“We can save the steaks for later.” He moved toward her so their bodies were touching. His hardness pressed into her belly.
Dear God. How could she want him so much? This was hardly her idea of a seduction, but if he pressed much harder she’d fall into his bed in a minute.
Yet he wasn’t kissing her. He was simply gazing at her, with beautiful brown eyes so intent and so full of fire she thought they both might burst into flames at any moment. He traced the outline of her lips again, and she darted her tongue out and touched the tip of his finger.
He smiled. “You are so very sexy, Amber.”
She let out a nervous giggle. “So are you.”
Finally, he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. Just a soft peck, barely a whisper. Passion shot
to her core. From a little tiny kiss.
Seemingly of its own accord, her hand rose, cupped his cheek, his stubble prickly against her palm. She brushed his shoulder length hair back behind his ear. Soft as silk.
“Mmm, that feels nice.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“You have beautiful hair.”
“So do you.” He brushed his lips lightly against her cheek.
She shivered, her eyes closing. “It’s natural, you know.”
He stepped back. “Really?”
She opened her eyes. Why had she said that? “Yes, really. You didn’t think it was?”
“I assumed it wasn’t. It’s still beautiful.”
“Everyone thinks it’s dyed. But it’s natural. My mom was Swedish.”
“Was? Is she gone?”
Amber’s stomach knotted. “I…I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since I was sixteen.”
“Oh?”
“She kicked me out of the house.”
Harper grabbed her hand. “I had no idea. What happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
He led her to the living and room. “Let’s sit down.”
“Okay.”
“You want to tell me?”
“It’s no big deal. I stayed with a friend and went to the vocational high school. That’s where I learned to do nails. I got my license and my high school diploma. With honors even. But I had to leave my friend’s house once I was out of school. Her mother kicked us both out. I had a hard time finding a job right out of beauty school, and long story short, she and I ended up at Rachel’s when we were barely eighteen.”
“Wow.”
“I couldn’t serve alcohol. Couldn’t drink alcohol. Not legally anyway. But I could take my clothes off. Something doesn’t seem right about that.”
“I agree.”
She sighed. “It was a living. A pretty good one, truth be told. I made enough to take some riding lessons. I had done a little when I was younger and my mother kept house for a rancher. I was pretty good too.”