between the two teams now working in earnest.
Quietly he said, “Thanks. I owe you.”
“That’s twice now, and I do intend to collect.”
“I always pay my debts.”
“Good to know. But I should warn you my favors don’t come cheap.”
“I should certainly hope not.” He looked her up and down in a way he never had before, and something fluttery came to life in her stomach.
Damn it, damn it, damn it
. She should be past this kind of juvenile response. But there was just something so raw and sexy about Connor in his black Sinner shirt, jeans and work boots. She’d have to have been dead for a week not to feel the effect. Even with the cameras following him around he’d managed to work up a sweat, and the beads of moisture at his temples only added to that purely masculine vibe.
Focus
. “And you won’t be getting off quick and easy, either.”
“Excellent.” Connor obviously found something amusing in this—more amusing than it actually was—and Vivi felt like she was tripping over a current running through the conversation without knowing how or why. “Quick and easy aren’t really my style, you know.”
What on earth…? Lord, she needed a map to navigate this conversation. “Well, I didn’t break that circus up to stand around and chitchat with you, so I think we should both get back to work.”
There was that smirk again. “On you go, then.”
Vivi stepped back to do just that and immediately tripped over a piece of asphalt knocked loose by the flooding. She landed with a thud, and a sharp pain shot through her left butt cheek. Her eyes watered as she reached under herself and removed another, smaller piece of asphalt. “Ouch.”
Connor squatted, amusement and concern written equally on his face. “You okay?”
“Yes.” It was embarrassing, but at least the cameras had already been put away.
Small favors
.
“That whole ‘grace and poise’ thing doesn’t actually count as much in the pageant system as we’re led to believe, does it?”
“Hush.”
There was that grin again. “You’re not the first woman to be knocked off-kilter by my presence…”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Conner chuckled and stood. “Should I offer assistance?”
“It would be nice,” she snapped.
He extended a hand and hauled her to her feet. Vivi rubbed a hand over the spot where the sharp debris had dug in. “That’s going to leave a bruise.”
“Want me to rub it for you?”
Shock rocketed through her. “Why don’t you just kiss it,” she snapped.
His voice dropped a notch as he leaned in. “Calling in one of your favors already?”
Vivi’s throat closed. She hadn’t meant it like
that
. Heat rushed over her body at the thought of Connor…Of Connor’s lips…His hands…
She took a big step back and tried to blot out the image, to shake off the feeling…“You wish.”
Ugh
. She’d meant that to sound snappy and flip, but it came out weak and shaky.
Connor’s response was another low chuckle that did nothingto help the situation. Then he was heading back to his side of the street without a backward glance, and his casual whistling floated back to her ears. The heat on her skin found a new source.
Damn him
.
This is ridiculous
. She was just oversensitive after yesterday, and Connor’s attempt to fluster her in the wake of that was adolescent. As was her response, she admitted.
Her butt still hurt, but she couldn’t rub the ache away without thinking of Connor’s offer. She went to the cooler and grabbed a water bottle and drank deeply, trying to look casual. Her brain began to function normally once she had some distance from him, and she froze in horror as the conversation replayed in her head. Dear Lord, had she really implied that…? And he’d said…And then…
Oh, my God
.
How could her face feel hot while cold chills of horror crawled over her skin? Maybe she was sick. That would truly be excellent: she could claim the earlier conversation was simply feverish
Quietly he said, “Thanks. I owe you.”
“That’s twice now, and I do intend to collect.”
“I always pay my debts.”
“Good to know. But I should warn you my favors don’t come cheap.”
“I should certainly hope not.” He looked her up and down in a way he never had before, and something fluttery came to life in her stomach.
Damn it, damn it, damn it
. She should be past this kind of juvenile response. But there was just something so raw and sexy about Connor in his black Sinner shirt, jeans and work boots. She’d have to have been dead for a week not to feel the effect. Even with the cameras following him around he’d managed to work up a sweat, and the beads of moisture at his temples only added to that purely masculine vibe.
Focus
. “And you won’t be getting off quick and easy, either.”
“Excellent.” Connor obviously found something amusing in this—more amusing than it actually was—and Vivi felt like she was tripping over a current running through the conversation without knowing how or why. “Quick and easy aren’t really my style, you know.”
What on earth…? Lord, she needed a map to navigate this conversation. “Well, I didn’t break that circus up to stand around and chitchat with you, so I think we should both get back to work.”
There was that smirk again. “On you go, then.”
Vivi stepped back to do just that and immediately tripped over a piece of asphalt knocked loose by the flooding. She landed with a thud, and a sharp pain shot through her left butt cheek. Her eyes watered as she reached under herself and removed another, smaller piece of asphalt. “Ouch.”
Connor squatted, amusement and concern written equally on his face. “You okay?”
“Yes.” It was embarrassing, but at least the cameras had already been put away.
Small favors
.
“That whole ‘grace and poise’ thing doesn’t actually count as much in the pageant system as we’re led to believe, does it?”
“Hush.”
There was that grin again. “You’re not the first woman to be knocked off-kilter by my presence…”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Conner chuckled and stood. “Should I offer assistance?”
“It would be nice,” she snapped.
He extended a hand and hauled her to her feet. Vivi rubbed a hand over the spot where the sharp debris had dug in. “That’s going to leave a bruise.”
“Want me to rub it for you?”
Shock rocketed through her. “Why don’t you just kiss it,” she snapped.
His voice dropped a notch as he leaned in. “Calling in one of your favors already?”
Vivi’s throat closed. She hadn’t meant it like
that
. Heat rushed over her body at the thought of Connor…Of Connor’s lips…His hands…
She took a big step back and tried to blot out the image, to shake off the feeling…“You wish.”
Ugh
. She’d meant that to sound snappy and flip, but it came out weak and shaky.
Connor’s response was another low chuckle that did nothingto help the situation. Then he was heading back to his side of the street without a backward glance, and his casual whistling floated back to her ears. The heat on her skin found a new source.
Damn him
.
This is ridiculous
. She was just oversensitive after yesterday, and Connor’s attempt to fluster her in the wake of that was adolescent. As was her response, she admitted.
Her butt still hurt, but she couldn’t rub the ache away without thinking of Connor’s offer. She went to the cooler and grabbed a water bottle and drank deeply, trying to look casual. Her brain began to function normally once she had some distance from him, and she froze in horror as the conversation replayed in her head. Dear Lord, had she really implied that…? And he’d said…And then…
Oh, my God
.
How could her face feel hot while cold chills of horror crawled over her skin? Maybe she was sick. That would truly be excellent: she could claim the earlier conversation was simply feverish
Similar Books
