Page 43 of #Moonstruck

“Well, I would hate to have to pay for your brothers’ medical bills. Because once they kicked the door in, Fox and the others would be all over them.”

Whew. He must not have noticed.

“Why are you blushing?”

Oh crap. Yes, he had.

He briefly brushed his cool fingers against my reddened cheek. “You burn so hot.”

I did the only thing I could. I laughed.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Do you know what my nickname was in high school?”

“Hot Babe? Ryan’s Number One Fan?”

“Ice Queen.”

Now it was his turn to laugh. “Why? I haven’t noticed anything frosty about you.”

“Not even my sarcastic retorts and glares?”

His gaze pierced me with its intensity, making even my toes quiver. “I see only fire.”

Because you make me burn.

That was about all I could take for one evening. “Let’s join the others.”

I didn’t want to see if he followed me or not. I didn’t want any more embarrassment or to say stupid things or want stuff I couldn’t have.

When I went back into the living room area, I noticed a bunch of tables set up with food that I hadn’t seen before. Including a multilayered chocolate cake. Which I needed more than I needed my next breath.

Ryan came to stand beside me. I grabbed a piece and inhaled the first bite. It was rich, moist, and totally delicious. The second the sugar hit my bloodstream, I instantly felt better. “I take back what I said about that pumpkin pie. This is the best thing that has ever happened to my mouth.”

“I offered to show you something better. You’re the one who stopped.”

There was no way I could retain my composure if he kept saying stuff like that while staring at my lips. “Did it occur to you that I don’t want to date a serial kisser like yourself? With multiple victims?”

“You mean multiple prizewinners?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I had to laugh.

This could work. If I just kept it light and breezy and fun, nothing bad would happen. I wouldn’t really fall for him, and nobody’s heart would get broken.

I saw a flash in my peripheral vision. “What was that?”

“Usually the security guys collect cell phones from outside guests and then return them at the end of the evening. But I figured the best way to spread gossip like this was to allow them, so the word could spread. Quickly and naturally. Since that’s the goal ...”

Ryan again invaded my space. My stomach flipped over; warmth spread all over my skin.

Then he reached up to touch his thumb to my mouth again, taking me back to where we’d just been. I didn’t want the tingles of excitement that gathered at the base of my neck.

“There was some frosting on your mouth.” He licked the chocolate off his own thumb, and needy fire burned through me so quickly I almost collapsed.

Words were not a possibility.

“Have you rethought the kissing thing yet?” His words were husky and sounded like they were laced with want.

“You mean in the last two minutes?”