Part 5 (2/2)
How could he know that? ”Yes.”
”She called here. Her clients couldn't make it today.”
”She called here? She should have called me.”
He shrugged. ”She said she couldn't reach you. We had a good talk on the phone. She knows a lot about this neighborhood. She said she'd be interested in talking to me about the history of the house.”
”Oh, did she.”
”She also mentioned that you're pretty new in the business, and if I need any advice from a more experienced Realtor she'd be happy to oblige.”
Hailey's blood began to boil, but she was determined to maintain her poise. ”What did you tell her?” Please let him not have fallen for that phony snake's tactics.
”I told her she should be selling used cars down on Federal Way.”
She was so surprised a snort of laughter erupted before she could stop it. ”I wish I'd seen her face.” She tried not to notice how gorgeous Rob was in nothing but a towel and a few lazy drops of water.
”I don't like those tactics.”
”Good.”
He took a step closer leaving a damp footprint on the rug. He had narrow feet with long toes. If she concentrated on those she wouldn't obsess about his near-nakedness and the big, tempting bed looming
behind them.
”If I dump you for another Realtor it won't be to someone devious.”
Her gaze connected with his, warm and intimate. ”Are you going to dump me?” Her voice came out husky.
”I don't have you. Yet.”
She flashed to an image of herself pus.h.i.+ng him onto his back in that bed with one hand while the other rid him of his towel.
The thought was so compelling that she had to clench her fists.
They were inches away and she felt tingly all over. She tried to think of something completely uns.e.xy to say.
”Why were you so negative to Julia about her date?” was the first thing she came up with.
”I wasn't negative,” he said. ”I told her to wear a dress, didn't I?”
”You sounded sarcastic.”
”I have a hard time believing you can fall in love over the internet. The guy sounds like a d.i.c.k.”
”Why? Because he asks her what restaurants she likes? Doesn't drag her to his cave by her hair?”
He reached for his watch on the dresser and she wondered how hard she'd struggle if he tried to drag her to his cave. She suspected not very.
”No. Because he drops into the conversation that his Mercedes needs an oil change. Who does that?”
”He's trying to impress her.”
”I think he sounds suspicious.”
”You know you're not in a war zone now where every other person could be a spy or the enemy. You're home. Maybe you should give your suspicion a rest.”
He looked as though he wanted to say more. His eyes were a clear green in the morning light. His hair, now almost dry, was trying to curl. ”Maybe.”
”And maybe they are falling in love on the internet, like old-fas.h.i.+oned pen pals.”
He turned to her, his expression intense. ”You don't get attracted by words on a computer screen. s.e.xual attraction is raw and immediate. It's about a man and a woman seeing inside each other.” His gaze grew more intense. ”It's in the shape of her face, her expression in different lights, the way her hair falls.” He reached forward and touched the ends of her hair with his fingertips. As he did so, he brushed her shoulder and she drew in a sudden jerky breath.
She tried to speak and couldn't. He was so close she saw the dark flecks in the depths of his eyes, the freckles on his shoulders.
”It's about the feel of her skin,” he said, letting his fingers trace the line of her jaw. Rough fingers that hefted heavy cameras and schlepped equipment through gritty deserts. ”The sound of her voice, the way she smells.” His voice dropped to a near whisper, its tone deepening. ”The way she tastes.” And he closed the short distance between them and put his mouth on hers.
Even though she'd antic.i.p.ated the feel of his kiss, nothing could have prepared her for the l.u.s.t that punched through her system when their mouths connected. A light, teasing kiss turned hungry and hot in a nanosecond. His hand moved to the back of her head, fisting in her hair, tilting her head so he had better access. She made a little moaning sound in the back of her throat as she reached for him, wanting to feel the solid outline of his chest, to thrust her fingers into his damp hair. He tasted like the cool mint of toothpaste and the hot spice of l.u.s.t, his tongue teasing and tormenting her, giving and taking in equal measure. She'd never been kissed like this. Never imagined anything close to this.
He kissed her, taking his time, not trying to rip off her clothes or talk her into his bed. He kept kissing her as though his whole existence depended on nothing but this moment.
Getting involved with Rob wasn't on her list or her agenda or anywhere in her short-term plans but she knew in that moment that her careful personal agenda had just been seriously screwed up.
When he drew slowly away from her, gentling his embrace, he grinned at her wryly. ”You can't get that on the internet.”
She'd have replied except that she was currently speechless.
When he turned to get dressed she scooted out of the room and said softly, ”Or anywhere else.”
6.
JULIA'S HOME PHONE was ringing when she opened the door to her apartment. She'd left a bridal shower early to get home since Gregory generally phoned around this time. It seemed as though all her friends were either getting married or having babies and she wanted that, too. Excitement bubbled within her when her call display revealed an international number. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Hi, sweetie.”
”Hi yourself, Gregory. How was your meeting?”
”Long.” The line crackled. ”I miss you. I miss Seattle. Tell me what's going on?”
<script>