Page 88 of Someone to Tempt
I sit her on the seat again, and she waits while I gather her clothes. She doesn’t say anything as she dresses, but watches me with a pensive gaze.
“How do you feel about charcuterie?” I ask, as if feeding her is my most pressing concern at the moment.
“I feel good about meat and cheese.” She offers an almost shy smile. “I feel good about everything right now.”
If the sex doesn’t kill me, her sweetness will. I press a long kiss to her mouth. “Me too, Dixon.”
The blanket now spread over the tailgate, we settle in as the last rays of sunlight spread golden across the lake. Iris tucks her legs under her, her cheeks still a little pink, brown eyes soft like melted chocolate. I want to believe I gave her that rosy glow. We’re mostly quiet as we eat the simple setup I packed–—slices of salami and smoked cheddar, plus crackers and a cluster of grapes.
“You did good, Byrne.” A smile tugs at the corner of Iris’s mouth as she reaches for another slice of cheese.
To my surprise, I feel my face heat at the simple compliment. “Nothing fancy.”
“But perfect,” she whispers.
“Yeah,” I agree. The air buzzes with all the things neither of us are willing to say. Not yet. And maybe they aren’t necessary. I want to believe we both know what this afternoon meant.
Her gaze drifts to the dusky sky, which is slowly fading to a palette of soft pinks and purples. I’m content to watch her, a lock of soft hair trailing over her cheek, her long lashes fluttering against her creamy skin. My chest expands and contracts simultaneously, fitting for how Iris has turned my life—or at least my heart—inside out.
No matter what happens next, the memory of this afternoon is going to be one of my happy places for a long time.
We finish our picnic, and although I’d like to stay longer, I can tell by the way she’s started to shiver every few minutes that she needs to warm up for real. I want to whisk her away to an actual mountain escape with hot water, thick towels, and thousand-thread count sheets and keep her there for weeks until I get my fill of her—if that’s even possible. Instead, I blast the heat on the way home, and she relaxes against the seat back next to me.Lock the world out and live in her warmth.
It’s not late, but as soon as I pull up to the curb, a shadow passes in front of the window at the front of her house.
“He wasn’t joking about waiting for you,” I say, reaching over to take her hand. I can’t seem to get enough of touching her.
“You could come in?” she suggests softly. “Stay the night.”
The invitation is so damn tempting, but I shake my head. “Highly doubt your brother would approve.”
Her lips press together. “Nick is a guest in my home. If I want to invite another guest over, it’s none of his business.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, he’s got a good reason for not trusting me. Yet.” I kiss her mouth and smooth the hair away from her face. “I’ll take a rain check.”
The truth is, I’m at a loss to describe how such an ordinary afternoon can feel like it changed me in some profound way.
“Today was fun,” she says.
Although it doesn’t come anywhere close to describing it, I nod.
“I’ll see you at class.”
Since Fun Fest is less than a week away, Charlotte has stepped up the frequency of rehearsals, at least for her two stars. And I’m not going to complain about more chances to spend time with Iris. “Have a good night.”
She places a hand on the door but looks back at me with a teasing grin. “To be honest, I have another date planned for later this evening.”
I raise a brow. “Stepping out on me already?”
She grins. “My book club meets next week. Things have been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to finish the latest Ellie Spaulding mystery.”
A vague sense of panic settles at the base of my spine even as her smile widens.
“I’m going to spend my evening in a hot bubble bath with Spencer Charles.”
My breath catches in my throat and I try to hide my shock.
“Jake, it’s a joke.” She reaches out and places her hand over mine. “Who knows—maybe Spencer Charles is the pen name for some sweet old grandma.”
