Page 52 of A Little More

He winked. “I thought you looked perfect.”

She ran her fingers over the scratchy surface of his cheek where he’d not shaved. “Far from it.” He sucked in a breath to say something, but she kissed him. “Back to my point.”

“You wanted me.” His innocent blue eyes didn’t fool her. “I’m only repeating what I heard you say.”

“I said I wanted more.”

He gripped her hips. “And I have more to give. Problem solved.”

The playfulness finally tugged a laugh from her. “You don’t have a functioning kitchen, Nash. When I’m gone, and you want to invite a woman over, or even your mom, what are you going to do? Offer to microwave her a meal? Frozen dinners aren’t exactly romantic.”

“I’d do that even with a full kitchen. Besides, I got you over here without having a kitchen. I’m not sure I want another woman who was scared off by a little, disorganized kitchen.”

“It looks like a war zone in there. I know this is pushy of me.”

“Beyond pushy.”

She leaned up and nipped his bottom lip. “But I think we’d have fun together doing it. You seriously couldn’t do a kitchen like I have in mind for under fifty with anyone else. I have the design skills and access to wholesale prices.” She squeezed his arms. “And I think I can get the muscle to work for free.”

“Nope. It’s going to cost you.”

Lexi settled along his body, propped up on her arms to get a better view of his face. She didn’t want to push him into the renovation, but he’d have to do something with his kitchen eventually. And, of course, it would force them to be together a little longer.

Give her an excuse to come down and see him. That’s where the entire situation was dangerous. She wanted a little more each time she saw him.

“What? Because if I need to pay you in kisses, I want credit for the last hundred or so since yesterday.”

“Not a bad idea.” His hand trailed from her thigh to the curve of her bottom, settling there like a natural hand rest for him.

“What do you want, Nash?”

He patted her butt.

She tried to keep her face neutral. “Besides that.” How did he make her feel so giddy?

“I want to take you out on a date.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “I can’t risk people seeing us.” She traced her finger along the edge of the neckline of his shirt. Wanting to go out with him wasn’t the issue. But, like it or not, she still had to think of her future without him. She still needed her job.

“I’ll pick the date and make sure no one sees us. I don’t want to be the reason you lose your job, Lexi. We could hide in a movie theater.”

It was risky, but she’d have to trust him. Anyone who knew her and knew who she worked for could mention it to John or Gina. That girl was already suspicious.

Then there was separating fact from fiction. If they continued in this little bubble in his house when she walked away in a couple more weeks, it wouldn’t hurt as bad. Just a nice memory.

“You’re thinking so hard, it’s making my brain hurt. I want a date. One date for minimal cooperation with the renovation.”

“Minimal?” She leaned back to look at him.

“One date and I’ll help in the kitchen without complaining.”

“Do you normally have to blackmail women into dates?”

“I don’t take women on dates.” His somber statement was followed by a smile. “Not women who I have to hide, anyway.”

She didn’t miss the way he’d said it. Nash didn’t date? How was that possible? The hottest bachelor in town managed to come home after his divorce and remain single for this long? But he wanted to date her.

Everything in her screamed for her to run. For the safety of her job. For the protection of her heart.

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