Page 35 of A Little Tempting

“What? You don’t like dill pickles?”

“I like my name.Dylan,” she emphasizes.

“And don’t get me wrong, it’s an adorable name. But can you blame a guy for wanting to stand out?” I toss my opposite arm around her shoulders and guide her toward the side of the building. The landscape is covered in grass and has tall trees scattered throughout. Reds and yellows have started swallowing the usual shades of green, turning the space into a fall lover’s dream.

It’s perfect for what I need.

“Let’s stop here,” I decide.

She looks around the open space. Curious. Hesitant. On edge. A little indent forms between her brows, but she turns back to me and smiles. “Let me guess. Fall?”

“Yup.”

“You’re lucky I’m easy.”

I bite back my amusement at her slip of the tongue but don’t call her out on it as she tucks her thumbs into the back pockets of her jeans and lifts her shoulders.

“So, where do you want me?” she asks.

I motion to one of the nearby trees. “Why don’t you sit beneath this one.”

“Okay?”

She walks over and carefully sits down, looking about as natural as a kitten in heels on a runway.

Sensing my mirth, she looks at her lap and wipes her hands along her jeans. “What? Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. Although, I’d hardly call you easy,” I add, unable to help myself. “You don’t look very happy to be here.”

Her expression pinches. “Let’s just say I didn’t sign up for photography to be infrontof the camera. Now, if Finley was here…”

“She’d eat this shit up,” I agree. “Let’s pretend you’re not here. Well, with me.” My brows crease, and I set my things down, pulling out the camera I purchased. “Actually, let’s pretend you’re still with me, but I don’t have a camera in my hands.”

“Ooookay?”

“Close your eyes,” I prod.

She closes them, but the same wrinkle between her brows stays firmly in place.

“And stop trying to look constipated,” I joke.

Those aquamarines open and pin me with a scowl. “Maybe it comes naturally to me.”

“Looking constipated?” I laugh. “I hope not, but if you’d like, I’ll be happy to bring you coffee every morning. It works like a charm.”

“Anyway,” she drags out, hiding the blush of her cheeks with her long blonde hair.

Fuck, this girl’s gorgeous.

My fingers itch to push the strands over her shoulder. To see if they’re as soft as they look. To see if I can feel her pulse race against my thumb if I drag my hand along her throat. To see if she’d let me push her against the tree and kiss her like I did at the costume party. I can still taste her. Sweet. Soft. Fucking perfect.

I clear my throat and attempt to focus. “Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Try to relax. I’ll make this as painless as possible, then we can get to my turn, and you can be behind the camera instead of in front of it, all right?”

Grumbling under her breath, she leans her back against the tree and lets out a slow breath. “I really don’t think this is going to work.”

She’s cute when she’s feisty.

“Stop fidgeting,” I order. “I have to grab something from my car. Promise me you won’t open your eyes.”

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