Chapter 22
Mary slept late the next morning. She felt a little shy about facing Evan after their make-out session last night, but when she finally got up, she was surprised to find the house empty.
She’d showered, dressed and was just finishing a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast when the door opened and Evan came in, bringing a blast of cold air with him. He was dressed in jogging gear and trainers, and looked bright-eyed and fresh-faced.
‘Where have you been?’ she asked him.
‘I went out for a run,’ he said, a little out of breath. ‘Along the beach. It’s a beautiful day.’
‘Yeah, it is,’ Mary said, glancing towards the window where sun was streaming in, glinting off the sea. ‘But I’m happy to admire it from here.’
He smiled. ‘Well, I’m going to hit the shower.’
When she’d cleared away the breakfast things and stacked the dishwasher, she went upstairs to brush her teeth.
She’d just reached the landing when the bathroom door opened and Evan emerged in a cloud of warm, steamy air, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. Water dripped from his hair and glistened on his bare chest.
‘Oh! Hi.’ Mary froze on the spot, her eyes travelling over the muscles of his chest and the hard planes of his stomach. Wow! He had an amazing body.
‘Would you like a picture?’
‘Uh… what?’ She blinked.
‘You’re ogling me.’ He grinned. He didn’t seem pissed off about it – quite the opposite, in fact.
‘I’m not ogling you.’
‘Hey, I’m not complaining. But you totally are. You have a bit of drool here.’ He pointed to the corner of his mouth. ‘You’ve been checking me out since the minute I turned up – even when you thought I was here to rob the place.’
‘I was just taking it all in so I could describe you to the police.’
‘Sure you were. How would that have gone?’
‘Tall. Ridiculous hair. Crazy-sexy jawline. Lips you want to sink your teeth into…’
He laughed. ‘That would have made for an interesting session with the police artist.’
He stepped closer, and Mary could feel the heat of his body. ‘You said you wouldn’t try to lick me, remember?’
‘And I haven’t.’
‘But you’re looking at me right now like you want to.’
‘Aw, poor baby. It must be hard being so pretty.’
‘Shut up. Gorgeous yourself!’ He took another step, so they were almost touching.
Did he just call her gorgeous? ‘Anyway, right back at you.’
‘Huh?’
‘You’ve been checking me out too. Ever since Christmas Day on the beach—’
‘I’m not denying it.’ His gaze dropped to her mouth. Then he bent his head and kissed her, lightly and tenderly. His lips were cool and tasted of peppermint. A shiver ran down her spine as he tugged on her bottom lip.
She closed the infinitesimal gap between them, pressing her body to his, very aware that he was almost naked as she wrapped her arms around the smooth damp skin of his back.
Then his lips were on hers again, soft and warm and luscious, and the hottest thing ever.
It was too much and not enough at the same time, and she never wanted it to end.
She tugged at his towel and it dropped to the floor. Moisture from his chest seeped into her shirt as she pressed herself against his naked body, sliding her hands along the silken skin of his back.
‘Sorry, I’m getting you all wet,’ he breathed, pulling back a little.
‘You have no idea.’
He groaned and kissed her again. This time it was fiercer, hungrier, sending waves of tingling sensation through every part of Mary’s body.
‘I said I wasn’t going to do this,’ she said, pulling away.
‘Do what?’ His gaze didn’t move from her mouth.
‘Hop into bed with another guy who’s on the rebound, just because I think he’s super-hot and it’d be amazing. It’s my New Year’s resolution.’ Even as she said it, she leaned in closer.
‘It’s not New Year yet,’ he murmured.
‘True. And I still don’t know what happens at third base.’
‘Shit gets serious. Clothes come off.’
‘Your clothes are already off,’ she said with a laugh.
‘So we’re halfway there.’ He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards his bedroom. ‘Let’s shoot for a home run.’