Page 17 of Indiscretion

I turned to find Hannah now sitting with Rob, her husband, his arm around her shoulder. “Oh. I guess he was able to get off after all.”

“Maybe I’ll get to see those pink pajamas I couldn’t stop thinking about all dayafter all…”

“I’m sure you’ll find a place. I wouldn’t start packing your PJs so soon.”

“I won’t. But that’s because I don’t need ’em. I like to sleep naked.”

***

The following morning, Lily asked me to stop by Ben’s cabin. He’d put her grandmother’s pearl earrings in his suitcase, and she planned to wear them as hersomething old, but she didn’t want to see the groom on her wedding day until the ceremony.

Though it wasn’t the groom who answered the door when I arrived. Dawson was shirtless and sweaty. The other night, I’d been so startled that I didn’t get a chance to fully appreciate the man. His handsome face had caught my attention, and then when the towel came off, I had otherbulgingthings to look at. But I wasn’t surprised to find he had carved muscles everywhere. It sort of went with the rest of the package. Still, my eyes snagged on the thin trail of hair that ran up his glistening torso.

I swallowed and turned my head, diverting my eyes to anywhere but Dawson. “Hey. I’m here to pick up earrings for Lily.”

He opened the screen door and stuck his head out, looking to the left. “What are you looking at?”

“Oh. I, uh, saw a rabbit.”

Dawson scrutinized my face before opening the door the rest of the way. “Uh-huh.”

“I did. He just hopped away.”

“If you say so. Come on in. Ben went to the store, and he didn’t mention any earrings. But he should be back in a few minutes.”

I hesitated.

Dawson smirked. “I’m not going to bite.Unless you want me to…”

I rolled my eyes, but dammit if those stupid butterflies didn’t flutter in my stomach upon hearing that deep, throaty voice again. Or maybe this time I felt the activitya little lower. My body seemed to have a mind of its own when this man said certain things.

He looked me up and down, eyes lingering on my chest before lifting and meeting mine. “You wear a lot of pink.”

“And…?”

He shrugged. “And nothing. Just pointing it out.”

“I believe in chromotherapy. Dressing in bright colors can help improve physical and mental health.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Orange promotes kindness. Perhaps you should try wearing it sometime.”

His eyes sparkled. “It looked like your mood improved just fine seeingfleshcolor when you walked in.”

“God, you’re such an ass.”

He chuckled and stepped aside. “Come in already. We’re letting the mosquitos in.”

Inside the house, a pull-up bar was jammed between the hallway walls. Dawson grabbed a towel from a chair and wiped the back of his neck. “I was trying to get a little exercise in, in case you decide to invite me for that sleepover.”

“Don’t tell me you couldn’t find a place?”

He shook his head. “Closest thing my admin found was an hour away. I even looked myself this morning. I’m just going to crash in my car and go home early tomorrow.”

“Shoot.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I can’t let you do that.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

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