, threading their fingers together. ‘No. You look beautiful.’
‘You do too.’
He smiled. ‘You ready?’
‘Absolutely not.’
A long red carpet led up the footpath to the cinema. A small crowd jostled for the best view from across the street, and lights glared as cameras clicked, and the media called out the celebrities’ names.
