Page 102 of Down & Dirty

We stood awkwardly in silence for a minute, neither of us sure who should move first.

“I’ll just grab that,” he muttered, keeping his eyes lowered as he went for the fridge and I scampered to get out of the way.

“I was just going to get us some cookies and tea.”

Mack snickered. “You’ve got him drinking tea, huh?”

I rolled my eyes, thinking of the mug upstairs Cory had completely ignored. “No, that’s for me. I’ll just bring him a beer.”

“He’s feeling all right then?”

When Mack looked up at me there was no way to miss the quick perusal he gave my outfit, or the teasing tilt to his mouth. He’d taken one look at me and known what Cory and I had been up to.

“Yeah. Getting him warmed up helped,” I said one second before I could stop myself. I’d meant in the car and bath, but I wasn’t going to explain that and dig my hole any deeper.

He nodded, his lips pressed together like he was fighting off a smile. “I bet.”

His knowing gaze had me shrinking with embarrassment and the heat on my cheeks was only making things worse.

Grabbing what he needed from the fridge, he spun for the door, but paused in the threshold.

“I’m surprised you traded sunny California for frigid Maine for your holiday. Not really a hell of a lot going on around here by comparison.” He held my gaze, a hard edge to his curiosity flickering in his eyes as he waited for me to respond.

I pulled my shoulders back, looking him in the eye. “It wasn’t reallymuch of a contest. Between your brother and some warm weather, I’d choose him every time.”

Mack’s jaw clenched, regarding me for a minute before he nodded and gave me a polite grin. “Enjoy your cookies.”

He slipped out of the house without another word, and I deflated against the counter like a flower in a frost. Or maybe like a California girl in Maine.

As mortifying as that interaction had been, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing as I made my way back upstairs. I knew Cory would have a different take on his brother seeing me in this top.

But when I tiptoed back into the room, I found him stretched out on his side of the bed, the covers up over his chest and his arm bent above his head. He let out the faintest snore before he sniffed and rolled onto his side, nestling his face into the pillow.

Standing in the middle of the room, I studied him indulgently. The way his hair flopped over his forehead, and how the lines of determination and concern were flattened smooth as he finally relaxed. His lips, so soft yet so demanding, parted on a deep exhale. The gentle sound of it had my chest squeezing. He was so beautiful like this. Not that he wasn’t handsome and gorgeous and sexy every other minute of the day. But asleep like this he finally seemed to find a peace that wasn’t there very often.

It felt selfish to risk disturbing him, but lately I wasn’t very good at resisting the chance to be in Cory’s arms. So I set our snacks on the nightstand and carefully slipped beneath the covers. At first, he didn’t move, but after a little while of listening to his even breathing, he jolted and his arm shot out searchingly. He snaked it around my waist, hauling me into the curve of his body.

“You get your cookies, baby?” he mumbled, his voice already rough from sleep.

“Mnnhmnn,” I hummed, scooting back until our bodies were flush.

“Like you need any more sweetness,” he whispered, his lips grazing the nape of my neck.

I melted, tucking his arm tighter against me. Nicknames and compliments were things no man had ever given me with any sort of regularity, and yet Cory couldn’t seem to stop. They wound like a thread through my chest, pulled tighter every time he did. Stitching me to him one kindness at a time.

It was getting harder to resist his pull. Pretty soon I wasn’t even going to try.

CHAPTER 32

CORY

DirtyDana.com Celebrity Gossip with Sass

Once again, our throttle-rocket hottie, Cory Ellis, is spotted with his new leading lady. Exiting LAX last weekend after a secret getaway, the two looked more comfy cozy than we’ve ever seen. Considering Skylar Stone is far from the red carpet regular Cory typically entertains, we have to wonder if this blossoming romance has the sticking power lacking from all of his previous partnerships. With the season’s start only weeks away, will the pressure of the bike business crack this couple or will they get even closer? Do power sports and power couples mix? Or will Skylar be kicked to the sidelines just like all the rest?

“Look who’s back,” Billy said, setting his laptop on the bench and shaking his head. “Wasn’t sure if you’d decided to trade all this,” he waved his hand at the empty garage, “for a life of small townsfolk and mud season.”

It was just the two of us there early Monday morning, hoping to get a jump start to the day. We had an exhibition event in Anaheim at the end of the week, and losing even a few days to meet with press was more than I liked. This new bike still felt off, and wewere running up against a tight wire to get me dialed in before the start of the season.

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