Page 31 of Seductive Hearts

Rose’s timing was impeccable. “No wonder my ears were burning.” She stepped through what would be a doorway, but at the moment, it was a hole in the wall. Her brilliant smile spoke volumes. “This is great. I can’t wait for the furniture to get in.”

“We still have time before that happens.” Rolling up the plans, I grunted in acknowledgment of Rich announcing he was going to grab a coffee from the café across the street.

Once he was gone and we were somewhat alone, I shot a pointed look at the table where Rose had laid back to let me eat her out. That was almost a week ago, and since then, I was much more familiar with her body. What she liked, what made her scream, everything in between. “We’ll have to christen this place once everything is finished,” I suggested in a low voice meant only for her.

Her lips pulled into a thin line. “What did we agree on?” Fuck, if she only knew what it did to me when she got all hard-ass and tough. I was more determined than ever to have her here in every conceivable way.

“Keep it professional?” Looking her up and down, I added, “Though you’re not playing fair, looking the way you do today.”

She looked down at her sleek pantsuit. “This? Even this turns you on?” she asked in disbelief.

“When those pants look like they were sewed on?” I growled at the sight of her firm, peachy ass. “Remind me to take a bite out of you later.”

Understanding flickered in those emerald depths, but there was something else in them. Hesitation. Regret?

She didn’t keep me waiting for clarification. “He’s coming by to check out the space, and we’re going for coffee.”

So much for foreplay. My mood dropped when I realized she wore the suit for Landon. “Then, by all means, let’s fuck around,” I suggested. “If he comes in and catches me feeling you up, he’ll ask you to move in with him by the end of the day.”

“Let’s not and say we did.” She folded her arms, popping one hip out to the side, and the defiance in her smirk was too much. I had to wipe that look off her face and replace it with open-mouthed ecstasy.

“Hell, he might even learn something,” I pointed out, almost salivating at the memory of making her beg for more until we passed out around dawn on Saturday morning. I’d lost track of her orgasms along the way. “You’ll end up thanking me later,” I added with that in mind.

He probably didn’t know where the clit was, much less what to do with it.

“Hello? Anybody home?”

What a corny asshole. I didn’t know what pissed me off worse—the sound of his voice echoing in the wide-open space or the way Rose changed her posture, standing straight and throwing her shoulders back before striding out to meet him in what would soon be the store’s showroom. I may as well not exist.

“You’ve already come so far! This is incredible.” When Landon looked over the top of Rose’s head to find me approaching behind her, he leaned down to kiss her cheek, offering her a warm grin. “I might have to hire the company to do some renovations at my new house.”

Christ, he was exhausting with that fake politician’s smile.

“I can’t say enough about the work the company has done for us so far.” Rose’s smile looked a little strained. Somebody had to tell her she didn’t need to try so hard.

“Is that what brought you two together?” Landon asked. He was digging for information, but I wasn’t fooled.

“Oh, no. I mean…” Rose sputtered, which gave me no choice but to drape an arm around her waist and pull her close.

“What she means is we’ve already known each other for a long time, but coordinating this project brought us closer together.” She stiffened when my hand grazed her ass but managed to giggle at my explanation.

“I didn’t know you were involved in the family’s construction business.” Landon slid his hands into the pockets of his puffy vest, studying me. “Hell, you always talked about how you would rather do anything else than work for Barrett. What changed your mind?”

“I grew up.” Narrowing my eyes, I added, “Just like you grew up and decided you wanted to get into politics. You always talked about living off the money your mother’s family left her. Time changes things.”

“We’d better get going.” Rose’s voice was much too bright and chipper. Looking up at me, she touched a hand to my chest. I could almost believe the adoration radiating from her when she purred, “Do you think you could spare me for a little bit?”

“I don’t know.” I tightened my grip on her, growling. “You know I hate being away from you.”

“Hey, hey!” Landon held up his hands, laughing too loud. An empty, flat sound. “I’m not trying to get in the way of love.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having coffee with an old friend.” She drove her elbow into my side until I released her. “Come on, Landon. I would love to hear more about your campaign plans.” With one more look over her shoulder, Rose took Landon by the arm to lead him out.

There was nothing for me to do but watch them go while something hot and caustic boiled in my guts. Why did it have to be him? Why did it have to be her, for that matter? It was bad enough I could barely hear myself think over the whining of saws in the parking lot. It was like a sick contest to see what could give me a headache first—the noise or the idea of Rose moving on to Landon after being with me.

It didn’t hit me until then that I expected her to forget about him after the night we’d spent in her bedroom.

That was fucking stupid.

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