“Wow, this is delicious,” I said after a bite. “I’ve never had this before. Thanks so much for bringing me here.”
When he said nothing, I looked up at him and was startled to find his eyes pinned on me.
“What?” I asked somewhat shyly.
“I’m just trying to figure you out, Tess. That’s all.”
“What do you have so far?”
“Many notes.” He tapped his temple.
“Good ones?” I asked eagerly.
“Of course.”
“Tell me.”
“On one condition.” He lay down on the swing, patting the spot next to him.
I grinned, swallowing my remaining mouthful before scooting back next to him.
“Lie down here. We certainly have enough space.”
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He moved a bit, and then I laid my head on his chest, draping a leg over his. Heat speared me at every point of contact.
“What happened to distance?” he asked. I laughed at how confused he sounded.
“Well, the distance thing was so you wouldn’t be tempted. You can’t really touch me too much the way we’re lying down. I have one of your arms completely trapped. I, on the other hand, have free rein.”
I had not meant that as a challenge. But did he take it as one? Hell yes.
He shifted smoothly and quickly from beneath me, and before I even had time to say something, he rolled me over and completely covered my body with his. He wasn’t crushing me, so he probably held his weight on his knees and forearms, which were at the sides of my shoulders.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“I have no idea.”
“I thought you didn’t want to make a spectacle.”
No one could see, and we both knew it.
“I’m not.” He feathered his lips over mine but didn’t kiss me. “You just make me act on impulse.”
He still didn’t kiss me. Instead, he drew the tip of his nose up my cheek and temple before tracing the same path with his mouth.
I grinned, lifting my head until our lips were almost touching. “I approve.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Liam
Over the next three weeks, I worked closely with Skye and Tess on their website and the marketing campaign. The radio clips were a priority. They were nothing special, just what was needed to convey their location and the website. Being direct to the consumer with that information was important.
From the day the radios started blasting their ads, we could track a hefty increase in online orders. We also revamped their Google and Facebook advertising. Usually, I was splitting my time among all the other companies we were working with, but when we signed on someone new, I liked to give them 100 percent of my time. In this case, I was giving them 200 percent—to Tess, at least. We spent a fair share of nights at her place, and I was liking it a lot. Waking up next to her? That had been the best part of today.
From there, it all went downhill. On the way to the brownstone, I got a call from our lawyer, Barney. I contacted him right after Albert showed up at the office.