Page 59 of So Right
Chapter Eleven
Words jumbled in Luke’s brain but couldn’t make the journey to his mouth, likely because other parts of his body were demanding to take over. He’d had a half erection since coming home to find her in a towel. No, that had been a full hard-on, which he’d managed to tame by thinking about the article he was writing for a local wine journal. Nothing like mildew and aphids to take the edge off your raging wood.
Except now the erection was back in full effect after what she’d said.
“Uh, we’re kind of late here.”
“Right. I know. Sorry, I wasn’t suggesting anything.” She looked away and went to grab her purse. “I’m ready.”
She sure was. The front of her hair was pulled back so that the wavy locks hung down her back. Like him, she’d fancied up, wearing more makeup than normal. She looked sexy and seductive, especially when he took in the formfitting purple lace dress. He’d always known she was beautiful, but this was the closest he’d come to approximating how she looked under her clothing. He could hardly wait to see for himself. And maybe, just maybe, that would be soon based on what she’d said.
Down, boy, don’t get ahead of yourself.
“Are you ready?” Her question dragged him back to the here and now.
“Yep.” He pivoted and gestured for her to precede him. “After you.”
He grabbed his keys and locked the door on the way out. Then he held the car door for her.
She glanced up at him, her freshly glossed lips taunting him. “Thank you,” she murmured.
He watched her legs, so sexy in those gorgeous black strappy sandals she was wearing, and after she was settled, closed the door.
On the way to the driver’s seat, he tried to talk down his arousal. Damn, it was hard, especially when he climbed into the Jeep and got a fresh nose full of whatever scent she was wearing.
The air between them was so charged, he wondered if a fire might break out. He chuckled at the ridiculous thought as he started the engine.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Really? You just laughed for no reason?”
He backed out of the driveway and cast her a sidelong glance. “You really want to know?”
She swallowed and looked away, and he threw the car into drive. They rode in silence for most of the ten-minute drive. As they approached the winery, she said, “You look really nice.”
“Thanks.”
“Like,reallynice.”
“Yeah, I got that based on what you said back at the house.” Which he could hardly stop thinking about.
“I think I’m an idiot for insisting we keep our hands off each other.”
Right now, it was taking everything he had not to touch her. But wait, their rule only included the house, didn’t it? Right now, he could barely remember his name, let alone some asinine set of regulations they’d set up.
He pulled into the parking lot. Guests wouldn’t be arriving for another half hour or so.
He turned off the car and jumped out to open her door. He helped her out, taking her hand and savoring the rush of exhilaration that raced through him. “Just to clarify. I can touch you now, right? Outside the house?”
“I don’t think we ever decided that for certain.” She glanced at where their fingers connected. “Like this?”
His lips curved into a smile. “I’ll take what I can get.”
She turned her hand, putting her palm against his and twining their fingers. Then she rested her other palm against his chest and leaned into him. “You can do more than that if you like.”
His body surged with lust. “I would like very much.” He tipped his head down to kiss her, but the sound of a car pulling into the lot drew them apart.
