“Smooch for a while?” That he used the word smooch made her smile. “Okay,” she agreed quietly.
“Sounds pretty damn romantic to me.” He stood. “Stay here. I’ll set up the swing, then help you outside.”
“I can walk, Cam. I’m not that laid up.” She tilted her head back, watching him. Was Cameron McKenzie a secret romantic? And why was he so willing to agree to her idea when not a handful of days ago at the wedding, he’d said he kissed her because of some strange impulse?
It made no sense.
“You need to take it easy so you don’t hurt anything worse. And don’t worry,” he said, his gaze gleaming with that bad boy sizzle again. “I won’t make any sudden grabs or moves. Don’t want to hurt your ribs, you know.”
“I said no sex, Cam.” Kissing always led to groping, which could always lead to…
“You mean I can’t even cop a feel? Whoa, you’re tough.” He shook his head, whistled low.
“You want to cop a feel?” Her voice came out as a squeak again. Lord, she was making an absolute fool of herself in front of this man.
“There are so many things I want to do to you, Chloe, I can’t mention them in public, let alone in private. I might shock you.” His gaze darkening, he turned away from her and headed toward the back porch. “Be back in a few,” he called.
Leaving her all aflutter.
…
Cam had moved the portable swing she bought last summer so it sat on the very edge of her brick patio, facing the lake. He led her out onto the patio, his arm guiding her, his pace slow, since she wasn’t moving too quickly. She still felt like she’d been beat up from the inside out.
And now she was a jumble full of nerves. Imagine her gathering the strength to tell him what she really wanted. Imagine him actually agreeing—his one condition that they make sure they were compatible enough via a long kissing session.
She still couldn’t believe this was happening. They’d kissed a few times—she thought they were pretty dang compatible—but if he wanted to kiss her some more, she wasn’t about to protest.
“Here you go.” Cam was ever the gentleman, guiding her toward the swing, helping her lower her stiff and sore body onto the bench seat. At least the cushions were thick and comfortable, and he’d rolled up the shade so she could lean her head back and see nothing but stars.
Exactly what she’d asked for.
“You have a terrific view,” he said as he settled onto the seat next to her, his arm extended along the back of the cushion behind her.
“I know. It was more than half the reason why I bought the place.” She stared out at the lake, the moon shining upon the water, making it shimmer. Above them she heard the lonely hoot of an owl sitting in a pine and the soulful howl of a coyote sounded from the mountaintop to the east.
All sounds she was familiar with, didn’t know how she’d cope in the city if she were ever forced to go back. She’d tried that in college and had been miserable the entire four years she lived in Sacramento. She was a small town mountain girl, born and bred.
Which made her sound corn fed and ridiculously stubborn. All the self-doubt she’d forced out of her system came rushing back. “Why are you agreeing to this?”
His startled gaze met hers. “Agreeing to what? Us seeing each other?”
She nodded her reply.
He studied her for a long, quiet moment, licking his lips before he answered. “Have you ever denied yourself something because you didn’t believe you deserved it?”
“Yes,” she whispered. Longing whispered through her. Was he saying he didn’t think he deserved her?
“And then you finally realized there’s no shame in taking what you want? That maybe, just maybe, you earned that right to have a little fun?”
Her entire body leaned toward his. “Everyone earns the right to a little fun.”
“I agree one hundred percent.” He smiled, the sight of it sending a zing of pleasure into her blood. “Now tell me. How long have you lived here?”
She forced herself to focus on the conversation, forget all of that sexual tension he conjured up between them with a few choice words. “I bought it almost two years ago. It was in foreclosure and I got a great deal. I couldn’t pass it up.”
He toyed with a stray tendril of hair that fell near her ear, twisted it around his finger before letting it go. “It’s one of the original rentals, huh?”
She nodded, his finger brushing against her ear. She bit back the gasp that wanted to escape at his touch. “I’ve been working on it a little bit at a time. Redid the kitchen first because it was a wreck.”