He dragged his gaze back to her face. Damn, she’d asked him something. “What?”
“Is it me? Or am I doing something wrong?”
He stared at her in confusion, still trying to get his mind back on track.
She sighed with obvious dissatisfaction. “I mean, I realize I’m new to this whole seduction thing, but it’s turning out to be a lot harder than it appears on TV.”
That didn’t make much sense until the flashbacks started. A brush of her fingers here, the bump of her shoulder there, her tight ass bending over…
His eyes narrowed, and he gripped the railing.
“Are you telling me the past two days have been deliberate?” His voice rumbled low, the husky accusation unmistakable. Despite the shadows of the porch, he saw her blush.
Still, her chin rose as she openly admitted, “Yes.”
He couldn’t contain a groan of complete frustration and plowed his fingers through his hair. “My God, Marley, you’ve been driving me nuts.”
She stared for a moment. “Is that good or bad?”
“Good—now that I know it wasn’t just me.”
She visibly relaxed. The beginning of a smile curved her mouth, and he was done for. He couldn’t remember a single reason as to why he shouldn’t take her right here, and frankly, even if he had, he would’ve chucked any arguments out the window without a second thought.
“Does that mean you do want to kiss me again?” she asked. “Because the other night you were pretty adamant that it wasn’t going to happen again.”
Despite the desire beginning to tighten his gut, Justin laughed as he stepped back onto the porch. Grasping her arms, he pulled her against him. “You are unlike any woman I’ve ever met.”
He began to close the distance between their lips. She pushed on his shoulders, halting him with a slight frown. “Okay—again—good or bad?”
“Good. Definitely very good.”
“Well, that’s good, then. Great, actually.”
“Yes, it is,” he murmured his agreement and began to lean again.
“And about you being the boss—”
He stilled. He’d just chucked those thoughts. “I’m trying to ignore that fact.”
“We should talk about this.”
“Talking is not always good.”
“But don’t you think my job performance will speak for itself? That people will be able to see my job has nothing to do with who
m I slee—um—who I…”
She trailed off, her attention suddenly riveted on his shoulder where she picked at his shirt. That’s when he realized she was nervous. “Are you trying to talk me out of this, or yourself?” he asked.
“Neither.” She frowned. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you won’t shut up.”
“I just wanted to clear—”
“I can’t kiss you if you don’t shut up.”
He waited, but she didn’t say another word. He dropped his head an inch or so, watching her eyes close as she lifted up to meet him. Justin halted just before their lips touched, held his position, and watched her face.