Page 28 of An Unexpected Kind of Love

“Thanks for the card,” he murmurs, mimicking my pose by standing beside me at the counter, leaning his forearms on the edge. So near I smell his posh cologne. “That handmade flower was my favorite part.”

I can’t speak. Not for a long moment. Till I remember what breathing is. “Thanks. For the real flowers. Obviously. They’re so…so—”

He peers at me, lifting his eyebrows at me in a way that’s subtle and truly devastating, cursed things. “So—”

“—beautiful,” I say in a rush, dizzy.

His grin is wicked. “Not as beautiful as you,” he whispers.

“Fuck off with that,” I gasp immediately, unbidden.

Jesus. What did I say? Like some other power controls my mouth and it’s a nonstop litany of shit.

Blake laughs with delight, as if I’d said the most clever and witty thing. It’s mortifying. Once, I was good with words. Supposedly they’re my thing. Clearly, that’s a pack of lies now.

I eye him warily.

“Tell me more,” he says.

“I’ve got nothing.”

“You’ve already had plenty to say in the last…” Blake makes a production of checking his watch. “Two minutes.”

“You should see what I can do in five,” I blurt. Oh God, the unintended innuendo. If only I could take those words back.

“I’ve already had a preview,” he drawls, all southern silk.

Of course he’s going to torment me now. And he’s obviously thrilled at the chance.

I shiver. “I meant generally speaking. Not… Well.”

Too late. We’ve both gone there again.

For a moment, it’s nothing but us alone in his trailer, me on my knees and him decidedly elsewhere, and truthfully, in this moment, what I’d give to be back there right now—

“You wanna know something?” he asks.

“What’s that?”

“I’ve been dying since then to know what you can do in two hours. For science.”

I swallow hard. Obviously, he’s messing me about. “There’s absolutely no way a film person would have anything to do with a book person. Because, you know, different media.” Even when lewd acts are involved.Especiallywhen lewd acts are involved. I flip open my ledger and scowl at the page. “Different business.”

His chuckle, so near, undoes me. I do everything that I can to suppress any hint of that. I’ve already revealed far too much.

“Aubrey?”

“Yes, Blake?”

“Wanna go out for a drink later?”

I narrow my eyes at him. Is that a come-on? It’s got to be. Bold. Hard to say as his eyes dance with mischief.

“We could discuss our separate industries. If that would make you more comfortable. I’d do that for you. It could even be cross-cultural learning,” he says generously.

My face burns. Arsehole. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

Blake looks serious. “It could be a terrible idea, you’re right. But I get it if you’re scared.”

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