Page 34 of Stolen Goods
“You’ve, uh…” He paused, gesturing toward her chin as the corners of his lips twitched, fighting a smile. “You’ve got a little drool there.”
“I do not!” She straightened her spine indignantly, lips curling into a frown as her entire expression shifted. Her hands came to her waist as her hip cocked to the side. “Well, what about you? Is thisinvisibleenough for you?”
No, Thad thought, raking his gaze up and down her body, catching the tight swallow she tried to hide. She had on charcoal leggings, the kind girls loved to wear that men didn’t really understand, and a bright pink racerback tank top. The look was more sporty than girly, despite the color, but still far too tight for his liking.
“Couldn’t you find a pair of jeans?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Look, you…” Her entire face twisted into a charmingly frustrated scowl. “Look,you. I’m petite, okay. I’m curvy. You might not understand that, dancing through life with your six-foot-two, ripped-from-the-pages-of-a-magazine body, but jeans don’t just magically fit me. Nothing just magically fits me. Pants have to get hemmed. Dresses have to be bought two sizes too big so they fit my hips and then taken in at my waist. Shirts are either too baggy or too tight. Which is why I like loose blouses and skirts that cinch in at the waist! But you said I can’t wear those. So, this is the next best thing, and you’re just going to have to deal.”
He was trying not to smile, but his lips wobbled and his dimples dug into his cheeks no matter how hard he worked to keep them flat. “Okay.”
She breathed heavily. Thad couldn’t stop his gaze from dipping down to her breasts as they rose and fell, full and on display. Addison didn’t realize. She spun on her heels and—thankfully—disappeared back into her dressing room.
“Hang everything you want over the door,” Thad said, filling the silence. “And I’ll go check out.”
She did, so he did. Ten minutes later, they were in the car unpacking their supplies. Addison climbed into the back seat to change.
“Don’t peek.”
“I’m not.”
“I mean it, don’t you dare.”
“I’m changing too.”
“You swear you won’t look?”
“Just get dressed.”
There was a lot of banging and groaning, but he kept his word and didn’t peek. She slammed some part of herself into his seat, forcing it to buck, and let out a yelp.
“What the hell are you doing back there?”
“Hold on—”Grunt.“I’m almost—”Slap.“Done.”Sigh.
He flicked his gaze into the rearview, immediately finding her eyes.
“I said don’t look!” she shrieked.
He jerked his face forward. “Youjustsaid you were done.”
Addison mumbled something to herself, low and grumbling, but he picked out one very distinct word.
“Scoundrel? Really?” Thad snorted.
“You are,” she accused indignantly as she climbed back into the passenger seat, clocking him in the face with her elbow in a move that felt resolutely on purpose. She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead, sticking to her guns. “A complete scoundrel.”
He needed her to feel comfortable around him—it would make everything so much easier. If she was comfortable, she’d listen. If she listened, she’d be safe. And he knew just the way…Oh, this is going to be fun.“Get that from the pages of your favorite book?”
“No…”
“One Night with the Rake.”
“Huh?”
“Marrying a Rogue.”
“Stop.”
