Forbidden Fling (Wildwood 1)

“That’s not what I meant. We have common interests, we get along, we like each other. Those are elements for the basis of every friendship. And you know if my job and my family were taken out of the loop, we’d be a hundred and fifty percent into this thing between us.”

“But you can’t take your job or your family out of the loop. And you can’t take the bar or our past out of the loop.” She heaved a troubled breath, propped her shoulder against the ladder, and crossed her arms. “Look, I realize there is some weird, crazy . . . chemistry or something . . . here, but that doesn’t mean we should act on it.”

“Again, you mean.”

“Jesus, Ethan,” she muttered with a roll of her eyes.

Her aggravation helped him relax, because it was obvious she still wanted him. And she was having as much trouble fighting their attraction as he was.

He leaned in and lowered his voice, but he met her eyes with all the heat bubbling inside him. “We are fucking nuclear together, and we both want the same thing. You’re not going to be in town long, and I don’t give a shit what my family thinks of—”

“Stop. Just stop.”

“I don’t, Delaney. I—”

“God, you’re such a liar. Or you’re delusional. Either way, you’re full of shit.” She opened her eyes, but they were still heavy-lidded, and her rebuttal was weak. “You know it. I know it. So just stop denying it, Ethan.”

His inflated hope took a hit.

“Just . . . God. Just come over to the warehouse tonight. It doesn’t have to be for sex,” he said, even though the thought speared his gut with disappointment. “You were there less than twenty minutes last week and you made one suggestion on my layout that streamlined my brewing process. I can’t imagine what would happen if you actually hung out and looked around. And if you’d trust me as much with your thoughts on the bar as you do with your body, I may even be able to help you, too.”

“Ethan.” Her voice dropped, and her gaze flicked to the opening leading to the walkway between spaces.

A pink hue stained her cheeks, making him smirk. The woman was blushing? After what she’d done to him in bed? After what she’d openly let him do to her in bed? After nearly letting him fuck her against a metal wall?

Dammit, why did he think these things? He rubbed a hand over his hot face and threaded it into his hair while he focused on the floor. The boring, stained concrete floor. Surely that would cool him down. Okay, maybe eventually.

“Look, I’m just saying we don’t have to be enemies. Is it really so hard to believe I just want to spend more time with you?”

“It should be.” Those gorgeous blue eyes slid back to his, veiled by her lashes. “But you’re very persuasive.”

He grinned. “I try.”

She put a few tools away beneath the table, but he stayed put when she turned for the exit, which he blocked. She was just a couple of feet away when she lifted her gaze to his.

“God, you smell good,” he murmured. “I’m going a little crazy here, baby. Don’t you think about me? About us?”

She got that look in her eye. The smoldering one. The one she’d gotten that night just before she rolled on top of him and took control.

He reached out and cupped the side of her face. Her lids fluttered in surprise, then closed as her head leaned into his hand. That tiny window into her soul, showing him what she really wanted, really needed, was so powerful, it weakened him. His barriers crumbled again.

He was such a sucker for her. He took the last step, closing the distance, and gripped her waist with both hands. “I’m getting off late tonight, but if you’re still hungry around seven—”

“Come on, Ethan.” She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “You do realize that you were called here for—”

“A horribly twisted version of the dating game? Yes. This is what happens when your mother gets involved in your love life.”

A split-second smile lifted her lips, then vanished. “You coming here today shows exactly how fast word travels in this town. We’re talking about fifteen minutes between the time Colleen and Misty got here and the time you walked in. How long do you think it’s going to take for word of us being together to travel to your family? And believe me—I’ve already heard all about my mere presence tipping Ellen off the deep end.”

“Goddammit.” He released her and turned away. “This fucking town.” His crazy family. His own goddamned mistakes. “Can’t anyone move on?”

He let his arm fall and paced in a circle. Normally Ethan loved Wildwood. Loved the town. Loved the people. There were a lot of great things about living in small-town America just an hour or two from a big city. And Ethan felt lucky every damn day.

Except on days like this. When the ugly little small-town demons wiggled out of the crevices to cast shadows. When the people he loved, the very people he stayed here for, tried to control his life in a way that suited them, not him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “but I’ve got to get going.”

He turned to face her. “What are you doing across the street?”