“Fuck.” He grunts, lifting his head. I gasp for breath, my lips tingling. I realize we’re going at it on the porch. It might be dark out, but anyone could pass by and likely see. Crane slowly releases his hold from my hair. “Liza.” My name comes out gruff. Damn, that’s sexy.
“Tomorrow,” I say, dropping my hands from his chest before stepping back.
“Tomorrow,” he agrees before I turn and head back to my house. I can feel his gaze on me the whole way. I pause at my door to peek back at him.
“I’ll lock it,” I tell him before I slip inside.
“Good girl,” I hear him say as my door falls closed and I flip the lock. I lick my lips that are still tingling.
Tomorrow now sounds like forever away.
9
CRANE
After a sleepless night of me going over our kiss again and again, interspersed with my ‘easy money mantra, I’m up early to drive Liza to her car.
I have to stop obsessing over the woman. This is just work. Nothing more. I adjust my scarf and reach for the door handle.
My heart jumps at the prospect of seeing her, of stepping outside and walking over to her place. I wanted to drag her inside my house last night, throw her down on the floor, and give her every bit of me. I was a breath away from doing it, too. Fuck, the way she marched onto my porch and demanded a kiss–I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on in my life.
It took all the willpower I had to stop myself from taking her.
Now I have to put all that aside and act like a fucking professional. I failed to even ask her relevant questions at the diner last night. It was like she’d put me under a spell, one that made me forget this whole thing is a charade. But I’ve got my head on straight this time.
I knock on her door.
A loud meow sounds from behind the wood, and then I hear her shooing Krampus away. She opens the door.
“Hey, I’m running a little behind. Sorry. Come in.” She opens the door, and I see she’s wearing only a robe. “I’ll only be a minute.”
She turns and gestures toward the living room. “Have a seat. I’m hurrying.”
“No rush.”
She’s already dashing away beside the stairs.
What’s under that robe? I close the door and lean against it. Is she wearing panties?
I feel something on my ankle and look down. Krampus is weaving between my legs, his tail straight up.
“Are you … purring?” I glare at him.
He doesn’t seem to care that he’s getting fur all over my pants. Luckily, I’m not in one of my suits. As it is, I think my jeans can handle it.
I drop to my haunches and hold out my hand. He doesn’t even sniff me, just pushes his whiskers against my fingers, then flops onto his side on the floor.
“Is this a trick?” I don’t feel exactly safe when I reach for his fluffy stomach. But once I rub my fingers along it, he rolls to his other side, then flops back and stretches.
“Oh my God.” Liza’s eyes are wide as she peeks around the staircase. “This can’t be happening.”
“What?” I stand, and Krampus jumps onto the couch beside me, his big yellow eyes on me.
“You … you petted him. And you didn’t come back with a bloody stump.” She hurries up. No more robe, sadly. She’s wearing a forest green cardigan and a red skirt that falls to her knees.
“He seems pretty easygoing.” I shrug. “I’m not a pet person or anything.”
“Easygoing?” She snorts a cute little laugh. “Krampus? Never.” She walks to him and scratches under his chin. “Are you feeling sick? What’s wrong, Krampus?”
He takes the pets then settles down on the back of the couch, looking like a loaf of bread.
“You think he’s sick because he let me pet him?” I ask.
“It’s just so … strange.” She stands back and crosses her arms over her chest as she stares at him. “He hates everyone. I mean everyone. Even Eve.”
“The friend of yours I met?”
“Yeah. I’ve known her for years, and Krampus hasn’t warmed up to her one bit. Not her, not Clark, not Mick. Honestly, he tolerates my mom, but he doesn’t go out of his way for her.”
“I didn’t realize he was such a tough customer.” I give him another head pat, and his purr rumbles to life.
“This is surreal.” She reaches in the purse on the couch and pulls out her phone. “I need a photo or Eve won’t believe me.”
I tense. “You want my picture?”
“If you don’t mind. Just keep petting him.” She aims the camera at me.
I should tell her not to take it, but I don’t. She seems almost overjoyed that her cat isn’t a total asshole. Besides, if it comes to it, I can wipe her phone and Eve’s before I leave town.