26. Nice to Meet You
TWENTY-SIX
Nice to Meet You
STEVE & TARA
Steve
Steve’s blue eyes shot up to meet Tara’s. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest. All right, maybe his heart didn’t threaten to burst out of his chest so much as something else threatened to burst out of his jeans.
He didn’t say a word, but stared into her gorgeous, green eyes. They both seemed frozen in place.
What was she doing?
What was he going to do? He knew what he wanted, but...
Tara didn’t move as he dropped his gaze back to her lips. The slow crumpling of paper was quickly followed by something light hitting the floor beneath their feet. No sooner had the wadded up lease agreement hit the ground, than his fingers moved to slip a few rogue strands of hair off of her face. His fingers combed through her hair as his lips drew closer.
He made one last attempt to meet her gaze. His brows lifted a bit, as if asking permission.
The moment she breathed out the word ‘yes’, his lips brushed against hers. His lips were gentle yet conveyed his intention without being controlling.
Oh, yes. He instantly wanted more. So much more.
She opened to him, and he savored the peppermint on her tongue and melted into the softness of her lips. The kiss ended no sooner than it had begun.
He pulled back and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Tara.” His voice was more gravelly than usual. He reached down to pick up the wadded-up lease agreement and held it up for her to see. “I’ll get this back to you.”
Tara
Tara had barely taken a breath before he was gone. The moment he flew up the steps to his apartment, her hand flew up to her chest to catch her breath. Her heart raced, and she was warm despite the relatively cool and rainy September day. She closed her eyes.
“Nice to meet you, too,” she whispered to no one at all.
The woodsy scent of his cologne lingered in her senses. Her breathing was still heavy, but she slowed it down as she thought of his well-defined chest and arms. He was in good shape. She’d give him that and… that ink.
Oh yeah. She definitely had a thing for men with tattoos.
Sexy.
It was the only word she could think of to describe him. Okay. Fine. Not true. Cocky. Arrogant. Annoying. But sexy came to mind first. Those piercing blue eyes. That stubble on his chin. That chest.
Tara closed her eyes again. Like his arms, tattoos covered his chest and abs. If she were a betting woman, she’d quickly drop some cash on his back being covered in ink as well. She wanted to run her fingers through the smattering of hair on his pecs and down that happy trail disappearing into his pants, which had another piercing to discover.
Her lips curled up as she entertained the thought.
She rested against the door to the bookstore, remembering how she felt his lips on hers. The ghosting of his fingers against her cheek when he moved her hair off her face.
She let out another long, slow exhale as she thought of the look in his eyes when he stood right in front of her. It was as if he were on the brink of devouring her.
What a way to go.
She cleared her throat and wondered why he hadn’t.
She wasn’t sure what she wished he’d have done. Just then, her lips curled back up in a smile.
Yes, she was.
Very sure.
“Tara?”
Tara blinked a few times. Work. Bookstore. Her mom. Right.
She stumbled to keep her balance when the door opened behind her. “Tara?” Her mom peeked her head around the door. “There you are.” Helen peered left and right. “I thought I heard voices when I was in the office.” She pursed her lips. “And why is your face so red? You look all flushed.”
Tara’s hands flew up to her face to cover her warm cheeks. “It’s, uh, hot back here. That’s all.”
Facing toward the back alley, her mom stepped through the door. “You left the door open.”
“Yeah,” Tara jogged over to pull it shut. “Like I said, it was warm,” she called out over her shoulder. She returned to the staff door and opened it, indicating her mom should go in ahead of her.
Once inside the shop, her mom turned around and placed the back of her hand against Tara’s forehead. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You feel a little warm.”
Tara pulled her head away and smiled. “I just made a few trips out to the dumpster, that’s all.”
“Okay, but let me know if you’re not feeling well. I don’t want the rest of us to get sick.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Tara waited for her mom to return to the front of the shop, then ducked into the tiny bathroom. She washed her hands and splashed some cold water on her face. “Get it together, girl!” She patted her face dry with a paper towel and grinned at herself in the mirror.
“Tara?” Her mom called out.
Tossing the towel in the bathroom trash can, she joined her mom upfront with customers. She could think about Steve Cook later.