“I know the place could benefit with a few months of steady promotion. The problem is the restaurant doesn’t have a whole lot of extra money to spend right now. But my sister-in-law, who volunteers at the youth center, needs a caterer for an upcoming fundraiser. I asked her to consider the Golden Glove. We wouldn’t be paid, but it would be a great way to get the word out to a lot of people.”
“I volunteered to do pictures at one of those events a few years ago. They draw quite the crowd. That could be the boost you need.”
He ran a hand along the stubble on his chin. “Yeah.”
She studied him a moment. “Why do I feel there’s a ‘but’ coming?”
His mouth broke into a grin at her question. The woman was so damn intuitive. “There’s just one snag. My sister-in-law, Avery, babysits my nephew for my other sister-in-law who’s on strict bed rest. Next week she and my brother are supposed to come to the Golden Glove to sample some food, but Avery needs to find someone to watch Mason so Lacy isn’t left in a bind. Both my father and stepmother work, and it just happens to be on a day when Chase has a staff meeting.”
“And Lacy is your other sister-in-law who’s on bed rest? Is she pregnant or something?”
Brody nodded. “She’s carrying twins.”
“I could spare an hour or two to watch him.” Elisa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, I know Lacy doesn’t know me or anything. But if she’d be comfortable, I’d be happy to help her out. That is, if it doesn’t interfere with rescheduling the shoot.”
“I need to work on Anthony before we can take more pictures. But you’d be willing to do that? Watch a child you don’t know for someone you don’t know?”
Her delectable lips turned up in a smile. “I love kids. And it wouldn’t be for that long, right?”
“Maybe two hours. I know Lacy will really appreciate it. Which reminds me…” He set the photos he’d been holding down and took a folded check out of his back pocket. “Just as promised.”
Elisa eyed the check but didn’t take it. “I can’t take that. Just consider what I did a favor. Besides, I haven’t technically completed the job yet.”
“A favor?” he parroted. “Elisa, you’ve taken a lot of time out of your schedule to take practice pictures. You deserve to be paid.”
Her hands wrapped around the back of one of the dining chairs. “How can I take money from the restaurant when it’s struggling? I wouldn’t feel right about it.”
The woman was trying to be noble. She knew full well the troubles the Golden Glove was having, and she only wanted to help in her own small way. When was the last time he met a woman who was so selfless?
He took a step closer. “The restaurant isn’t paying you. I am.”
She stared at him, with astonishment widening her deep brown eyes. “I can’t take your money,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Why? I was serious when I said I wanted to pay you.” He grabbed her hand and placed the check in her palm. “Just take it.”
Her eyes dropped to his gift, then lifted to him. “Thank you.”
“Why do I always get the feeling you’re holding back around me?”
Her luscious lips parted and her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t explain it.” His finger trailed along the edge of her jaw. “It’s like a part of you is afraid of me.”
She sucked in a deep breath through her parted lips. “Not afraid, just cautious.”
“Why do you feel the need to be cautious?”
She waited a moment, like she wanted to formulate a logical answer. “You make me feel things I’m not used to. I’m just not sure how to handle them.”
He stepped even closer to her, so that her sweet body heat flowed around him like a blanket of sexuality. “Like what kind of things?”
The pulse beating beneath her neck sped up when his finger trailed down the column of her throat. “I don’t know. But my mind doesn’t know how to make sense of them.”
His mouth quirked in a small smile. “There’s your problem. You should stop thinking so much and allow yourself to feel.”
Oh, this woman would be wanton in bed. His finger alone elicited all kinds of reactions from her that had his body coming to life. Her pink tongue kept darting out and swiping across her lower lip, leaving it deliciously wet. After waiting for what felt like a lifetime, he gave in to his craving and leaned down. His mouth lowered to hers with a gentleness that contradicted the raging desire he felt for her. Her lips were soft, full and moist, and even more heavenly than he thought they would be.
She didn’t push him away, as he expected her to. Instead, her hand came up to grip his shoulder and her fingers dug into his muscles. The lady wanted him. She clutched at him with a desperation that had to be genuine. The knowledge had him pulling her even closer and slanting his mouth over hers even harder. His tongue probed the entrance of her hot mouth and she eagerly allowed him to enter.
Holy sweet mother. A thousand sensations flooded his wired body when his tongue stroked inside her glorious heat. Her throaty moan vibrated through him. His arms curled around her narrow waist, effectively pulling her flush against him. Her body was even softer and more womanly than he imagined. She had curves and lushness in all the right places. Her breasts, which were flattened against his chest, were full and incredibly sexy. Her skin was smooth and so touchable. Her mile-long legs entwined with his and came within dangerous reach of certain parts below his belt.
When was the last time he’d allowed himself to get this lost in a simple kiss? Or better yet, who was the last woman to kiss him with this much bravado, this much need?
Before he had a chance to take things further, Elisa yanked herself away from him and took a step back, as though something had frightened her. Had he taken things too far?
She touched her fingers to her lips, as if still trying to feel his mouth there. Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to steady her breathing.
“Elisa…” He tried to close the distance between them, but she backed farther away from him.
“We shouldn’t have done that,” she whispered.
“Why the hell not?”
She turned to the table and gathered the forgotten photos, completely ignoring his question. “I guess I’ll see you next week when you pick Tyler up.”
He placed a hand on her arm. “Would you mind explaining to me how you go from hot to cold in three seconds?”
“I can’t get mixed up with you.” She wretched her arm out of his grasp. “I just can’t.”
The confusion in her eyes tore his guts up. “What are you talking about, ‘mixed up’? It was just one kiss.”
That was a whole lot more than one kiss and you know it.
“You need to go,” she stated out of the blue and tugged on his arm. She marched him to the front door like a damn drill sergeant and practically shoved him through it.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, then shut the door in his face.
What the hell?
The woman kisses him like her life depends on it and then all but throws him out of her house?
TEN
THIS IS THE BEST CROISSANT sandwich I’ve ever had,” Avery announced after swallowing a monstrous bite. She picked up one of the potato chips. “Are these homemade?” Her dark hair swung in her face as she reached for more.
Brody couldn’t help the grin that broke across his face. He slathered more ketchup on his fries. “Yes, ma’am, they are.” For that ingenious idea, he completely credited Anthony. One morning last week, Brody had come to work to find Anthony in the kitchen slicing potatoes. In that deep, baritone voice of his, Anthony said he wanted to try his hand at homemade chips to replace the ones they’d been buying. Brody had just about kissed the man’s feet for thinking so practically. Making their own potato chips was much cheaper than buying bags of them, not to mention a whole lot tastier.