Page 80 of So Wild

“Have you been watching the house?”

“No. I had a conversation with Nicole before I came here. She informed me she and Tabby wouldn’t be home tonight.”

Sam frowned. “Why are you talking to Nix?”

“Because I wanted to inform her that I called the Melbourne historical society last night and confirmed what I already knew—I didn’t put your building on the list for possible historical sites. My father sent in a letter in my name and forged my signature to strengthen his own application.”

A further swell of adrenalin set Sam’s heart racing. “You didn’t do it?”

“No. I didn’t know that the meeting was being held last night, either. Something I would have been happy to tell you, had you mentioned it at all, instead of getting me drunk and drawing female genitalia on my face.”

It was serious conversation, but Sam still struggled not to smile. “You got it all off, but.”

“I did. I had to have Toby bring a bottle of nail polish remover to the hotel. I almost dissolved my outer dermis.”

“Ouch.”

Scott smiled in that flat, lupine way once more. “Samantha, you don’t want to know what I wanted to do to you afterward.”

Sam chewed her lower lip, aware of the pressure building between her legs. This was wrong, of course—he shouldn’t be at her window and she shouldn’t be finding it hot. Yet there was something unmistakably erotic about it. They were close, but the glass barrier restrained their movements. She was still in control, but what would happen if she lifted the window and allowed him to come in? Would they argue? Or would he drag her onto her bed and do the things she’d been thinking about for longer than she wanted to admit? Outside, she could hear the wind blow as it shook the leaves and rustled Scott’s thick sandy hair. “Are you cold?”

Scott shook his head. “I told Nicole I withdrew the heritage application. I also pulled some strings and had your counter-application pre-approved. It’s now virtually impossible to submit the building for heritage status.”

Sam gaped at him. “Seriously?”

“Yes. I’ve already emailed Nicole the documents.”

“Oh my God.” Sam felt like she was falling backward. That was one of her major problems curtailed, utterly removed from her list. She leaned against the window frame, unable to keep from smiling. “Wow. That’s amazing.”

Scott’s expression softened, but almost instantly the hard smile returned. “I’m glad you think so. Now, if you could please…?” He inclined his head toward the latch. “My feet are going numb.”

Sam hesitated, considered asking if he was going to ‘do anything,’ realised she was hoping he was going to ‘do anything’ and pulled the deadbolt on the window open, pushing the glass pane to the side. A rush of lukewarm air flooded the room, along with the scent of Scott’s cologne. Her palms dampened and she wiped them against her shorts. “Um, want a hand?”

“No.” Scott sprang through the window like a cat burglar, his sneakers barely making a sound as he landed.

“Agile.” Sam meant to add more, but Scott was straightening up and expanding, reminding her of just how tall he was. If that wasn’t bad enough, he pulled his hoodie over his head to reveal a taut white t-shirt and the kind of clean, guy-sweat smell you wanted to inhale forever.

“You know, you still haven’t answered my question.” Scott’s eyes were nowhere near as soft as his t-shirt looked; they were cold and trained on her face.

“Your question of ‘what the fuck?’”

“Yes.”

“That’s because I have no idea.”

He took a step toward her. “You have no idea?”

“Yup.” Sam tried to subtly wipe her hands on her shorts. The silk was growing shiny-thin in the face of so much rubbing.

Scott stared down at her, his height seeming much more significant than usual. “You know, we’re not kids anymore, Samantha. We’re adults and Iknowyou wanted to be on that date with me.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes.” Another step closer. “You did. We were going to go back to my hotel and fuck each other senseless and you decided to play the same games you’ve been playing on me since we were children. One perceived slight and my school books are on fire, or my face has been disfigured or my virginity is being auctioned off on the internet.”

He was so close now. His scent was almost overwhelming. Was it weird that she found it sexy that he’d climbed the tree, like a fairytale prince gone rouge? She wanted to draw him that way, a nobleman bending the rules to visit the girl trapped in the tower—

“Samantha?” Scott’s hands were on her now, sliding down her shoulders to grip her upper arms. “Talk to me, just tell me what goes through your head when you’re about to do something ridiculous to me.”

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