Page 3 of Play For Me
“The tire iron and jack. Lift the panel under the boxes,” Isay, nodding my head in the direction where they are kept. “It’s stored in there.”
She moves the boxes out of the way and finds the latch to open the floor panel.
“Thanks,” she mutters as she takes it out. I bite back my grin this time, but I’m still determined to see this play out as I keep my feet firmly planted.
I glance at her left hand and notice there’s no wedding ring. Relief washes over me that she doesn’t appear to be married. I’m not into wrecking homes and satisfying bored housewives whose husbands work too much and neglect them. Plenty have tried, but it’s not my thing.
She shuts the jeep door and starts to work on taking off the spare tire secured on the back. I shake my head and chuckle at her determination not to have me help her.
“Let me help you. You have a white shirt on, and it’s going to be ruined when you try to wrestle that tire down. I’m already here, so you might as well take advantage of my tire-changing skills. I’m pretty good with my hands.” I wink at her and get an eye roll.
Damn, if that doesn’t do something to me. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of excitement. She must be passing through or new in town because there is no way I wouldn’t have noticed her before.
The sun comes out behind the clouds, and a glint of sparkle catches my eye when I notice her small diamond nose piercing. The face of an angel with a little devil in her…my one weakness on this earth. I give my lip ring a slight tug with my teeth before releasing it as my eyes are drawn to hers.
She glances down briefly at my mouth, and even though she’s hiding it, I know she feels this current of electricity tethering us together. It’s like a goddamn shock waiting to happen on the highest voltage setting. Her eyes flick back to mine,and the desire I briefly see is gone within seconds as she holds out the jack to me.
“Since you obviously won’t leave until this damn tire is fixed…have at it,” she says, waving her hand at the spare. “I need to make a phone call anyway because I’m running late.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.” I grin and take the tire iron and jack from her. “Are you always so welcoming to strangers who want to help you, or is it just me?”
Sighing, she runs a hand through her hair and briefly shakes her head. “Sorry. It’s been a long day, and the last thing I wanted to do was deal with a flat tire and being hit on by a random guy on the side of the road.”
My lips quirk at her boldness, and I bite back my laugh. “Who said anything about me hitting on you? Maybe I’m just a nice guy who sincerely wants to help a stranded stranger.”
She studies me with a look of doubt in her eyes, causing me to chuckle as I take a step, closing the distance between us. Her eyes widen, but she holds her ground as I lean down close to her ear.
“Trust me, beautiful…if and when I decide to hit on you, you’ll know it. There won’t be a single doubt in your mind about what I want.” I hear her suck in a small breath as her scent invades my senses. It’s sweet like honey and has my mouth watering for a taste. I force myself to step away and move toward the spare tire, leaving her standing there as my words sink in.
She can pretend all she wants, but this sexual attraction between us isnotone-sided. Her body language is betraying what her tough demeanor is trying to hide. Luckily, I love a good chase. It’s rare I get one, and I’m more than ready to see what this angel in disguise will do once caught. I may be facing my biggest challenge yet, but I have a feeling the journey to break down her walls is going to be the most fun I’ve ever had.
CHAPTER TWO
OLIVIA
Islowly release the air in my lungs and watch him step back before getting to work on the spare tire. It’s been way too long since I’ve felt anything remotely close to what my body is feeling now.
With his back to me, I take the time to admire the creation God made when he decided to put this temptation on Earth. He’s much taller than my five-foot-seven frame. He has to be close to six-three with the way he towers over me. A grey t-shirt molds to his sculpted chest as I watch the muscles in his arms expand and stretch as he loosens the tire off the rack.
His dark hair is longer with a slight wave to it, giving him the sexy bedhead look without even trying. A lock has fallen across his forehead, and I find myself wanting to run my fingers through his thick hair and tousle it up even more.
Stunning grey eyes with dark lashes turn briefly and meet mine as a slight smirk plays on lips that should be illegal. They are full and pink with a small lip ring that matches the one on his eyebrow. I don’t even hide the fact that I’m checking him out, and he knows it. It’s not like I’m going to see him again, so Imight as well memorize what will undoubtedly be on my mind later when I’m alone in bed.
He finally breaks eye contact and easily lifts the tire off the back door before setting it against the jeep and getting to work on jacking up the front end of the vehicle. I should look away or at least pretend I find him unattractive and repulsive, but I can’t. He’s got me under this hypnotic spell that I can’t seem to break away from.
Everything about him is oozing bad boy, and it’s the one thing I crave but know I should never touch again. His body is a work of art covered in ink swirls and patterns so detailed that all I want to do is run my fingers along his skin and study every black line and image. They extend onto his hands and weave around both arms, letting me know that under that t-shirt he’s wearing, there must be more. One slightly etches up the side of his neck before disappearing where his hair lies.
“You know…,” he says, his deep voice breaking me out of my trance as he continues to replace my tire. “For someone who doesn’t want todealwith a random guy hitting on you, you sure are putting out some majorfuck me vibes.” He turns his head, and a smile plays on his face. “If you see something you want, all you have to do is ask. I might even say yes if you ask nicely.”
I should be shocked at his boldness, but I have a feeling this guy always gets what he wants and never has to try hard.
“Are you always this cocky?” I tilt my head and peer at him. “Just because I’m watching you change my tire doesn’t mean I want to sleep with you. You’re not my type.” I swallow down the lie because it couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s exactly the type I usually go for, and all it gets me is heartbreak, andI told you sofrom my mom and sister.
“And whatexactlyis your type?” He tightens the lug nuts on the spare with an amused look on his face.
“Everything you’re not,” I say, crossing my arms across my chest, determined to see this lie out to the very end.
Chuckling, he shakes his head with a grin, and butterflies flutter in my stomach as I hug myself tighter.
