Page 32 of Wine and Research
She didn’t ask why he was there. Didn’t ask if he was okay. No, she just looked at him with those gorgeous green eyes, and he found himself wanting to take the plunge and drown.
He also wanted to take her, over and over, until they were both satisfied and completely spent.
Ever since their first kiss, there was a new level to their pursuit and evasion dance. They were playing at something new. He just wished to hell he had a copy of the rules.
“Come on in,” she said with blatant interest in her eyes.
His heart slammed into his ribs. Hard.
Something had definitely changed between them. Again.
They’d always baited each other, never intending to do anything about it.
Until that damn kiss.
Now they were one spark away from a fire that could reduce them both to ashes, but for the life of him, he couldn’t stop himself from stepping over the threshold or remember why this was a bad idea.
Chapter Ten
Still in thatgo with the flowmindset, Elle decided not to question why Jeremy was here. Fate or not, the guy was in her cabin, and she was simply going to run with it.
“I found this in the car. Thought you might need it tonight,” he said, holding out her notebook.
Grabbing it from him, she blinked and fought back disappointment that he wasn’t there because he wanted to be. His gaze was steady and strong. The guy never wasted a single ounce of energy.
She needed to learn that trick.
For the past few hours, she’d been plagued with a relentless need to see him to make sure he was alright. Several times, she’d picked up her phone to call the station to find out if he was okay, but thought better of it. He was working and didn’t need her bugging him. This restlessness was all new to her and stupid and unexpected, but it plagued her, nonetheless. She’d even skipped chocolate night with the girls tonight, but she wouldn’t have been good company anyway.
“Thanks, but it could’ve waited until the morning,” she said, setting the notebook on an end table next to the door. “You didn’t have to make a special trip.”
“Yes, I did,” he said, and something in his tone had her turning to face him. His eyes were dark with the same concern running through her unchecked. “I also wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Elle blinked, a little disconcerted by how easily and effectively he disarmed her, every single time. Just when she thought she’d figured him out, he went and changed the rules.
Like now.
Gone was his impassive expression as he stepped close and lifted a hand to touch her shoulder, as if he couldn’t stop himself. “You’re shaking.”
She was dripping wet in a bikini, harboring thoughts of them both naked in the hot tub, so yeah, she shook and was not exactly okay. No. She was out of her mind. And the funny thing was, she didn’t care. Elle was tired of holding a tight rein on her control around the guy.
It was exhausting.
“Sometimes adrenaline withdrawal will do that,” he said, regarding her with a compassion she hadn’t expected.
“Nealy suggested I have some wine. So, I decided to pair it with a soak in the hot tub,” she babbled because the man’s presence sucked the smart from her brain. “That’s why I didn’t hear you. Were you knocking a long time?”
He shook his head and released her, taking with it his warmth, and she couldn’t stop the resulting shudder. His gaze narrowed because he never missed anything. “You’re cold. Go ahead, get back in the hot tub. I’ll see myself out.”
“It’s not just from the cold.”
Elle hadn’t meant to say that out loud. A hazard ofstupid brainsyndrome. But since there was no taking the words back, she lifted her chin and waited for his reaction.
His hair was damp from a recent shower, and he smelled good. Really good, like fresh cut cedar and sandalwood with an undertone of citrus. The blend, combined with his maleness and the fact he hadn’t shaved tonight and sported a scruffy jaw, made her knees a little wobbly.
“Is that right?”
Jeremy lifted a hand and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her shoulder, and Elle’s heart pounded hard in her chest. He was close. So incredibly close she could feel his warmbreath on her temple. She’d never been so aware, so tuned in to a man’s body. Or her own.
