“Oh yeah. I forgot. That work dinner.”
“Yes.” He rested his hand on the small of Kelly’s back. “Next time you’re in town, definitely.”
Only once the words were out did he realize their implication. Alana might not be back for a month. Two. What exactly was he saying? Did he think this thing with Kelly would last that long? He’d be in Virginia by then.
“There are always choices, if people want to make them badly enough.”
“It’s a date.” Alana leaned in to hug him.
Surprised, pleased, he hugged her back.
“Take care. You be good,” she said to Kelly, wiggling her pointer finger like a schoolteacher. “I’ll call.”
He watched the two of them embrace, whispering to each other. Kelly and Carter did the same, again whispering. Spencer balled his hands in his pockets, feeling completely left out.
And for the first time in recent memory, he wanted in.
After Kelly and Carter made plans to have lunch, he touched her hair and shot Spencer a considering glance. He extended a hand to him, his smile friendly even if his gaze remained cool. “Nice meeting you. Take care of my girl.”
Ordinarily, he would’ve become annoyed at being assessed as openly as Carter was doing. The “my girl” part didn’t help. Resisting the urge to call Kellyhisgirl, which would be akin to tussling over her like a choice piece of meat, he shook Carter’s hand. “You too. I’ll do my best.”
With a wave, Kelly slipped her arm through Spencer’s and they walked to his car. He unlocked it, eventually realizing she was studying him.
“What?”
“You lied.” She gripped his belt, pulling him closer. “You never give me your best. Only fragments.”
He brushed his fingertips over her cheekbone. It would be easy, too easy, to toss off a sexual innuendo. But she wasn’t talking about sex and they both knew it. “Maybe I don’t have as much best as you think.”
“Or maybe,” her lips caught his for a brief kiss, “you don’t see what I see in you.”
“Oh no.” He groaned softly. “Are we already at the stage where the woman starts complaining about all the guy’spotential?”
She laughed and the momentary awkwardness dissipated. “Nah, I’ve never been one to take on projects.”
“Good. Because I’ve never liked being worked on.”
“Sure about that?” Her nails skimmed his stomach above his buckle, scraping lightly. The corner of her mouth lifted when his cock rose between them. “I’m pretty sure you’d enjoy the way I’d like to work on you right now.”
“I enjoy a hell of a lot about you, so probably.” He shifted his thigh between her legs and rubbed. She responded in kind, grinding against him in blatant invitation. “I also enjoyed meeting your friends,” he added, though it was getting harder to remember anything but the wet heat scorching through his pants.
“I’m glad. They liked you too.” She angled her head, giving him a direct glimpse into her eyes. “You fit right in with us.”
He laughed at that. “I don’t fit right in with anyone.”
“Really? I think you fit inside me just fine.”
His laughter subsided but the subtle warmth at her words didn’t. “Not exactly what I said, but I can’t argue.”
“So don’t.”
This time when she kissed him, there was nothing brief about it. Her tongue tangled with his before gently exploring his mouth as if they’d never kissed before. The newness of having her in his arms—out in public, where anyone could see—exhilarated him. For once, he could be watched instead of doing the watching. But it wasn’t only about putting on a show. This felt real. Like they were starting something that could be permanent, if only he’d let it be.
He slanted his mouth hungrily over hers as if he could somehow take her inside and bring her with him when everything got to be too much. In a few short days, he’d come to crave her. Driven like a fiend for more of her kisses, her touch, her smell, even her smart mouth. Every part of her made him want.
And every hour that ticked by, he was closer to leaving her.
“Come home with me.”