hope not. This is your house.”
“Coming.”
Oh, wait. That might not be the right word to use.
She grabbed two glasses and hurried up the stairs to find him waiting in the hallway, glorious in his nudity and totally unself-conscious about it. She swallowed a laugh thinking how he put Max the braggart to shame with his equipment.
The corner of his mouth turned up in a hint of a grin.
“I certainly hope so, but I think I need a minute to recharge.”
So he’d caught the double meaning of her answer. Damn. Heat crept up her face.
“Here.” She thrust a can of soda and one of the glasses at him. “I thought we could use this to cool off. We certainly need it.”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he nudged her back toward the bed. “Thanks for the cold drink.” He stretched out his legs on the bed, unconsciously rubbing his thigh.
Jinx noticed and frowned. “That’s some scar you’ve got there.”
“Reminder of a battle with a reporter.”
“Are you kidding?” She sucked in a breath. “A reporter shot you?”
“Might as well have. Anyway, it’s the hazards of the job. Come on. Let’s talk a little. And not about that.”
Hummingbirds were doing a nervous dance in her stomach as she adjusted herself on the bed next to him. She kept her robe on, deciding she needed as much protection from him as possible. Or was it from herself?
Dillon took a long swallow of his drink before he said anything.
“I’m sure neither of us expected what just happened here. Or was looking for it.”
She nodded her head. “You’re right. And if I did anything—”
“Stop.” With his free hand, he took one of hers, linking his fingers with hers. “There’s no blame here, Jinx, except maybe on my part. I don’t know. What I do know is the heat between us has been off the charts since we met at the crime scene.”
She couldn’t stop the giggle that broke loose. “Not the usual way people meet, right?”
“Believe me, I’ve seen stranger.” He lifted their linked hands and kissed her fingers. “But my point is there’s something going on here, and except for this incendiary explosion I sense you’re not any more eager to jump into something than I am.”
The hummingbirds disappeared to be replaced by tight knots. What was he saying? Thanks for the great sex but it was a mistake? Wait. Shouldn’t that be her line? And no, she wasn’t looking for any kind of relationship. Situation. Whatever. But perversely, she didn’t want to give this up. This first time had been hot and fast, but the overwhelming desire still hung in the air. One time hadn’t even taken the edge off.
She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to let him see this might have meant more to her than to him.
“You’re right. That’s very sensible. I’m sure we can forget all about this and pretend it never happened.”
“What?” He tightened his hand on hers and pulled her around to face him, anger flashing in his eyes. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I mean…” The words trailed off and he filled the space by taking a long drink of soda. “I’d like to keep seeing you, Jinx, but I’m in no condition mentally or any other way to think about a real relationship. I’m just trying to be fair to you. That’s all.”
Okay, she could deal with this. She hoped.
“You’re right that I’m not looking for anything. Or anybody. Not now.” She gave an unladylike snort. “Maybe never. But this—” she waved her hand in the air, “—whatever it is, I don’t want to back away from it either.”
“I still don’t like reporters,” he reminded her.
“I still don’t like cops.”
“So noted. And just so we’re clear. We’ll enjoy each other’s company—in private—and that’s all it will be.”
She nodded. “Sex with no strings.” And didn’t she just sound so sophisticated saying that.
“Exactly. Because I definitely want more.” He set his glass down on the nightstand. “There’s
“Coming.”
Oh, wait. That might not be the right word to use.
She grabbed two glasses and hurried up the stairs to find him waiting in the hallway, glorious in his nudity and totally unself-conscious about it. She swallowed a laugh thinking how he put Max the braggart to shame with his equipment.
The corner of his mouth turned up in a hint of a grin.
“I certainly hope so, but I think I need a minute to recharge.”
So he’d caught the double meaning of her answer. Damn. Heat crept up her face.
“Here.” She thrust a can of soda and one of the glasses at him. “I thought we could use this to cool off. We certainly need it.”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he nudged her back toward the bed. “Thanks for the cold drink.” He stretched out his legs on the bed, unconsciously rubbing his thigh.
Jinx noticed and frowned. “That’s some scar you’ve got there.”
“Reminder of a battle with a reporter.”
“Are you kidding?” She sucked in a breath. “A reporter shot you?”
“Might as well have. Anyway, it’s the hazards of the job. Come on. Let’s talk a little. And not about that.”
Hummingbirds were doing a nervous dance in her stomach as she adjusted herself on the bed next to him. She kept her robe on, deciding she needed as much protection from him as possible. Or was it from herself?
Dillon took a long swallow of his drink before he said anything.
“I’m sure neither of us expected what just happened here. Or was looking for it.”
She nodded her head. “You’re right. And if I did anything—”
“Stop.” With his free hand, he took one of hers, linking his fingers with hers. “There’s no blame here, Jinx, except maybe on my part. I don’t know. What I do know is the heat between us has been off the charts since we met at the crime scene.”
She couldn’t stop the giggle that broke loose. “Not the usual way people meet, right?”
“Believe me, I’ve seen stranger.” He lifted their linked hands and kissed her fingers. “But my point is there’s something going on here, and except for this incendiary explosion I sense you’re not any more eager to jump into something than I am.”
The hummingbirds disappeared to be replaced by tight knots. What was he saying? Thanks for the great sex but it was a mistake? Wait. Shouldn’t that be her line? And no, she wasn’t looking for any kind of relationship. Situation. Whatever. But perversely, she didn’t want to give this up. This first time had been hot and fast, but the overwhelming desire still hung in the air. One time hadn’t even taken the edge off.
She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to let him see this might have meant more to her than to him.
“You’re right. That’s very sensible. I’m sure we can forget all about this and pretend it never happened.”
“What?” He tightened his hand on hers and pulled her around to face him, anger flashing in his eyes. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I mean…” The words trailed off and he filled the space by taking a long drink of soda. “I’d like to keep seeing you, Jinx, but I’m in no condition mentally or any other way to think about a real relationship. I’m just trying to be fair to you. That’s all.”
Okay, she could deal with this. She hoped.
“You’re right that I’m not looking for anything. Or anybody. Not now.” She gave an unladylike snort. “Maybe never. But this—” she waved her hand in the air, “—whatever it is, I don’t want to back away from it either.”
“I still don’t like reporters,” he reminded her.
“I still don’t like cops.”
“So noted. And just so we’re clear. We’ll enjoy each other’s company—in private—and that’s all it will be.”
She nodded. “Sex with no strings.” And didn’t she just sound so sophisticated saying that.
“Exactly. Because I definitely want more.” He set his glass down on the nightstand. “There’s
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