Can't Tie Me Down! (Sinclair Sisters 1)

“The abs are natural, Rusty. I was born with them. Don’t you remember?” His eyes sparkled at her, and she felt her cheeks flush.

She did remember seeing them often while they were dating, but she didn’t remember them being quite so spectacular. She looked around the kitchen, which sported granite countertops, black breakfast-bar stools and stainless steel appliances.

“What do men have against color?” Mairi asked as she climbed onto a stool.

Keir filled the silver kettle from the tap over the butler’s sink. Mairi had always wanted a butler’s sink, and a kitchen island—just like the one she was sitting at. Although, if this were her house, there would be a whole lot more color.

“I suppose you’d fill the place with flowers and colored cushions,” Keir said with a smile.

“Keir, I’ve seen three pictures on your walls, and they are all of cars.” She pointed at the one above the large wooden dining table. “And that one is gray.”

“Point taken,” he said. “You hungry?”

“I could eat cake,” she said hopefully.

“No cake, but I have ice cream.”

Mairi shook her head. She was cold enough without adding to it. “I’ll just take tea.”

While he made her a cup, she glanced over at his back door and noticed there was a massive pet door cut into it.

“You have a dog door,” she said.

“Last owners had a Doberman, which means I’m all set up for that list of yours. All I need to do is get a dog—and take some singing lessons.”

He put a mug of nice, strong, milky tea in front of her, before leaning on the island opposite her. “What you going to do about this mess, Rusty?”

She sipped at her tea while she watched him. “I need time to think about it.”

“Time is running out. People are getting hurt.”

“Just tonight, Keir. Let me have tonight. I’ll make a decision tomorrow.”

He looked at her for the longest time before his face softened and he pushed away from the counter. “Okay, gorgeous, we won’t talk about it tonight.” He turned his back to her as he filled another mug with steaming water. “You want to watch a movie before going to bed?”

Mairi watched his shoulders

move and his back ripple. Her eyes trailed down to his narrow hips and those thick, solid thighs. Everything about him called to her. As soon as she’d set eyes on him, she’d wanted to touch, to lose herself in him, and now she felt exactly the same. She wanted to spend the night losing herself in Keir and forget about everything else. It was selfish and cruel; she didn’t want to lead him on when she wasn’t even sure what she was thinking or feeling.

“Rusty?”

Her name snapped her out of her thoughts, and she realized Keir had come around the counter to stand beside her.

“What’s going on?” He reached out and ran his hand down her arm to hold her hand.

Her skin burned where he touched her, and every fiber of her being reached for him.

“I’m being selfish and trying not to be. It’s hard. I’m not used to thinking about anyone other than me.”

“How are you being selfish?” His brow furrowed.

She tore her eyes from his and looked around. “I came here because I’m hiding from my mess. I’m leaning on you when I know it only confuses things between us, and...” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

“Tell me,” he whispered as he clasped her chin gently and turned her face to his. “It’s okay. Just tell me.”

She saw that look in his eyes again. The one that thrilled and terrified her in equal measure. The one that said Keir felt a whole lot more for her than he was letting on. The one that promised he could love her, if she would only let him.

It was a reason not to tell him what she wanted. A good reason. And yet, her selfish, longing heart and her needy, lonely body wouldn’t let her keep her mouth closed.