Forbidden Fling (Wildwood 1)

“I’ve been doing the same thing,” she admitted in a soft voice.

His breath left him on a heavy exhale of mixed shock and relief. He couldn’t help himself; he kissed her again. And the way she kissed him back signaled they were now on the same page.

“Want you,” he said between kisses. “So bad.”

She pushed his T-shirt out of the way, her fingers sliding against his belly. The button of his jeans popped open, and, as if that were the trigger, everything inside Ethan released. All his frustration, all his regret, all his pain drained, making room for the lust, the affection, the desire. He walked her back toward the nearest wall. When her back pressed the metal, Ethan sank against her, kissing her deep.

Her fingers burned his belly as she unfastened his jeans.

Yes, yes, yes. God, yes.

Their hands bumped as they fought to undress each other enough to answer this wild need. But there was no flirtation, no humor, no teasing tonight. Just raw emotion and sharp lust.

Just as Ethan got her shorts unzipped, Delaney grabbed his wrists and went completely still. When Ethan managed to focus on her face, he found her staring at the door with alarm.

His stomach took a free fall to his feet. When he darted a look that direction, no one was there, but through the glass he spotted headlights. “Fuck. Who in the hell—”

“It’s okay.” Her hands buttoned and zipped her shorts, while Ethan did the same to his jeans. “I shouldn’t—”

“It’s absolutely not okay.” Goddammit. “Don’t go. Come home with me—”

“No.” She had that shit-what-have-I-done look of regret on her pretty face. “Ethan—”

The door swung open, and Ethan cut another quick look that way. Caleb strode in. The surprised look on his face told Ethan his friend had witnessed way too much.

Ethan turned back to Delaney without greeting Caleb. Lowering his voice for her ears only, he stroked his hands down her biceps in an attempt to calm the spark of panic in her eyes. “We have something. Don’t shut down. Let’s talk it out.”

“Didn’t mean to interrupt,” Caleb said.

Ethan ground his teeth and turned to look at him, one hand still on Delaney’s arm. “If you meant that, you’d still be outside in your truck.”

A grin spread across Caleb’s face. “I wasn’t apologizing to you, asshole. Where’s my order?” Then he looked at Delaney and continued forward. “Hey, girl. It’s been too long.”

“Hey, Caleb.” She strolled toward him. “You look great. Marriage agrees with you.”

They hugged, but Caleb was looking at Ethan with a what-the-hell-you-dog look on his face. To Delaney he said, “Shannon takes good care of me.” Pulling back, Caleb held her biceps and smiled down at her. “She’s excited you’re back in town. Wants to see you, but she’s in the middle of a crazy catering gig right now.”

“No problem. I’ll give her a few days, then hunt her down.”

“She’ll be thrilled.”

Delaney’s smile softened. “It’s really good to see you.” Then she turned for the door. “Tell Shannon I’ll try to catch her at the market next week.”

“Delaney—” Ethan started.

“I’m clear on the building permit procedures, Inspector. I’m not even sure I’ll need one at this point, but thanks for the information.” She pulled the door open, then turned before she walked out. “Oh, by the way, your setup would be more efficient if you moved your keg washer into that wasted space beside the sinks, and put your chemical containment center where the keg washer is. Probably save you at least half an hour of work every time you brew.”

Then she disappeared into the night, and Ethan ran a hand over his face.

“Dude,” Caleb said, his voice filled with shock and awe—and not over Delaney’s astute space-planning suggestion.

Ethan opened his eyes. “Don’t start.”

“Hey, you know I like her, man. Always have. But your parents are going to go apeshit when they find out that you—”

“That I nothing. They’re going to find out nothing because there’s nothing to find out. Got it?”

He checked the burner’s temperature and moved to the bottling station to set up rows of clean bottles while his blood burned with lust and his heart ached with disappointment.