she said, cupping his cheek and staring into his eyes. “You’re not like your father. You need to see that. You need to believe me.”
And then she leaned closer and did what she’d been dreaming about for weeks.
She kissed him.
And she didn’t even mind that his mouth was surrounded with bristles like a scrubbing brush.
Because he tasted delicious.
Chapter Seven
Andy’s heart thudded as Melissa’s lips took his.
Damn.
Damn, damn.
Kissing her was even more amazing than he’d imagined. But it was more than that.
She believed he was a good man.
She believed he was nothing like his father.
With those simple words, she released such a weight from his shoulders.
All a man needed was a woman who believed in him.
That was all he needed.
And God, he needed her.
When it seemed as though she was going to withdraw, he had to wrap his arms around her and deepen the kiss. He’d been patient, waiting for her to feel comfortable enough for him to make a romantic move, and this was it. He couldn’t let the moment just drift away.
Beyond that, he hungered for her.
It took every lick of discipline in him to keep from laying her back on the seat and taking her here, in the front seat of her car, but he knew this was not the time.
He pulled back—though he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, forever—and cupped her face. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time,” he said.
She blew out a wet snort. “I’ve been wanting you to for a long time.”
“Really?” He laughed. “You should have said something.”
“I was raised to let the man take the lead.”
“Yet here you are, kissing me.”
Her lips quirked. “You took too long.”
“I was waiting for you.”
She frowned. “Waiting for me?”
“When we met, you said you weren’t ready. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“That is so gentlemanly.”
“I ain’t saying it was easy.”
“Well, I’m ready now. I mean… I’m ready to explore this.”
He nodded. “We won’t ever do anything you’re not ready for. I promise.”
For some reason she sighed heavily. “Does that mean I have to initiate everything?”
“Probably.”
She shook her head and levered out of the car and together they headed for the house. “I can’t tell you how inconvenient that will be.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive.” He followed her like a puppy dog, a love-struck swain, which, he was certain, he was. “Will you stay for dinner?”
“I have to work,” she reminded him and he grimaced. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he had her all to himself? “How about tomorrow?”
His glower darkened. “Tomorrow I’m being grilled by the McCoys at Sunday supper.”
“Sounds uncomfortable.” He unlocked the front door and they were promptly attacked by his guard dogs who, apparently, chose slobber as their weapon of choice. Although Toto was also adept at worming his way between a man’s legs and trying his best to trip him in the foyer.
Melissa laughed and picked the little bugger up. She nuzzled his face.
“You’re getting wet.” Andy thought it prudent to mention.
“He needs to lick someone.” She shifted the dog to the crook of her elbow and proceeded to scratch him silly. “So you’re going to the McCoys tomorrow?”
“Joseph wants to make sure I’m not a psycho.”
“Um…why?”
“Because I’m spending so much time with you.”
“Oh. How sweet.” Her laugh trilled and he glowered at her.
“Really?”
“I should go with you,” she said.
“Oh, would you?” Surely there was not a thread of desperation in his tone.
“I would love to.”
All of a sudden, his anxiety over Sunday supper wafted away.
Because she would be there by his side.
And she believed in him.
When Melissa finished the work she had to do at the house that evening, Andy drove her back to town and dropped her off at Hardbodies. He hated that she had to work as much as she did, jumping from one job to another all day
And then she leaned closer and did what she’d been dreaming about for weeks.
She kissed him.
And she didn’t even mind that his mouth was surrounded with bristles like a scrubbing brush.
Because he tasted delicious.
Chapter Seven
Andy’s heart thudded as Melissa’s lips took his.
Damn.
Damn, damn.
Kissing her was even more amazing than he’d imagined. But it was more than that.
She believed he was a good man.
She believed he was nothing like his father.
With those simple words, she released such a weight from his shoulders.
All a man needed was a woman who believed in him.
That was all he needed.
And God, he needed her.
When it seemed as though she was going to withdraw, he had to wrap his arms around her and deepen the kiss. He’d been patient, waiting for her to feel comfortable enough for him to make a romantic move, and this was it. He couldn’t let the moment just drift away.
Beyond that, he hungered for her.
It took every lick of discipline in him to keep from laying her back on the seat and taking her here, in the front seat of her car, but he knew this was not the time.
He pulled back—though he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, forever—and cupped her face. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a long time,” he said.
She blew out a wet snort. “I’ve been wanting you to for a long time.”
“Really?” He laughed. “You should have said something.”
“I was raised to let the man take the lead.”
“Yet here you are, kissing me.”
Her lips quirked. “You took too long.”
“I was waiting for you.”
She frowned. “Waiting for me?”
“When we met, you said you weren’t ready. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“That is so gentlemanly.”
“I ain’t saying it was easy.”
“Well, I’m ready now. I mean… I’m ready to explore this.”
He nodded. “We won’t ever do anything you’re not ready for. I promise.”
For some reason she sighed heavily. “Does that mean I have to initiate everything?”
“Probably.”
She shook her head and levered out of the car and together they headed for the house. “I can’t tell you how inconvenient that will be.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive.” He followed her like a puppy dog, a love-struck swain, which, he was certain, he was. “Will you stay for dinner?”
“I have to work,” she reminded him and he grimaced. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he had her all to himself? “How about tomorrow?”
His glower darkened. “Tomorrow I’m being grilled by the McCoys at Sunday supper.”
“Sounds uncomfortable.” He unlocked the front door and they were promptly attacked by his guard dogs who, apparently, chose slobber as their weapon of choice. Although Toto was also adept at worming his way between a man’s legs and trying his best to trip him in the foyer.
Melissa laughed and picked the little bugger up. She nuzzled his face.
“You’re getting wet.” Andy thought it prudent to mention.
“He needs to lick someone.” She shifted the dog to the crook of her elbow and proceeded to scratch him silly. “So you’re going to the McCoys tomorrow?”
“Joseph wants to make sure I’m not a psycho.”
“Um…why?”
“Because I’m spending so much time with you.”
“Oh. How sweet.” Her laugh trilled and he glowered at her.
“Really?”
“I should go with you,” she said.
“Oh, would you?” Surely there was not a thread of desperation in his tone.
“I would love to.”
All of a sudden, his anxiety over Sunday supper wafted away.
Because she would be there by his side.
And she believed in him.
When Melissa finished the work she had to do at the house that evening, Andy drove her back to town and dropped her off at Hardbodies. He hated that she had to work as much as she did, jumping from one job to another all day
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