Page 25 of And Then There Was Us
“Okay, well, you didn’t have sex with him, so that tells you something, right? He’s not a jerk, because if he was, you’d have had sex. He’s not banging down your door when he knows you’re naked in the bathroom, and that tells you he’s not a bad guy, right? So, I can’t do it. I can’t tell you not to at least go out with him a few times. I can watch Layla.”
Brianna stood in front of the mirror with her eyebrows knitted together. “Oh, Kat, I’m in trouble.”
“You know what they say. If you can’t be good, be careful.”
“Yeah, well, that’s why I went on the pill after Layla was born. Just in case.” She glanced over her shoulder at the bathroom door and thought of Hugh. A pulse of heat flared inside her. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for not helping,” she teased.
“You’ll thank me later.”
Brianna stepped under the warm spray of the shower and closed her eyes. She could still feel Hugh’s whiskers against her cheek, his lips caressing hers. Knowing he was only two rooms away aroused her, and as her hands slid over her slick skin, she pretended they were his…
Chapter Twelve
“YOUR CAR WILL be ready by two, but I don’t want you to feel trapped with me, so I can take you to pick it up or I can pick you up after my appointment and we can shop for Layla’s gift together.” Hugh leaned casually on the console as he drove toward town.
Brianna’s mind told her to shop by herself and spend less time with Hugh, but her heart—and her body—refused to listen. The words fell out of her mouth without hesitation. “Let’s go together, if you really don’t mind.” She’d thought pleasuring herself in the shower would help her stop thinking about Hugh in that way, but all it did was make her want him more. She’d even taken extra time with her makeup, and after seeing him smile at her boots the night before, she’d purposely worn them again, this time with black jeans and a flowing white blouse that was just see-through enough that it showed a hint of her laciest bra. Sitting in the confined car only increased her desires toward him. His cologne filled the air, and each time he shifted gears, his triceps jumped. She had the urge to run her finger along the defined edge of the muscle, where it curved toward the back of his arm.
“Bree?”
Oops.She didn’t realize he was even talking. “Sorry, yeah?”
“You said you were helping your friend today. We’re coming up on Main Street. Where to?”
She’d been so lost in him that she’d totally forgotten about directions. “Up here on the right.” She pointed to the end of the block.
“Wait. CD Studios?” Hugh laughed. “No way.”
“No way what?”
“That’s where my appointment is. I had a photo shoot with CD Thursday for my sponsors, and we’re wrapping up the last of them this morning.”
No freaking way.“You’re taking pictures here? Today?”How am I going to manage this?
“Yeah. This is great. We can spend more time together. What do you do for CD?” He opened his eyes expectantly, and then his dimples appeared again.
Why do you have to be so good-looking?Brianna tucked her hair behind her ear. “I…uh…I help Claude…CD. I do the lights, help make sure the models’ clothes and props are set right, you know, that kind of stuff.”
He pulled into a parking space. “That’s great. It’ll make the shoot even more fun. I really don’t like getting my picture taken, but now I’ll have you to smile at.”
Or I’ll die of embarrassment from not being able to focus.“Yeah, great.”
Hugh came around and opened her door. He pressed a kiss to her lips. Brianna’s hands found his waist as he deepened the kiss, and when he pulled away, she felt light-headed again.
“Hugh.” She cleared her throat.
“Yeah?” He opened the trunk and grabbed his driving suit, helmet, and gloves.
“You can’t kiss me like that.”
His smile faded. “I’m sorry. I just assumed…”
“No, it’s not that. I like when you kiss me, but I can’t concentrate in there if we’re…”Shoot. I sound like an idiot. No woman on earth would tell you not to kiss her.
“I’d never kiss you like that at your workplace. We’re on a side street. No one can see you.”
Now she felt like a fool as heat rushed up her cheeks. “I know. Never mind. I just get flustered.” She started for the building, and Hugh reached for her hand.
“Brianna, am I pushing myself on you?”
