Page 51 of Kiss and Tell

“Hey,” Connor said gently.

I peeked up through the long strands falling over my face.

“It’s going to turn out okay.” He reached out again and did take my hand this time, squeezing gently. “We’re going to kick ass with this project, and you’ll be able to show everyone what a badass you are at your job.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Thanks, Connor,” I told him, squeezing back.

His large palm engulfed mine. A warm tingling feeling pricked my skin. I stared at our hands, twined together. I could feel the rough calluses on his fingers.

His thumb brushed a slow line against my wrist. I inhaled a shallow breath as the tingles turned to hot fire, inflaming my every nerve ending.

I knew I should pull back.

I couldn’t make myself. I didn’t want to lose the sensation of my hand in his.

Besides, the rational part of me thought, we were hours away from home. There was no one who knew us in this town. No one to catch us.

I lifted my eyes from our clasped hands to find Connor’s gaze fixed on me. The spark I’d been jealous he might show for Justine was now blazing in those dark eyes.

But it wasn’t just a spark. It was an electric current, and it threatened to send shockwaves of desire coursing through me.

I slowly pulled my hand from his, placing it in my lap, still feeling the phantom touch of his fingers.

“I think I’m done eating,” I said quietly. “We should get the bill.”

The heat in Connor’s eyes didn’t abate. If anything, it blazed brighter. He flagged down the waitress and threw a handful of bills on the table.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

Sixteen

Connorand I walked back to the hotel in near silence. The tension between us was almost visible, like a vibrating string connecting the two of us together.

By the time we got back to the hotel room, I was nearly buzzing with nerves.

“Maybe we should stay one more night.” Connor peeked through the curtains at the setting sun. “It’s a little late to start driving back now. And I’ve had a few beers.”

I knew it was an excuse. He’d only had the one. Was it an excuse I was willing to buy?

“I suppose one more night can’t hurt,” I murmured.

I wandered over to the corner with the desk where papers were still spread out from the previous night.

“We’ve talked design and menu,” I said. “Next is hiring employees.”

I knew I was stalling as the tension between us grew.

Connor drifted over from the window to where I was sorting through papers.

“You really want to talk about hiring employees right now?” he asked, echoing his words from the previous night.

I stopped shuffling.

He came up behind me, standing so close he was almost pressed against my back. Warmth radiated from his body. With every one of my shallow breaths, I was overcome with his delicious leather and spice scent.

“Sometimes I wish my brother never asked me to renovate that bar,” he said.