Page 48 of Rock Bottom Girl

Playfully, I tugged at the hem of my t-shirt and watched her eyes follow the movement.

“Marley, do I need to remind you that you’re not the only one with prankster cajones? Remember junior year when I built a ramp and jumped the principal’s car with my bike?”

She cocked her head to the side. “Oh, that was you?” she asked innocently.

Damn right it was me.

She looked me up and down. “You don’t look much like that guy anymore. You look…well-behaved. Like a Boy Scout.”

It was an insult, and we both knew it. “I may portray myself to be an upstanding adult during school hours. But I assure you, after school I’m a little rougher around the edges.”

“Hmm.” She considered me, then shook her head. “Nope. Don’t buy it. There’s no sign of the teenage rebel.”

Challenge accepted.“Allow me to reacquaint you with him.” I leaned into her space, happy when she didn’t retreat. I remembered that about her. She didn’t back down or give up.

“Oh, so you’re going to kiss me?” she asked. Her tone was lighter now, her eyes sparkled.

“Yeah. Get ready.”

“I’m ready. Impress me.”

I started to lean in, slow. Building the anticipation. She parted her lips, and I could hear that little intake of breath. Almost like a whisper. Oh, I was going to enjoy this. Marley put a hand on my chest, and I stopped just an inch shy of her mouth.

“You’re going to be better at this than you were in high school, right? I mean, I assume you’ve had some practice since then.”

I laughed softly. Yeah, I liked this woman. She was sneaky funny, and there was something a little sad about her. Both were my personal kryptonite when it came to women.

“I think I was pretty damn good in high school,” I argued.

She smiled at me, and I felt my heart take a nose dive right into my gut. Ireallyliked that smile.

“What does this mean?” she asked suddenly.

I didn’t pull back, instead I held my ground. We were so close I could feel her body vibrating.

“What does what mean?”

“You showing up here, with a beer, a kiss? Is this a pity thing? Is this a one-time thing? Are you gonna suddenly give up your bachelor ways and fall head over heels for me? We work together. I’m only here for the semester. And given our history, you’ll forgive me for wanting a clarification.”

“You worried I’m gonna want to put a ring on you, Mars?” I asked reaching out to take her long, slim fingers in mine. I let my thumb trail over her ring finger. “Get my heart broken?”

Her breath hitched, and I felt my heart rate kick up a notch.

“I just want to know what I’m getting into.”

“How about we start with a kiss and see what happens?”

She hesitated. “Okay. As long as you make it a good one.”

“Hey, it takes two for a great kiss. You better hold up your end,” I teased.

I set my beer down and took hers, placing it next to mine. Taking my time, I cupped her face in my hands. I could feel the tension in her, the impatience, and that delicious little sliver of nerves. This was a pretty stupid move on my part. We worked together. I never dated anyone I worked with.

But I really wanted to kiss her. And I didn’t like not doing what I really wanted.

I let my thumbs stroke her jawline, noted the way her bottom lip quivered. Her neck was soft, smooth, warm. It made me want to sink my teeth in. But I was knocking on forty. That was a little too old for hickeys.

“Why aren’t you kissing me yet?” she asked.