Page 174

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“My parents seemto accept you pretty well.”
Slowing for the stoplight, I looked over at Tina. It was the first time she’d spoken since we’d started the drive to my place outside Houston, the quiet between us easy and comfortable.
“That’s a good thing since I’m not going anywhere.” Curving my hand around her nape, I stroked my thumb along the smooth, soft skin of her neck.
Her breath caught.
Just like that, I was ready for her, the need to touch and taste flooding me.
When I removed my hand to grip the wheel, she made a disappointed sound low in her throat.
“Stop, Tina. We’re still twenty minutes away.”
She reached over and put her hand on my thigh. “We could have gone to the hotel. It was closer.”
“But not as private.” I covered her hand with mine to stop the soft, teasing strokes of her fingers. “Stop or I’ll have to figure out a way to pay you back once we get home.”
“That’s not exactly a persuasive argument.” Her voice was warm with laughter. But she turned her hand over and twined our fingers.
The rest of the drive passed with relative ease, although Tina kept trying to tug her hand free so she could go back to torturing me.
The driveway that led to my place unfurled in front of us, a slick ribbon of gray with pavers bordering both sides and shrubs that tolerate the heat of Texas summers.
I stopped the car in front of the house. “Behave. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? Is that what you call it?”
Snorting with laughter, I climbed from the car.
She did the same and met me on her side, rising on her toes to kiss me. The scorching sun beating down on us was intense, though, and I ended the kiss quickly. “Come on. It’s nice and cool in the house.”
Once inside, I slipped my hands into my pockets. “You’ll have to find your surprise.”
“Find it?” Sputtering out a laugh, she eyed the foyer. “Do I get a hint? This place isenormous.”
“Hmm…” I feigned thinking. “Well, it’s not justonething—there are several of them. And they are hard to miss. So keep an eye out.”
Tina threw a suspicious look over her shoulder and proceeded.
Each room held at least one item that had been chosen for her, so she’d feel at home here.
She saw the first one almost immediately, coming to a stop inside the wide arched entryway that led to the sitting room I rarely used. The armchair by the windows had been moved to make room for another. This one wide and round, nearly three feet across and perfect for snuggling with a book.
“Is that for me?” She shot me a broad smile as she rushed to try it out. “Ooohhh… this is nice.”
I leaned against the wall inside the room and smiled.
She relaxed into the chair and gave me a look from under her lashes before crooking a finger at me.
“I think I’ll stay here,” I told her. “Otherwise, I might get distracted before you find the other surprises.”
She bounced up and looked around. “Anything else in here?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll be back,” she said, patting the chair before heading for me.