with me there until Sunday.”
She looked at him and smiled.
“I told you, you’re taking a big risk, Abby.”
“I accept.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was willing to stay there until Sunday when we were trying to figure out the best plan for everyone to get back here. Why wouldn’t I go back now?”
“Awesome.” He leaned in and kissed her soft lips. “For the record, I may cheat and let you win this time.”
“No fair, big guy.”
“How does that saying go? All’s fair in war and wagers?”
“Funny. By the way, what were you going to ask me at dinner last night?”
“Oh yes. I almost forgot. Two things actually, one of which you’re already agreeing to do as part of our bet. The other was whether you were interested in going out on the yacht tonight. We won’t go into the open water, just a leisurely cruise around the Bay for a few hours.
“That sounds magical. I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll set it up.”
“Let’s get ready. I gotta be at my seminar at ten this morning. ”
Chapter Eight
ABBY practically crawled in through her apartment front door, wariness in her stiff legs after their run. She collapsed on the sofa before Andrew could get in the doorway. He stood hulking over her, the top of his chest glistening with sweat under the open front of his light windbreaker. It was well-earned sweat, for both of them. She had run with him through her regular route, and doubled back a few times to make it challenging for them both.
Needless to say, he had let her win. She would have pushed extra hard to win as well—she loved the idea of going back to Lake Tahoe, this time of her own volition, and with just her and Andrew. He stood over her now. He looked like he could go another five miles. His hands sat at his waistband, just daring her to say the words.
“So, what is it? Come back to my place, or do we stay here for a bit?” His crooked smile made him appear even more boyish. In a totally sexy way.
“Stay.”
“Excellent.”
They had made a stop at the farthest point of the boardwalk. It was her favorite place to stop. When they did, she had laced her arms around his neck and whispered how much she wanted him. Right there and then. She was kidding—well, she was kidding a little. Luckily, Andrew was more reserved than she was.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to her bedroom. Still a little sore in the legs, she sat on the side of the bed, letting her fingers work fast on the inconvenient drawstring of his running pants. Then, the zipper of his windbreaker. She heard the angels sing Gloria as that zipper slipped all the way down, and his sexy, slightly tanned chest revealed itself more fully above the tank top he wore underneath. The undoing of the zipper—Abby was beginning to believe it was the most erotic manufactured sound ever created.
She gasped. Literally. And imagined where that slim line of skin was heading. Active imagination, be damned. She had seen him time and time again, and he still had that effect on her. Her mind could never accurately recreate the sheer awesomeness that waited for her under his layers of clothes. She shifted onto her elbows to get a better look as the fabric of his track pants lowered and revealed his plain black silk boxers.
“No kidding,” she blurted out, laughing loud.
“What?”
“Black silk boxers? They are so…” She waved her hand in the air for effect, encompassing her and him and the whole of her pale blue bedroom. “So hot.”
He ducked his head down to peer at it. “You think?” He winked as he asked.
She laughed again.
“I’ve only seen you in those cute cotton ones at the cottage. I can’t remember what you wore last night, or when you were here the night before. Sorry.” She furrowed her brow. “Don’t tell me you have a different wardrobe when you travel?” She paused, catching his gaze.
“Well, don’t you?” he teased.
“Nope,” she said with a smile. “I guess I’ll have to get used to it, now
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