Page 24 of I Need You Tonight
The corners of my mouth twitched. “You probably have a point there.”
We returned to my house. After checking on Bernie and taking him for a brief walk so he could do his doggy business, I went into my bedroom and got started on the paperwork I’d picked up at the store. Once I’d finished, I went to see what Mason was up to. I found him with screwdriver in hand, fixing the sticky front door.
“I’ve almost got it.” His arm muscles bunched as he turned the screwdriver, twisting the screw into the doorframe. He closed the front door, then opened it. Unlike before, it opened smoothly.
I had to fight back the urge to throw my arms around him and kiss him. Escaping my bad dates had become that much easier, thanks to him.
But kissing him was definitely a bad idea—because if I had another one, I’d never be able to stop. I’d only want more.
“Wow, thanks. I can’t believe you actually managed to fix it.” As soon as I said it I realized how bad it sounded, so I hurriedly added, “I mean, I didn’t think it could be fixed.”
“You’re welcome.” He stepped into the house and flipped on the hallway light…and it worked. “And your back gate won’t keep opening and banging shut when it’s windy. I fixed that too.”
“I’m definitely gonna miss you when you’re gone.” And it wasn’t just the fixing up around the house that I would miss. I’d been having fun hanging out with him. He was funny, as well as incredibly giving—which was the last thing I would’ve ever expected from a rock star. I’d always thought they were just into drugs and alcohol and sex, but none of that described the down-to-earth guy standing in my hallway.
“I’ll fix the toilet and shower now,” Mason said, stepping out of the house and grabbing his new toolbox off the porch.
I laughed under my breath. “Well, have fun with that. I’m going to make dinner.” Momentarily forgetting my earlier resolution, I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then headed for the kitchen.
But that didn’t count as a real kiss, right? It wasn’t on the mouth.
Dinner was just about ready when Mason emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered. In the background, the latest Pushing Limits album was playing through the Bluetooth speakers. Yes, I might’ve been a tiny bit curious and downloaded it onto my iPhone. I’d heard a couple of their songs a few times with Heidi, but back then I hadn’t really paid much attention to them because the band wasn’t country. Now I had a reason to listen to them.
“So what do you think?” He did the chin-nod thing I’d seen him do a few times.
“You guys are really good. I especially like your drumming.” Not that I was knowledgeable about that aspect of the music, but it did sound good to me.
“Enough that you’re a new fan?”
I pretended to consider it for a second. “Yes, I think I could definitely be a new fan.”
He grabbed hold of my hips with both hands and pulled me against him. “And it has nothing to do with me fixing your front door?”
With the erotic sensation of his stubbled jaw against the skin of my cheek and the sound of his I-want-to-have-sex-with-you-now voice—even though he didn’t actually want to have sex with me—I almost had an orgasm right there. “Among other things.”
Clearly unconcerned about having left me in an aroused state, Mason pulled back and sniffed the air. “Hmm, that smells good. Are those your world-famous chocolate chip cookies?” His face brightened.
I smiled back. “Possibly.”
He glanced at the stove next to us and the covered skillet. “What’s in there?”
“Beef stroganoff.” I turned to the stove and lifted the skillet lid. With a spoon, I scooped up a small amount of the creamy sauce and raised it to his lips.
He sampled the liquid. “Mmm. It tastes as good as it smells.”
The food wasn’t the only thing that smelled delicious. “Do you know you smell fruity?” I giggled.
He glared at me, or at least attempted to. It was hard to be convincing when he had mischief gleaming in his eyes. “I didn’t have much choice. You need a soap that’s more manly.”
“Just how often do you think I have men staying over?” I pretended to be indignant, which wasn’t easy when all I craved was to sample the man in front of me, fruity-smelling or not. “Besides, I happen to think you smell sexy.” Kudos to my acting abilities, since I managed to say it without giggling again.
Mason stepped closer, our bodies a hair’s width from touching. “You do, do you?”
I swallowed hard. “I do.”
His gaze dropped to my lips. “We probably shouldn’t kiss, should we?”
I shook my head, the movement negligible. “No, we probably shouldn’t.” That might be what my brain was saying, but my body definitely wasn’t agreeing with it.
