He decided he’d had enough of her benevolence, charming as it was. It was time to point out to her that it would take more than a couple of burns to get the best of him. Rising to his feet, he paused just a moment to let the medication-induced dizziness subside, making sure he gave no sign of the condition. And then he moved toward Grace.
“I haven’t found the day particularly stressful. It was very nice, actually. I enjoyed having brunch with you and wandering through the streets of Hot Springs with you. I’ve had a nice time sitting here watching baseball with you.”
“Did you enjoy almost being trapped in a burning car?” she asked cynically. “Having your arm burned? Spending a couple of hours in a hospital emergency room?”
He shrugged. “I’m glad I was able to help that family—though if I hadn’t, someone else would have. As for the E.R., I didn’t particularly enjoy being swabbed and swaddled, but it was worth even that to spend the day with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “There are no microphones hidden in my apartment. You can drop the phony sweet talk.”
“Maybe I mean it.”
“And maybe you’re full of hot air.”
He chuckled and reached up to stroke his knuckles along her jaw line. “I really do enjoy being with you, Grace.”
Her cheeks darkened. It always fascinated him that she blushed so easily with him. And it pleased him that he could make her do so. The stern frown she gave him didn’t quite diminish the effect of the blush. “I’ll drive you home now.”
“Not just yet. First I want to thank you for taking such good care of me this afternoon.”
Her reply was brusque. “You’re welcome.”
He bent his head closer to hers. “I haven’t thanked you yet.”
“You don’t—”
He smothered whatever she intended to say beneath his lips.
He had kissed her before—to play his part, or to prove a point, or just to shake her up. This time he kissed her for no other reason except that he wanted to. He wanted her.
Had she made any effort to push him away, he would have backed off immediately. He gave her every opportunity to do so, holding back at first until he could tell if she was going to respond. At first she froze, holding herself very still for what seemed like forever, and then very gradually, she began to respond. Her lips moved tentatively, experimentally. And when he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, she parted her lips for him.
The result was powerful enough to almost rock him back on his heels. If Grace kissed this well when she was hardly even trying, he couldn’t imagine how it might be when she gave it her all. He couldn’t wait to find out.
It seemed there was still a bit of the rebel left in Grace.
He knew he should draw back before the kiss got out of control—as it so easily could. Already his hands itched to caress and explore. The blood was beginning to surge through his veins and pool in his groin. It was only a kiss, but it could so easily develop into more.
He found the resolve to pull away by reminding himself that Grace would probably bolt if he tried to move too quickly. He would have to start all over winning her trust—what little he had gained thus far.
He half expected Grace to turn away when he ended the kiss—to either pretend it hadn’t happened or to bluster and blame him for initiating it in the first place. He’d figured out that bravado was her way of hiding insecurities she didn’t want anyone else to see.
Instead her gaze held his as she smoothed her hands down the sides of her shorts and cleared her throat. “Well,” she said after a moment. “I suppose that was an emotional release, of sorts. It was a more traumatic day than you’ve admitted, wasn’t it?”
So she had decided to be calm and analytical about the kiss. He would almost prefer one of her fiery flashes of temper. At least that would indicate that he wasn’t the only one who’d been affected on an emotional level. “That’s what you think we were doing? Letting off steam?”
She did turn away then, her expression half-hidden from him. “Of course. What else?”
What else? He didn’t think she was ready to hear his theories about that yet. “Maybe I’d better go now,” he said instead.
She turned back to face him. “I’ll drive you.”
“If you insist. You can bring the car back here. I’ll have it picked up tomorrow.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You would let me keep it overnight?”
“Of course. If anything happens to it, I’ll simply take it out of your hide.”
That made her smile, as he had hoped it would. As much as he liked his car, it wasn’t quite as important to him as Grace implied. He could buy a fleet of sports cars if he wanted. But he enjoyed watching Grace’s pleasure with the vehicle—not that he was stupid enough to offer again to buy her one.