Page 10 of His Forever Girl

“Oh, yeah. I’m definitely going to need your number.” He touched a finger to her nose in a move that should have been corny but was anything but.

“So you want to walk me home?” Her voice was thick… almost seductive, so she cleared her throat.

“Some water,” the bartender said, setting down two icy glasses in front of them. “So I ain’t gotta call the fire department.”

Tess snorted, picked up the glass, and toasted the bartender who winked at her before moving on to a guy waving a twenty on the other side.

“He has a point. We can’t do that again without charging people admission.” Graham joked, looking as if the kiss had shaken him down to his wing tips. He picked up his own water.

The cold beverage didn’t dampen anything. That hum inside her grew, and she knew she wouldn’t be happy walking away from him. Ever since he walked into the bar, she felt compelled to lose herself in something totally irresponsible.

What if there would never be a black dress, nice dinner, and moonlight? What if Graham didn’t get the job? Never walked back into her world again? Would she regret the missed chance of him in her bed?

Yeah, she would.

“When are you going back?” she asked.

He gulped down the ice water, his strong throat moving as he swallowed. She wanted to kiss him there. Where the pulse beat in his neck, right above the loosened tie.

“Tomorrow morning.”

Indecision dogged her.

“You want another drink?” he asked, nodding toward her half-finished pomegranate martini.

“Not really.”

“Oh,” he said, sounding disappointed. Grabbing the hand she’d tucked in her lap, he cradled it. Stroking her inner wrist, he contemplated his empty glass. She could tell he didn’t want the evening to end… and neither did she.

“Pay for the drinks, Graham,” she said, making the decision for them.

Turning to her, he arched his brow. “Yeah?”

“Unless you don’t want me to see you in those boxer briefs?”

Like magic, his wallet appeared. Tossing enough cash to cover the drinks and tip on the bar, he pulled her to her feet. “You sure?”

Tess slid her hand up his lapel and tugged him to her. “Let’s not overthink this.”

He pulled her toward the door and they stepped out into the muggy night. “Cab?”

“My place isn’t far. Let’s walk.”

“Or run.” He spun her into his arms, pressing her against the rough brick, not caring a homeless man slept in the alcove a few yards away.

Tess tugged his head down, her mouth eagerly meeting his. This time she wasn’t stingy with opening her mouth and it inflamed him even more. He pressed himself against her, sliding his hands down to her hips in order to pull her against his hardness. Warmth turned to frenzied fire.

“Oh,” she breathed, her hands knotting in his short wavy hair. “Maybe we better hurry.”

“Yeah, y’all should,” the old bum squawked. “Unless you want a little company.”

“No, thanks,” Graham called, wrapping an arm around Tess and pulling a five out of his pocket and dropping it in the man’s tipped-up hat. “Something for you, sir.”

“Not as good as what you’re about to get, brother,” the man cracked.

“True,” Graham called back over his shoulder, not slowing up as they crossed Canal Street. Several blocks later she pulled her keys from her purse, struggling to keep her hands from shaking. Right before she pushed through the front entrance of the building, Graham caught her elbow. “You sure?”

She looked up, surprised he’d try to stop now. “You trying to talk me out of having hot, uncontrollable, slightly dirty sex with you?”

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