Page 18 of Wrecked
He just had to stop fighting it.
So, for just a moment, she stopped fighting as well, let the false happy, the bravado, slip from her face. The pretense was a waste of time. He may not want to, but he knew…he knew exactly how she felt. How could he not? “I promise you, Cole, I won’t bother you. But if you want me, for anything—you know where I am.”
Even Cole couldn’t mistake her meaning. He was off the hook. His best friend’s little sister wouldn’t be throwing herself at him any longer.
But she would be doing her damnedest to tempt him at every opportunity.
He made a rough sound. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Her belly did a little swoop. “Great. I’ll see you around, then.”
“I guess you will.” Then he turned away, but before he did, something flashed behind his eyes, something dark and tormented.
For a minute she felt rooted to the spot, until he started unpacking one of his boxes, back and shoulders stiff, effectively ending the conversation.
She walked out, leaving him on his own, and after closing and locking up the garage, she crossed the parking lot to her cottage. The sun was still high in the sky, the asphalt sticky beneath her boots. Yep, a pool would be awesome about now. But today, the hose would have to do.
Sitting on her front steps, she pulled off her boots and socks, sighing when her feet sunk into cool, spongy grass as she walked to the side of the house. Turning on the hose, she aimed it at herself to wash the grit and dirt off her skin, so she didn’t traipse it through the house, and groaned when the cool water ran down her overheated body.
Next stop a shower, followed by a glass of wine and some serious planning. Somehow, she needed to come up with some creative ways to torment her surly neighbor.
After a few more minutes hosing herself down, she turned off the water and headed back to the front of the house.
I will make you give in, Cole Black. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just you watch me.
Then, before she could stop herself, she turned toward the apartment above the garage— and sucked in a startled breath.
Because he was. Arctic blue eyes watched her from the kitchen window.
Without even realizing it, she’d won the first round.
She smiled to herself.
Let the games begin.
Chapter Six
Cole moved to his kitchen window and froze, hands gripping the edge of the bench hard enough to make the Formica groan. Piper stood in her yard, garden hose turned on, aiming the jet of water at herself.
But if you want me, for anything. You know where I am.
“Shit.” Had she really meant what he thought she did? Or was she thinking more along the lines of a neighborly cup of sugar? Fuck. He couldn’t allow himself to believe it. Believe that shy, sexy, little Piper West—the woman of his dreams—had just invited him into her bed. His head might actually explode if he did.
He swallowed hard, gaze following the water’s trajectory. The way it sluiced down over her neck and shoulders, down her arms, soaking into her shirt and shorts, gathering at the apex of her thighs and down her legs, making her skin glisten.
Not just my goddamn head.
Groaning, he licked his lips, like he already had her salty, sweet taste on his tongue.
Jesus.
Was she doing it on purpose? Was she trying to kill him? Because that’s what it felt like. His heart smacked around in his chest so damn fast, so hard, the possibility of having a heart attack wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. And his dick…shit. He’d never been so hard.
Was that…
Motherfucker.
Even from this distance, he could see her nipples pebbled and hard, straining against her tank as the cool water ran over her. He wanted to peel her wet clothes off, lick every inch of her smooth skin. See if she was wet anywhere else. See more than the tops of those succulent little nipples.
