He narrowed his eyes and countered, “I thought you wanted the blanket all to yourself.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s a big blanket, I don’t mind sharing.”
“Just not with your brother.”
She grinned when he reminded her of her earlier comment. “Right—he takes enough as it is. Besides, he would’ve had to bring Sugar.”
“That’s right, the lactose intolerant, Harley riding, fireworks chasing, psychotic dog who can’t be left alone.”
Tara’s eyes danced with unrestrained humor and she laughed, that natural sound that warmed him inside and made him feel like the only man on earth. God help him, but how could he not stay now?
Chapter 5
Tara sobered when she noticed a strange look on Wes’s face. Her stomach did a funny little flip, and she asked, “What?”
His expression cleared and a half-cocked grin appeared. “Nothing. I just realized you look different without Sugar.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, less scary.”
She laughed again. “So, if I promise not to throw-up on you, will you stay?”
“Promise?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets as his grin widened.
She lifted her hand to draw an X over her hammering heart. It was crazy how much she wanted him to say yes. She barely knew this guy, and as she’d told Sugar, there was no such thing as love at first sight. Or second. Or third. He was just a nice guy with the added bonus of being hot enough to knock her socks off.
He tilted his head a little, his expression turning thoughtful. “How can I be sure you’re telling the truth?”
He stepped closer, and Tara raised an eyebrow. “You don’t trust me?”
Wes took hold of her arm, his grasp gentle as he turned her in the direction of the field. Another kid bumped into him, and Wes shifted behind her to give a group of rowdy teenagers room to pass by. The length of his hard body pressed against her back. Heat spread through her where ever he made contact with her body. Tara recalled that quick kiss he’d given her on the sidewalk, swallowed hard, and forced herself not to lean into his warmth.
Then his breath stirred her hair as he murmured, “I never told you my name is Westin.”
Oh, crap. She’d hoped her habit of using people’s full names when trying to make a point had gone unnoticed. But now that she was busted…
She spun around and they almost collided, chest to chest. After a silent little gasp, she said, “I’m sorry, you’re right. I looked at your driver’s license to see how old you are and noticed your name. I shouldn’t have invaded your privacy.”
He rocked back on his heels. “How old I am?”
Tara cringed as she turned back toward the field. A family blocked her escape, keeping her right where she stood. Why did the truth have to sound so lame and idiotic? She should’ve lied.
“You know,” Wes said behind her, “I would’ve bought that you wanted to make sure the stranger in your shower wasn’t really some crazy, lying sociopath.”
A quick glance over her shoulder showed his expression remained serious, but his blue eyes shone with humor and crinkled the tiniest bit at the edges. That explanation sounded so much better than hers. Tara gave him an embarrassed smile.
“Yeah, that, too. Though in my defense, your license would’ve only clued me in to the lying part of that, not the crazy sociopath.”
“Very true.”
She looked back to discover the path had cleared.
“I’m not, by the way.”
“A crazy sociopath?” she clarified with a grin.
“Any of the above.”