“You are a very good dancer,” she said as he came around to help her out of the passenger side.
“Thank you. My mother insisted we have lessons,” he said.
He held out a hand to her but she sort of slipped off the seat instead of stepping down. She misjudged the curb, her foot dropping between the sidewalk and the car, making her lurch forward. She gripped his shirt. He’d removed his jacket earlier during the aforementioned dancing.
She looked up at him, her fingers twisting in his shirt and pinching some of his skin. “Oops. The sidewalk moved.”
He laughed. “No. It didn’t.” He helped her right herself, ridiculously charmed.
As he shut the door, she murmured something he didn’t catch. He turned, bent his head to hear her but almost lost his ability to listen when her breath whispered over his ear. “Did you see the way Rob and Stacey hurried out of there? Where do you think they went?”
He smiled, put a hand on the small of her back. He’d definitely seen the way Rob was eyeing Stacey as the night went on. “I’m not sure I want to know where they went or why.” They’d been dating for months now and the attraction between them was palpable. “Are you okay? You should have water when you get in.”
He held her arm as they walked up the cobblestone path to her small complex. There were twenty-five units. It was a decent neighborhood but he knew she wasn’t particularly attached to her place. If the deal they were hoping to make in the new year went through, he could offer her first shot at one of the apartments over her shop. She loved his place.
“I’m fine. Don’t go all mommy-hen. I’m tipsy at best. I could probably drink you under the table.”
He laughed at the bravado in her voice. “Maybe if you were sitting under the table with your drinks.”
“Ha. Challenge accepted.”
He took her hand as she walked up the stairs. She dug through her purse, her hand nudging him because they were standing so close. When she looked up, keys in hand, her gaze drifted farther. She kept tipping her neck back.
“Oh.”
Brows arched, concern brewing, he followed her gaze.
The wrought-iron lighting cast only a small glow but other than being old, he saw nothing wrong with it.
He looked down at Hailey, ignoring the way his breath hitched from the look in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Why was he whispering?
Her body pressed closer. There might have been a chill in the air but Wes felt like he was insulated with wool blankets. Hot. Uncomfortable. In need of shedding the rest of his clothing.
Hailey gave a wistful sigh. “It seemed like a perfect moment for mistletoe.”
He closed his eyes, tried to breathe past the moment that had been building for longer than he’d admit.
Her hand settled on his chest. He’d finally put all those damn pieces back into the right place and now she was touching him, looking up at him with those eyes, standing in that dress.
He’d never felt this aching need with any other woman. He’d truly believed it was because he had control of his emotions. Now, he knew the truth. No other woman had inspired this type of need. His control had been an illusion. He swallowed. Fine. He couldn’t control his feelings but he still held the reins on his actions. Small peck. Friendly. That’s all. Somewhere between maiden aunt and don’t-hurt-her-feelings.
That was the last thought he had before Hailey went up on tiptoes, the fingers of one hand tightening in his shirt, tugging gently to pull his mouth down to her own.
At first it was just the press of her very soft lips, which tasted vaguely of chocolate. But then it was her mouth opening under his, moving, making it impossible for him to be still, for him to be sensible. He slanted his head, his hand moving to her jaw, his thumb caressing the smooth skin of her cheek. When she made a low, humming sound in the back of her throat, his other hand went to her hip, squeezed, and she pressed her body tight to his with enthusiastic agreement.
When her tongue touched his, his skin all but vibrated, like electricity was rushing through his veins and Hailey was the source. He couldn’t get close enough and from the way she tangled her fingers in his hair, she felt the same. His hand slid around, down, pulling her up tight against his body.
It wasn’t until she whispered his name so sweet and soft on her lips that he came out of the trance. He pulled back gently, listening to her labored breathing as his heart tried to jump over to her chest and take up residence there.
“Hailey.” His tone was jagged.
She inhaled a shaky breath, dropping down from her tiptoes.