He walked to the sink and washed up. After drying his hands, he moved to stand in front of her. “I could get used to this.”
“Used to what? Cooking all of the edible food?” She meant to laugh and make light of this moment, but the intense way Cord was staring at her stole her breath away.
“No. I could get used to having you to come home to.”
“You’d like that?”
“Definitely. Then I could do this when the mood struck.”
When his head dipped so he could kiss her, she used every bit of willpower and leaned back out of his reach. His gaze connected with hers. Questions reflected in his eyes.
Now that she was fully awake and aware that the town meeting was today, she had to get something straight with Cord. “We need to talk.”
“We will.” He smiled that sexy look that always made her stomach quiver. “My lips will speak directly to yours.” He leaned forward again, and using every last drop of willpower, she pressed a hand to his chest.
“I’m serious.”
“I am, too.” When she didn’t give in, he sighed and straightened. “Okay, you win. We’ll talk. But can you make it quick?”
“I will.” She wanted him so much, but what she had to say was important. She didn’t want to get swept up in the moment and forget about it. It also didn’t hurt that in this particular moment he was in a rather agreeable mood. “Promise me something?”
His gaze narrowed. “Is this going to be something like, will I still respect you in the morning? Because I still think you are absolutely fantastic, and I must say you are quite stunning in nothing but my shirt.”
Her heart fluttered, and she smiled. “I think you’re fantastic, too.” That didn’t even come close to describing the depth of feelings she had for him, but she wasn’t ready to delve into them. Not here. Not now. “But this is something different. I need you to promise me you’ll go to the town meeting tonight.”
He shook his head and started to pull away. “I don’t think so.”
Before he could get away, she looped her fingers through his belt loops and pulled him back to her. “Please do this. For me. I need you there.”
“Even if I don’t agree with what you’re going to say?”
“Even if.” Although she just might surprise him.
When Cord didn’t say anything, she pleaded with her eyes, and then she stuck out her bottom lip in an obvious pout.
“Okay. You win.”
Before she could celebrate her victory, he swooped down and claimed her lips. Even though they’d spent the night together, there was a reignited red-hot need in his kiss. There isn’t time for this. Her hands crept around his neck. There’s work to do. Her fingernails scraped gently up his neck. There’s the town meeting presentation to finish. Cord’s lips brushed along her jaw and down to the ticklish spot on her neck. There’s—
Resistance was futile with Cord’s lips creating the most arousing sensations, which fizzled and fried any further thoughts. There was absolutely no place she wanted to be but in his arms—
Beethoven’s Fifth played.
Why now? Alexis pulled away from Cord. A frustrated groan vibrated in her throat. She couldn’t just ignore her father, no matter how much she longed to do just that right now.
Cord sent her a questioning look.
“It’s the second time my father has called this morning. It could be serious.” She held up her index finger. “Just give me a second.”
She slid off the stool and grabbed her phone from the counter. She pressed a shaky hand to her tender lips and swallowed. “Hi, Father.”
“Alexis Anne, how could you have kept this from me?” her father’s voice thundered through the phone.
A plea of innocence hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t have a clue what she’d done to get into trouble this time. It could be any number of things.
Her father didn’t wait for a response. “You had no right! I should have been told. You know it’s still my name on the company.”
Technically, it was his initials, but she wasn’t about to correct him. His blood pressure was obviously high enough. “Father, calm down. Whatever it is, we’ll work it out. It isn’t worth risking your health.”