Page 349 of Under Her Skin

“It’s better than I ever expected. I got engaged lastnight.”

“No way! You’ll have to bring her by to meet the missus. Lexi can help her acclimate to being the wife of a rich man,” he says. “What’s shedo?”

“I’m a nurse. My name’s Delaney Richards.” Delaney answers. “Hello, he has you on speaker,Max.”

“Hello to you too, Delaney. It’s nice to see my friend and neighbor has met the woman for him. It’s about time. He’s been all work and no play. I’ve invited him to every one of my gatherings, and he’s always been way toobusy.”

“Well, I’ll make him go to the next one. It’s important to know your neighbors,” shesays.

“That it is. We have an extensive friend base and adding a new couple sounds great. You two planning on a family anytime soon?” he asks, and I knew he would because he and all of his friends began having kids from the get-go, once theymarried.

“We do. Your kids will have friends down the street before you know it,” I tell him. “I’m calling because Delaney’s parents are flying into the airport on a private jet and the car ride is pretty treacherous right now. I don’t suppose you’d like to fly your helicopter over and pick them up for us? I know it’s a little more than the typical favor neighbors do for one another—not exactly a cup of sugar or an egg ortwo.”

“Sure thing,” he says without any hesitation. “When they get there, call me, and I’ll check the weather and the radar. The trip there is only ten minutes. It’ll be a snap to get them to you guys. Have you told them the newsyet?”

“Not yet, so don’t let it slip, Max,” Delaney says. “And thank you so much. I’m a nurse, like I said, so if you, your wife, or any of your kids get sick, you can call me and I’ll come see if I can be ofhelp.”

“Cool,” he says. “Will do. Give me a call when they touchdown.”

“Wow, a helicopter pilot as our next-door neighbor,” Delaney gushes. “How cool is that? Mom and Dad are going to freak. I can’twait!”

And with one little phone call, I’ve made her day even better.This is getting a little tooeasy!

Chapter5

DELANEY

With the snow still falling, I’m getting increasingly more worried about my parents getting stuck at the airport. Kate and her date, Randy, as well as Kent and his date, Tiffany, managed to get here, thanks to their four-wheel drive vehicles. But the jet had to land at a small airport in LaGrange to wait for the snow to stop inHouston.

“It looks like we have a few trays of appetizers, Blaine. Roxy made a ton of food.” I pull the tray of cut-up veggies and dip and place it on the counter top. “Maybe you could take this tray out to them and take a bottle of that white wine too. I feel terrible for making them wait even longer to eat, but I still have a bit of hope mom and dad will make it here within the next couple ofhours.”

His lips touch my cheek, and I feel an instant heat deep inside of my stomach. All his sexual attention last night, this morning, and even when we got home from visiting the kids at the hospital has my libidooverloaded.

Fighting the urge to turn to him, wrap myself around him, and take that sweet kiss and turn it into more, I slide the platter to him and turn to take the other trays out of the fridge. Those have to beheated.

His chuckle as he takes the tray and leaves me alone in the kitchen lets me know he saw the reaction I had to his innocent kiss. And, damn the man, even his chuckle sounds sexy as hell to me right now. I think the man has put me in heat, like some kind ofanimal!

Turning the oven on to 425 degrees, like Roxy’s directions, which are taped to the top of the aluminum pan full of tasty looking little savory treats, state, I turn back to see what the directions are on the other tray. My cell phone rings and I see it’s my mother. “Mom, how’s itcoming?”

“The pilot said we’re taking off again. How’s it lookingthere?”

I peek out the window over the sink and see the snow has lightened up. “It’s a lot better. I suppose the pilot must’ve seen an opening in the weather if he’s going to make a break for Houston. I’ll let Blaine know you’re headed there now. He’ll have his friend pick you guys up, if the weather permits. You may have to sit a while in the airport. I’m sorry about this. I wish the weather was cooperating. But it is beautiful out here with thesnow.”

“We wanted to tell you not to hold your dinner for us. We can eat leftovers. It’s not a problem,” she says, sounding chipper aboutit.

But I know my mother, and she’s not one to be an inconvenience to anyone. “No, we’re waiting for you guys. I’ve just started to heat up a couple of trays of appetizers and have set out a vegetable platter for our otherguests.”

“How many are there?” she asks, sounding worried. “I don’t want a bunch of people waiting on us,Delaney.”

“It’s just his brother, sister, and their dates. And it’s okay. They’re eating. No one is going hungry. So I’ll hold it until you guys get here. End of discussion,” I tell her, then watch Blaine walk back into the kitchen. “Blaine’s here. Let me tell him everything and call me when you land in Houston. Love you,bye.”

“Tell me what?” he asks as he strolls toward me. His hips move in a rhythmic fashion, and I don’t know why I can’t take my eyes off his rippling body. His white, button-down shirt is tucked into dark-gray pants, his abs move underneath the slightly tight shirt, and my insides are gettingjiggly.

On their own accord, my hands move up his arms, then I grab his lapels and pull him in for a kiss. I melt into him as our lips touch and his hands move up my back until they’re tangling in my hair as he pulls my head back a bit, parting my lips. His tongue comes in and I relish the taste ofhim.

The sound of a woman clearing her throat stops our kiss, and we look to see who has interrupted us. “Steamy,” his sister says as she goes to the fridge. “I’m just here for a bottle of water. Don’t mindme.”

A bit embarrassed by what she caught us doing, I move away from Blaine’s arms and grab the aluminum tray as the oven beeps at me, telling me it’s heated up and ready. “Sorry aboutthat.”