Fake Summer Boyfriend

“You don’t need to rinse those,” Leif said, bringing in the last of the glasses and cutlery. “It’s a brand new dishwasher with some sort of super turbo pre-rinse.”

“Old habits,” I said, grinning as he took the last two plates from me.

He started the dishwasher, then turned to see my mouth agape. “What? I’m not allowed to be domestic?”

“Of course you are. It’s just…” I forced myself to stop biting my lip. “Cute.”

His eyes lit up, then he took me by the waist, grabbing my hand to dance me around the kitchen. “We must do the Celebration Tango of Awesome if a gorgeous girl thinks a jerk like me is cute.”

My laughter was too loud but I couldn’t stop it as he spun me around. “You’re not a jerk, and this is certainly not a tango.”

“You can’t judge me. You just said I’m cute.”

Leif spun me into the foyer so that we could dance across the marble floor. Surprisingly, he was an excellent dancer, sweeping me around and leading me easily.

Then he laid me back in a dramatic movie star kiss that made my heart melt. Even though I was sprawled in his arms, helpless with my head hanging back, I felt completely safe.

His mouth moved lightly against mine, burning with the heat we were both feeling more and more with every touch.

His lips wandered down to graze my throat, sending chills through every inch of me. But he paused, bringing his nose almost to mine as he stared into my eyes.

“I know I joke around a lot, but this is real, Hayden. I’ve never had feelings this huge for anyone else, ever. I already know that you’re the one for me. Please tell me that you’re feeling this too.”

Swallowing hard, I couldn’t think of what to say, so I just nodded.

“Yes?” he asked, those sharp blue eyes locked on mine. “You feel this crazy magic sparkle that they write all the love songs about?”

I nodded again, darting forward to kiss his nose.

He set me back on my feet, still holding me tightly against him. “My sweet baby,” he murmured, as my hands stretched up to caress his neck.

I just loved the way he shivered for a split second whenever I touched the very back of his skull.

“Snuggling beside you all night long was one of the highlights of my entire life, gorgeous,” he murmured against my hair as he rocked me gently. “But I’m making no assumptions. Would you prefer the guest room tonight, or my bed?”

Stretching up to kiss him, I let my body language convey my answer, making him groan with desire. Then I pulled away, holding up a stern finger. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“Anything.”

“I’ll sleep in your bed if I’m allowed to walk up the stairs by myself.”

He clutched his heart, reeling backward. “She won’t let me pretend to be a manly man from the movies,” he whined to the chandelier overhead. “How am I supposed to prove to her that I’m that whole powerful-but-gentle guy that those cheesy Sunday afternoon movies tell me that women want?”

Leif’s head cocked to the side as if he were listening to the lamp. “Just do as she says all the time? Okay. I’ll try that.”

He held his hand out to me, and we walked up the stairs together. “See? I can be easily trained.”

I was giggling by the time we got to his bedroom, then the wind rushed out of my lungs as he scooped me up to carry me over the threshold.

“Cheater,” I gasped, as he strode to the bed and laid me down gently.

“I’m terrible, I know,” he chuckled.

The movement of his lips over me had so much passion it nearly took my breath away. His fingers in my hair, his hand running down my side, every touch made me shiver against him. Every single part of me felt energized and liquid. His hand slipped under my shirt, sliding across my belly to gently caress my skin.

I felt like I was being swept along on a river of raw passion, as I pulled off Leif’s

t-shirt, and he yanked off my top and bra.