His lips curled. “No? Then why did you steal that screwdriver shortly after we met?”
Steal.“I was just taking precautions.”
“Um. You can tell me all your secrets, you know.”
She could not. She’d already put him at enough risk.
“I’m a vault. I’ll keep your confidences for you.”
How utterly wonderful would that be? To have someone she could trust. “You just met me. Why would you care about my secrets?”
He leaned forward. Reached his hand out and tucked a lock of her hair behind her right ear. His fingers brushed over her cheek, and sure enough, Jacqueline felt that maddening zing again. The one that flashed through her whole body and had her breath shuddering out a little too quickly.
And, observant Remy stilled. “Jacqueline?”
“It’s a little, ah, warm in here, isn’t it?” She fanned herself.
“Not in the least.”
Really? He couldn’t have given her that, just said that it was hot?
“But you are flushed. You have a tendency to get the most delightful pink in your cheeks.”
Now he was calling out her embarrassment? Wonderful. “I have no idea why you want me to be your model. I’m sure you could call up someone who is way more experienced at this sort of thing.”
His hand lingered against her cheek. “I don’t want anyone else.”
Her heart slammed hard in her chest.He’s talking about modeling. Not sex. Settle down.
But was sheleaningtoward him? Guilty. She was.
“I only want you,” Remy said, voice rumbling even more. “You’re the one who inspires me.”
That was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. “I used a shoestring to help keep these pants in place around my waist. I finger combed my hair, and I’m wearing two pairs of socks with my shoes.”
He glanced down at her feet. “I hadn’t noticed the double socks.”
“I am not inspiring.”
His stare returned to her face. “That’s the problem.”
She swallowed.
“You believe that, and it’s making you nervous. I’m gonna need you to reframe.”
“Excuse me?”
“Reframe. See yourself as I do.”
“How do you see me?” She shouldn’t have asked. Too late.
“Your hair is thick and dark and beautiful. I want to run my fingers through it and pull you close while I brush my mouth against yours.”
“Um…” It was definitely hot in there.
“Your lips are perfectly sculpted, and they look so soft. Tempting. Everything about you is tempting.” Rougher. “You have an innocence that lurks in your eyes, but your sensuality is clear to me. When you want someone, you want him with your whole body. You need and you yearn, and when the desire gets strong enough, the control you have wrapped around yourself will shatter.”
She caught herself just before her hand could lift and start fanning her face again. “You say this to all your models?”