Unplanned Love: A Love In Spring novel Page 16

  “I should go before Ellie finds out I didn’t sleep at her place.”

  “And would it be such a bad thing if she did?” He leaned closer, pretending he was going to kiss her, just to test her reaction. When she didn’t pull back, proving his theory that she didn’t really want to leave, he moved his face and took a bite of her sandwich instead. Her breath hitched but she faked a composure he was sure she wasn’t feeling. Her wild heart rate against his lips when he kissed the side of her neck proved it.

  “I… uh…”

  “Yes, Charlotte?” he said, smiling against her skin. The smell of his shower gel on her skin made him feel territorial, as if he’d marked her and now everyone would know she was his.

  “I have to go,” she said, her tone a little breathy. He pulled back and stared at her with a pout he hoped would change her mind. “Seriously.” She stuffed her mouth with the last chunk of her scrambwich and took a step back, caging herself in between his body and the counter. He grinned mischievously, and she raised her hands, smacking her palms on his chest. He decided pushing his luck any further wouldn’t be a smart idea, considering they hadn’t had a hint of a fight for one whole night.

  “Fine, if you really can’t stay…”

  One eyebrow quirked as her head tilted to the side. Man, was she hot when she did that.

  “Guess that’s a no.” He took a step back, freeing her, and immediately felt the loss. How had just one night managed to make him want—scratch that—crave her this badly?

  She reached for her sexy shoes discarded by one of the high stools, and stepped into them. How anyone managed to walk on those heels was beyond him, but she wouldn’t hear him complain.

  “Okay, so…” she trailed off, picking up her not-at-all-inconspicuous red bag, with a zebra printed stripe, that must contain her whole life, judging from the size of it. “I guess thanking you for last night would sound weird?”

  “Yep. But you just did anyway, so…” He smiled. “I guess I should say, you’re welcome.”

  She rolled her eyes, even though she was smiling. She pulled the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder and took a step to the side, toward the entrance. She looked like she couldn’t wait to leave now, so he went to open the door for her.

  “Um, listen… about last night…” She stared at the floor while fidgeting with the hem of her sweater.

  “Yeah, I know, there won’t be a repeat.” And the thought made him grumpy. He couldn’t understand why they couldn’t spend time with each other, when it was clear they had something going on—even if only on a physical level. Yes, she would be leaving at some point, but why couldn’t they make the most of it while she was here?

  “So, um… I’ll see you around.” She stepped past him onto the porch and walked down the first step. Then she froze, her shoulders lifting as she took a long breath. He frowned. A second later, he heard some muttered words in Spanish, and she spun around, walking back toward him with purposeful strides until she was standing in front of him, her heels bringing her to quite the perfect height for him. Before he could ask her if she’d forgotten something, her arms went around his neck and her lips locked with his. He placed his hands on her waist and responded to the kiss eagerly.

  She pulled back sooner than he would’ve liked, and her sultry look stole his breath.

  “Was that a ‘goodbye and thank you for the most amazing sex of my life’ kiss, or an ‘I’ll be back soon for more’ kind of kiss?” His hands still on her hips, he squeezed lightly, remembering how much better it had felt when there was no fabric between his fingers and her skin.

  “Yeah, um… I’ll let you know.”

  He laughed. “Will you send me an email or a text? Or should I expect a courier to show up on my doorstep?”

  She smacked his chest again and pushed him back.

  “Have a nice day, Bob.”

  She spun on her sexy heels and sashayed down the steps with an extra sway of her hips, then went down the path toward the edge of his property, where the land gave way to the woods. At some point during the night, she’d worried that his parents would spot her car in their driveway and wonder what she was doing there. She’d freaked out and got out of his bed, determined to go home, so he’d suggested she park it closer to his house, to hide it from view. And since he didn’t trust her not to turn the car around and speed away, he’d pulled on his jeans and moved it for her.

  She turned around just as she reached her Beetle. He raised his hand in farewell, and she finger-waved at him with a sexy smile that made him want to run to her, throw her over his shoulder and take her back into his room.

  He was in trouble.

  Chapter 14

  What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing turned into ‘just one more night’, then ‘once more won’t kill us’, until they settled into a routine. Charli had no intention of making it happen again after that first night, but the memory of Kean’s kisses, of his hands skimming her body, of his dark eyes heating her up, had kept her tossing and turning in her bed. So she’d showed up two days later, after she’d made sure Ellie and her family wouldn’t see her sneaking out. She’d parked her car in the same secluded spot where he’d moved it that night, and knocked on his door, hoping he was alone. The moment her eyes settled on him—snug jeans, dark green sweatshirt that hugged his delicious muscles, wild curls and all—she’d lost the ability to speak. Luckily, he’d taken control of the situation and pulled her into his cottage—and into his arms. The kiss that followed had erased all her doubts about whether he would want to see her again. And right then she’d understood that she’d fallen under a spell she would have a hard time breaking free from.

  The real problem arose whenever they met outside the privacy of his house and had to pretend they couldn’t stand each other—like today, three days before the festival, when they were both at the community center, helping with the final touches for the parade.

  “Got any plans for tonight, Lioness?” Kean appeared out of nowhere while she was going through her checklist to make sure there were no last-minute things that needed taking care of. He leaned close to her face and she instinctively pulled back, glancing left and right to make sure nobody was paying attention to them.

  “Chill, woman. Nobody has been able to tell we’re sleeping together yet.”

  “Shhh!” She swatted his arm, and he chuckled in response. “We agreed outside of your house we’re barely more than strangers. Don’t make me change my mind.”

  He pulled out the chair next to her, turned it around and straddled it backward. “Admit it, you can’t stay away from me.” He waggled his eyebrows and, holy guacamole, she wanted to kiss him. “You’re addicted.”

  She rolled her eyes, struggling to keep a straight face. “You didn’t seem opposed to me showing up at your place.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt your fragile feelings, ’cause I’m a gentleman.”

  “Really.” She quirked an eyebrow, and he grinned. He seriously needed to leave before she did something stupid like taking his handsome face in her hands and kissing him until she was breathless.

  “And to prove my point, how about dinner at my place tonight, to show you it’s not just your body I’m interested in?”

  His words melted her heart like butter. The four nights they’d slept together in the week since that first night, she’d usually showed up long after dinner, when she was sure nobody would see her. They’d never talked about dinner before. Would he consider this a date? Was he trying to take them to a new level? Because she’d been crystal clear about her intentions and where they stood, but if he thought—

  “Charli. It’s just dinner. I can order takeout or grill a steak, I’m not asking you to marry me.”

  Her cheeks heated. Gosh, was it so plain what she’d been thinking? Did she look like she was freaking out, even though she’d been doing her best to hide it?

  “And I can be your dessert,” he continued, a twinkle in his eyes. “You can spread chocolate
all over me if you’d like, and then I’ll let you lick it o—”

  “Oh my God, Bob! Just shut up!” She turned around, her eyes scanning the room, then returning to his face when she was sure nobody had heard him. “If I agree to dinner, will you go back to whatever it was you were doing and leave me alone?”

  He grinned. “Maybe.”

  “Oh, for the love of Bob the Builder. What do I have to do to make you stop annoying me?”

  “Wear your sexy heels,” he whispered, leaning in. At least this time he hadn’t shouted it. “And that lacy, purple number you had on the first time; I really enjoyed peeling it off you…”

  Charli blushed all the way to her scalp. The room had suddenly become scorching hot, to the point she had a hard time breathing. Yes, she recalled that night all too well, and now wasn’t the time or place to remember the details.

  “Would I be crossing a line if I kissed you right now?”

  She shot out of the chair as if she’d been electrocuted. “Go back to work, Bob. This festival isn’t going to organize itself.”

  His deep, infuriatingly sexy chuckle followed her as she walked out of the room, pretending she needed to get something from her car. Only when she was sure she was alone did she let a silly grin break free as she fanned her face with her clipboard, hoping it would be enough to cool her spirits—just until she could be alone with Kean in his house.

  * * *

  Charli had never been a good liar, not even when she was younger. With three older brothers and a mother with an eagle eye, sneaking out of her house to go to parties or meet with guys had never been her M.O., and now she knew she never would’ve stood a chance with her family.

  As she quietly went out of the house later that evening and got into her car, which she’d been wise enough to park on the street so she wouldn’t be heard when she drove off, her heart raced and her palms were clammy. She threw furtive glances at the cottage next door, wishing really hard none of the residents walked out. She’d told Ellie she was going to order takeout and have an early night. She knew her friend wouldn’t show up unannounced, even though it was her cottage and she had an extra set of keys, but she couldn’t help hoping Ellie would spend the night with her happy family and not worry about Charli.

  She started breathing normally only once she turned off Ellie’s street and onto the road she knew like the back of her hand by now—the road that led to Kean’s.

  He opened the door wearing his drool-worthy lopsided grin, and she nearly forgot how to breathe.

  “I made my Grandma’s guacamole.” Her voice had a slight wobble and she hated her body for its stupid reaction. He was just a man, for goodness’ sake. It wasn’t as if this were their first date—no, wait, technically it was. Was that the reason why she was so nervous? “And I, um, brought wine, too.”

  “Thanks.” He leaned closer and kissed her cheek. “Did you wear your purple lingerie, too?”

  She didn’t know whether it was the way he said it, or his warm breath in her ear, or the giddiness she’d felt while pulling on her lacy panties and clasping her bra, thinking of the moment he’d be pulling them off her. Whatever it was, her legs nearly gave in at his comment and she hated herself for being at his mercy.

  “Come in. I think you could use a glass of red,” he said, snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. “It’s good to have you all to myself, knowing I can kiss you whenever I please. Like, right now.” His lips captured hers, and she suddenly forgot all the reasons why this thing was doomed to end.

  Ten minutes later, they sat at the table enjoying the steaks and salad he’d cooked. Ordering takeout for two in town would have given away that he was having dinner with someone, and knowing how the gossip mill worked, everyone would start wondering who the woman was. But she didn’t mind. She’d never been a fussy eater, and the food he’d prepared was perfect.

  “You know, if I didn’t know better, I would think this was a real date,” she said, bringing the glass of wine to her lips. “You cooking dinner, me bringing my Grandma’s super secret guacamole, candles on the table…”

  He shrugged. “You’re the one who didn’t want to call this a date. But I don’t usually entertain pretty women in my kitchen.”

  “You lead them straight to your bedroom, I suppose?” Oops. Those words weren’t supposed to come out. She’d only meant to think them.

  “What’s that I hear in your tone?” His eyes lit up and the corner of his lips tilted up. “Are you jealous, Lioness?”

  Yes.

  “Of course not.” She waved his comment away, and his eyes took on that mischievous sparkle that always made her knees weak. “You can bring however many women you want into your bedroom. It’s none of my business.”

  You keep telling yourself that, sister.

  Just the thought of another woman sleeping in his bed made her chest tighten.

  “I know it’s none of your business.” He swirled the wine in his glass and his lips twitched as he fought a smile. “But you’re the only woman who’s ever been in my bedroom. I don’t invite random women back to my place, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Oh. Um, okay.” Her heart did a happy dance in her chest even as she forced herself to keep a straight face. “I guess it makes sense. With everyone knowing everyone else’s business, one-night stands must be complicated.”

  He frowned, looking slightly offended. “I’m not a one-night stand kind of guy, Charli. I don’t sleep with every woman I date.”

  Why did that make her want to smile like an idiot and pump her fist into the air? She should really stop acting like a silly teenager. They were bed buddies and would never be more than that.

  “Although it might seem unbelievable to you, I like to get to know a woman, see if there’s potential for something more before I take the next step.”

  “You didn’t exactly wait to know me before you showed me to your bedroom.”

  He chuckled. “That’s because you assaulted me and practically begged me to take you to my bedroom that night. I didn’t have any other option but submit.”

  Her face heated at the memory of that night. Yes, she really had begged him and she couldn’t even blame it on the alcohol.

  “Got nothing to say? None of those smartass comebacks of yours?”

  Her face grew even hotter. She’d never been the blushing type, but apparently this man brought out weaknesses she didn’t even know she had.

  “I’m afraid nothing I say will change the fact that I did, um, sort of beg you.” She took a large gulp of wine, hoping it would help stifle the embarrassment. When she met his smiling eyes, she knew all the wine in the world wouldn’t help her. “Can we change the subject now? Please?”

  He nodded, the smile never leaving his face. “So, since we’ve agreed this is a date, I think we should use the chance to get to know each other before we tumble into my bed. Again.” His eyes were full of mischief as he sipped from his glass. He was sexy even when he drank wine. And seriously, could she get any sillier? “We never seem to have much time for talking about our lives once we hit the mattress. Like, I don’t know… You never told me about your family. You know all about mine, but I only know you have three brothers and your mother is Mexican.”

  Charli shrugged. “Why do you care about getting to know me anyway? You know we’re not a couple.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could take them back. The way his eyes turned darker and his brow wrinkled made her feel awful. Why did she try so hard to push him away?

  Maybe because she’d already shared more than she had with any other man, and opening up meant getting closer—intimate. Maybe it was because she didn’t want to get close to him outside the bedroom. But talking to him, especially when they weren’t arguing over something stupid, felt good.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” She shouldn’t care about what he thought—she didn’t want to care for him, or for him to care for her. But she couldn’t help h
erself. She reached for his hand, and he entwined his fingers with hers. When he smiled, her heart lifted. “It’s just that nobody ever asked me about my family.”

  “Is it so weird that I want to get to know you? That I want to have a proper conversation with you over dinner, instead of dragging you into my bedroom just to scratch an itch?” He squeezed her hand and some unidentified object fluttered around in her chest, as warmth pervaded her body. What was this guy doing to her? All of a sudden, she wanted to tell him all about herself—and to know more about him.

  Charli smiled. “Not for you. You’re the nicest guy I’ve ever met. A real gentleman I thought they no longer produced.”

  “Nice?” He frowned. “I was hoping for sexy, handsome, unique—something a little stronger.”

  “Are you fishing for compliments now?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe.”

  She rolled her eyes, stood up from her chair and went to stand by him, all the while holding onto his hand. He looked up at her, and his eyes crinkled at the corners even as he tried to keep a straight face.

  “You’re handsome and sexy too. But you’re also a gentleman, and that makes you even sexier.”

  “That’s better.” He tugged on her hand and forced her to sit on his lap. She chuckled. “Now, tell me all about you.”

  She sighed. “Fine. So, my parents met in high school. Dad had trouble with Spanish classes and he approached Mom, knowing she was Mexican. She agreed to help him with his homework and he ended up pestering her until she finally agreed to go on a date with him to the frozen yogurt shop. Not exactly the most romantic place, but Dad knew she wouldn’t like hanging out at the country club.”

  Kean whistled. “Your dad was one of those country club kids? An oil baron’s heir or something?”

  She smiled, shaking her head. “He came from money, but wasn’t a spoiled brat. His parents weren’t happy about their relationship, but Dad didn’t care. He took Mom to prom, made a promise there would never be another girl in his life, then went off to college. He came back with a ring in his pocket and they got married a year later. His parents thought Mom was after his money because she came from a hard-working family of Mexican immigrants. That’s why she kept working even though she didn’t need to.”