Page 4 of Delayed
Rex bit off a moan.
“Next round’s on me. And I mean it.” Hetried sounding stern, but the sweet look on her face melted himlike butter on a sizzling frying pan.
“I’m kind of hoping we’ll be on the planeand flying high over Michigan afterthisbeer.” She raisedher glass for emphasis and clinked the pint with his.
He watched as she lifted the glass to herfull lips and sipped back a bit of the almost black liquid.Watching the constriction of her throat as she swallowed tightenedhis jeans again.
Damn it. Why couldn’t he have met her lastnight at one of the local bars while he still had a perfectly goodhotel room at his disposal, instead of in an airport terminal readyto board a flight.
Life could be so unfair.
“Not liking Grand Rapids, I take it,” hesaid.
“It’s a lovely city, what I saw of it. Mightbe more palatable in the summer.” She caught her bottom lip betweenher teeth and glanced up at him.
Rex swallowed hard. He wanted to bite thatlip with his own teeth—nuzzle, lick and suck on the flesh.
She reached for her glass and the movementbrought him back to the present.
“Sorry. Not a Northerner? I guess the goldenskin should have given it away,” he said.
“Not at all. Florida born and raised.”
No wonder she seemed miserable about beingstuck in Michigan. It had to feel like Antarctica to someone usedto living in Florida’s temperate climate, especially given therough winter the north had been having.
“What’s so funny?”
“You must be frozen to the bone.” He shookwith laughter. Resting a hand on her back, he moved it up and downover the red knit fabric of her sweater to warm her.
The long tendrils of her hair tickled theback of his hand. He brought his pint to his lips and sipped.
“I’ve been here just over twenty-four hoursand to be honest, I can’t get out of here fast enough. Who lives innegative temperatures on purpose?”
He snickered. Having grown up in Oregon, hewas used to cold, wet winters though even he’d admit the belowfreezing temps were a bit much. Nothing a good beer and a womancouldn’t usually resolve for him.
“What brought you to Grand Rapids? Doesn’tseem like a smart choice for a vacation in February,” heteased.
For the first time in a long time hisinterest piqued at more than how many orgasms he could draw out ofher before he came like a freight train.
Oh, he was interested in her body—in havingher underneath him and wrapped around him. Even more, he wanted toknow about her. Where she was from. What she did for a living. Ifshe was married or seeing someone. He glanced down at her left handthat rested on her lap. No ring. Not that that wasdeterminative.
“I work for an insurance company as part ofthe marketing team. Came up here to give a presentation about ourcompany to an agency association. We’re trying to expand ourfootprint in the Midwest, Michigan especially. Don’t ask me whythis had to occur in February, but it’s definitely a question I’llbe asking our vice president when I get back.” The golden flecks ofher irises sparkled with a bit of fire.
“You poor thing.” He stroked up and down herback.
She tilted her head back, her eyes closed.Her pulse thumped at the base of her exposed neck.
He gnawed on his bottom lip, trying to keepfrom pressing his lips to her soft skin.
Her chest heaved with deep breaths,indicative of what his touch did to her. No one here knew theyweren’t together. People would think they were two lovers unable tokeep their hands off each other. He should go for it, make hismove. Nothing much to lose.
She lifted her head, opened her eyes and themoment was lost. Damn it.
Anna wrapped her fingers around her pint andtook another drink. She focused on her glass of beer, avoiding eyecontact with him as if that might lessen the attraction cracklingbetween them.
“So why areyouhere in Michigan? Youdon’t look very Michigander-ish.”
“Michigander?” He cocked an eyebrow,questioning the term he’d never heard before.
