“Nope.”
“Do so.”
He laughed. “All I know is this is one of the weirdest conversations we’ve had, and there’ve been some doozies.”
“Stop rubbing against me.” He’d purposely done so again, and she pushed harder, only this time he didn’t move.
“You think I’m doing it on purpose? Honey if I wanted to get close to you, I’d just do this.” He whipped her around before she escaped, his arms gathering her in close. Hungrily, he growled a groan that resonated throughout her body, igniting every cell from the top of her curly head to the tips of her pink-painted toenails.
She shoved against his chest with a lackadaisical effort he totally ignored. “Stop, you’re being a pest.”
His hands moved to her face, his palms warm and gentle. “No.” He kissed her forehead first and rubbed his nose against hers.
If he’d tried any other kind of foreplay, forced himself on her in any way, her defenses would have kicked in. He’d have found himself writhing on the ground.
But the crafty bastard must have sensed that her one weakness was a gentle hand, a sweet kiss… a meaningful murmur. Frozen, she closed her eyes and allowed the seduction to continue.
Waiting for his lips to finally capture hers, she experienced passionate participation in her lower body. Muscles clenched enticingly. Signals of arousing spasms slithered to attack her mushy brain. And while her legs turned to sticks of jelly, a damp welcoming oozed from the throbbing area between them that begged for attention.
Before she could plead for mercy, to give her what her whole being craved, sanity returned, and she wrenched away. “Stop it! Go find one of your Candy’s to play with. I’m not your type.”
Silence boomed. Would he react badly? Or accept her rejection? She waited, fearing she might have pushed him too far.
Bending, hiding his arousal by leaning against the island, his tone held no anger. Instead he teased, murmuring in a husky voice, “A fellow gets kinda sick of all that meaningless sugar. After a while, he needs some sour in his life to offset so much sweetness.”
The crafty bastard had her. No way she’d respond.
Again silence reverberated. This time it appeared less tense.
He broke it first. “So, did the girls have fun at the mall today?”
“Yes, they mentioned it at dinner, which, unsurprisingly, you arrived for just in time.”
“Must have been before I got here. And I did bring dessert. You know, Kayla invited me yesterday, wanted me here to share the meal. Didn’t she tell you? She asked me so I could meet her new friend.”
“No, she never mentioned it.” Her vexation appearing once again, she grumbled, “Stop trying to hold my hand.” Charli yanked the object under discussion away from him. “I have a feeling you put the words in her mouth, something you’re good at I noticed.”
“Ah! You notice me. I’m flattered.”
Groaning, Charli pointed her finger in his face. “See, there you go again; defining things in such a way you know aren’t true.” After he kissed her finger, she looked up as if praying for tolerance. “Stop that.”
“Stop what? Wanting you? Can’t do that. I’d have to quit breathing first.”
“Okay. That works for me.” She threw him an evil grin and put the counter between them. Becoming serious, and changing the subject back to what bothered her most, she added, “Did you pick up any strange vibes from Angie?”
“You mean like she’s a flirt?”
“Not just that. I must say, though, you handled her obvious eyelash-batting very well… and without embarrassing her.” Once spoken, Charli had to admit the truth of her words. Blake had been kind, even gentle with the girl’s ploys that left no awkwardness.
“Wow, a compliment!” His green bewitchers caught and held hers until her heartbeats tripled, and her hands began to tremble.Damn stress. He just has to look at me, and I’m a mad mess.
Needing the upper hand again, she spoke and dissipated the magic, “Angie has obvious baggage, and I’m worried about Kayla getting caught up in it. She’s fragile.”
“I don’t see that. I see a strong sense of right and wrong and a huge heart undamaged by her past. Gotta tell you, I’m beginning to care about that girl one hell of a lot more than I should. I’m thinking to stay in her world after all this nonsense has passed. Figure she’ll need friends, and I can be a good friend, it’s something you don’t know about me.”
Shocked, she asked, “You mean you’ll adopt her?” She scoffed. “Like the courts will allow a bachelor like you to take on the care of a girl her age?”
He stiffened. “I didn’t say adopt, though it’s a thought. And you seem to have a slightly skewed impression of my reputation in Fort Lauderdale. I’m a respected Major, and the many years that led to me attaining this level were spent serving the public. So you know; I’m held in high regard throughout this area.”