Chapter 2
TWO
Elias blew out a relieved breath as he walked away from Wren Stapleton.
You’re on the job. You’re on the job. You’re on the job .
Elias prided himself on his professionalism. When he’d been in the service, his teammates called him Lion for two reasons. One, the way he watched over his domain, totally in charge. He wouldn’t let the tiniest thing get past him, whether it was a wisp of dust rising in the distance from an approaching enemy, or the way one of his brothers looked a little off while claiming he was fine, leading Elias to discover a health issue before it became life-threatening. He thought his attention to detail also made him a good tracker—his thoroughness and control over his impulses.
And then there was the second reason. When Lion wanted someone, he went after her without a second thought. But he saved that part of himself for when he was off the clock. He never let his impulses get in the way of the mission.
You’re on the job .
Those four words were all that lay between Elias going back to work like he was supposed to, or turning back around, pulling Wren into his arms, and lifting her off her feet until those long, strong legs wrapped around his waist, then giving her a kiss so deep she’d think her soul had come loose.
Elias shook his head. He never had a problem keeping his work and playtime separated. But this woman did something to him. She blurred his edges, made him struggle against his instincts.
Elias groaned inwardly when he saw Waylon’s smirk.
“‘Stunningly good vitals’? Are you serious?”
“What? They were.” And shouting it had made Wren Stapleton smile, which was the important thing. No, you’re on the job .
“ Yeah they were. So let me guess,” Waylon said once Elias climbed into the rig. “You’ve got a date with Acupuncture Girl.”
“That wouldn’t be professional, would it, asking out a patient.” Elias settled in beside his brother in the back of the ambo, game face back on.
Waylon pretended to look around. “I don’t see her in the ambo so she’s not a patient.”
“She was under my care.” Elias tried not to laugh as he remembered Wren calling him a pervert.
Waylon snorted. “Yeah, she was. Do you give all your patients the shirt off your back, or just the ones with stunningly good… vitals ?”
A memory of Wren’s cleavage flashed unbidden into Elias’ head and he shook it away.
“She couldn’t go back into a burning building for her clothes, could she? So, I loaned her my scrubs top.” Elias rummaged around for another top and pulled it on, then pinned his nametag onto it.
Waylon grinned. “Yeah,” he said, stretching out the word to about ten syllables. “I see that smile you’re trying to hide. So when’s your first date?”
“I’m not going on a date with her.” Elias didn’t look at Waylon as he restocked his bag. And he really tried not to imagine Wren finding one of the business cards tucked into the pocket of his scrubs top and sending him a text.
“What?”
“Nope.” Elias enjoyed the skeptical look on Waylon’s face.
“Then you’re either blind or an idiot.”
Elias shrugged a shoulder. “Like I said, I didn’t ask her out because that would have been unprofessional.” He paused. “But, if I happen to see her around somewhere that I might have told her about, I’ll say hi.”
Waylon threw his head back and laughed. “Uh-huh, now there’s the Lion I know.” The ambo pulled out of the parking lot. “I hope you’re not taking her to Cocks and Strippers.”
Shit . Elias met Waylon’s eyes.
“Oh, shit, you did. Brother, why?”
“Why what?”
“Dude.”
“What’s wrong with the fine establishment of Cocktails and Chicken Strips?”
“Nothing at all. Never mind.” Waylon took out his phone and stared at the screen.
Elias blew out a breath. “What? We pick up women there all the time.”
Waylon gave Elias the side-eye. “Yeah, see, that’s the thing. We pick up women there. We don’t take them there on dates.”
“Told you, not a date.” Elias folded his arms then quickly unfolded them as Tim the driver took the ambulance around a sharp corner. Elias grabbed onto a bar. “Besides, Bear and Gabe bring Ellie and Rochelle now when we all go.”
“Yeah, that’s because they’re married to them. So, you’re admitting you’re going on a date with her.”
“No, but if she shows up there, I’ll buy her a drink and dance with her if she’s so inclined. Just like always. No big deal.”
Waylon set his phone aside. “No big deal?” He shook his head and muttered, “Not my problem if you have a complete lack of common sense.”
Elias blinked slowly. “What?”
Waylon picked his phone back up. “I’m just saying that if you want to make a good impression, you probably don’t want to take her to the fishing hole.”
“What makes you think I want to make a good impression?”
Waylon looked back down at his phone. “It was obvious that Stunningly Good Vitals made an impression on you by the way you floated back to the rig.”
“I did not float back to the rig.”
I totally floated back to the rig .
The corner of Waylon’s mouth turned up. “Oh, my mistake.”
“Yup.” Elias pretended to rummage through his kit.
“In that case, if Acupuncture Girl does randomly show up at Cocks and Strips and I happen to bump into her first, I will not hesitate to ask her out. She was smokin’.”
Elias’ head jerked up. “Okay, first, she has a name and it’s not Acupuncture Girl or Stunningly Good Vitals. It’s Wren. Second, I…well, I didn’t float , dammit.”
Waylon laughed again. “Relax. I’m just pulling your chain. And you floated , dude.”
Elias’ phone buzzed and his heart stuttered. Was she texting him? He quickly looked at the screen. Nope, just an automated text from his internet provider saying the monthly payment went through.
Shit .
He wasn’t sure which upset him more—the fact it wasn’t Wren texting or that he was so bothered that it wasn’t Wren texting.
Elias grinned. “Okay. Maybe I floated a little.”
“I’d wonder about you if you hadn’t, brother. Not kidding when I say she was hot.”
And she was funny, too, Elias thought. Clever and funny. Big, big turn-ons .
“What are you gonna do if some woman you took home bumps into the two of you?” Waylon asked.
“Not gonna happen.” What if it happens? I didn’t think this through .
“You didn’t think it through, did you?”
“Yeah, I did.” Shit .
“Liar.” Waylon laughed. “Look, if you see one, I’ll run interference. I can probably handle three of your exes, but not four, so you better cross your fingers.”
“I don’t have one ex-girlfriend, let alone four. Jeeze, you make me sound like a man-whore.”
“Brother, you danced with four different women just last Friday night.”
“And I didn’t take a single one home.”
“That’s a you problem I wasn’t thinking about as I escorted a very nice lady to my truck.”
Elias laughed. “So, you’ll take one for the team?”
“Oh hell yeah.” Waylon turned serious. “But you better not fall for her, dude. I need my wingman.”
“No way. Not interested in anything serious.”
“Good.” Waylon scrolled on his phone.
“She probably won’t even show.”
“Probably not,” Waylon murmured.
“But, maybe she’ll come to Riversong tomorrow.”
Waylon tossed his phone aside again. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“What?”
“You’re fucking kidding me. You just said you weren’t looking for anything serious.”
“I’m not.”
“But you told her about Riversong? Where April works? Where we all hang out?”
“What’s the big deal?”
“Shit. You sure you didn’t inhale smoke? If April sees you talking to Stunning—I mean, Wren—she’s going to get on the horn to Rochelle, and Ellie, and Arden, and Gina, and God help you, Stephanie.” He ticked the names off on his fingers as he spoke them. “And if they aren’t already at the coffee shop, it’ll take like a minute for them to converge and sweep her into the posse they’ve got going on.”
Elias reared back. “Dude. You gonna pick out the venue and the flowers and the wedding cake for us right now or when you get home tonight?”
“It’s not me, it’s the women. If they get one hint that Wren might mean something, they’ll insta-friend her. Then, if and when you break up, you’ll have a pack of furious women after you.”
“Wow, okay, so after you’ve picked out the bridesmaids’ dresses and booked the honeymoon, you’ll get both our divorce lawyers lined up, right?”
Waylon put his hand over his heart and gave Elias a solemn look. “Anything for you, brother.”
Elias punched him in the arm. “Fuck you.”
Waylon laughed and punched him back. But he was wrong about Wren. Yeah, she was hot, but Elias wasn’t interested in a relationship. He was having too much fun playing the field, just like Waylon. Seeing what his friends Bear and Gabe had gone through when they met and fell in love with Ellie and Rochelle didn’t look like fun—it looked terrifying. Sure, now that they’d settled down, both couples seemed happy.
Okay, more like blissed out .
But, that life wasn’t for Elias. He wasn’t interested in going through the pain it took to get to a happily ever after.
As they rode, Elias tried to get his head back into the game. But images of Wren teased him—quick flashes of her creamy shoulders. Her chestnut-brown hair. The small of her back flaring out into a heart-shaped ass under the white sheet. Her long, strong legs below his scrubs top. And her eyes—sparkling and hazel and full of mischief. The way she’d joked until she finally made him break protocol and laugh. No woman—smokin’ or not—ever got far enough under his skin to make him lose focus when he worked. Especially a woman he’d just met. A woman whose number he’d memorized at a glance from her paperwork.
Tempted to text her first, Elias put his phone away.
It was a struggle, but Elias managed to stay focused for the rest of the day, in spite of Waylon’s occasional teasing.
Right up until the ambo pulled into Riversong’s parking lot for their coffee break.
Elias deeply regretted telling his brother that he’d mentioned Riversong to Wren when Waylon smirked and raised his eyebrows.
“Think she’ll still be wearing your scrubs top while she’s ordering her coffee?”
“She won’t be here.” But his heart sped up foolishly when his feet hit the gravel. No way would Wren be there just a couple hours after meeting him.
But what if she is?
Jesus, play it cool .
Elias tried to remember when a woman had affected him so quickly and so hard and couldn’t.
He also couldn’t help looking around the shop when he walked in, but the prettiest women he saw were April standing in front of the espresso machine behind the counter, and Rochelle in her usual window seat, typing away on her computer.
No long-legged, hazel-eyed beauty holding his scrubs top in sight. Elias tried to ignore his irrational disappointment.
“Hey, guys,” April said, turning around with two to-go cups in her hands. “Saw you pull in. Give me another minute to get your other drinks.”
Tim practically pushed past Elias, Waylon, and their third teammate, Andy to get to the counter first.
“I hope mine’s ready already, gorgeous.”
April barely shook her head at his flirting, which was unlike her. She’d always had fun bantering with the guys who flirted with her, but ever since the drive-by shooting at Riversong last winter, she acted subdued. With one exception—Shane Foti. With Shane, she’d gone from pretending to be exasperated even as she smiled and blushed, to outright avoiding talking to him. Shane still came in often, still tried to engage with April, but the wall she’d put up was higher and rockier than the red sandstone cliff overlooking the St. Vrain river outside.
Shane was another of Elias and Waylon’s friends from childhood, and it was hard for Elias to watch how April’s cold shoulder affected him. Despite being as close as brothers, Elias only knew a little of Shane and April’s history growing up.
“Here you go,” April said as she set the last two drinks on the counter. “Whose turn is it to pay?”
“Mine.” Elias stepped past Tim and paid while the other guys grabbed their to-go cups. He took out some cash and stuffed it into the old-fashioned tip jar on the counter, which got him a genuine smile from April.
“Thanks, Elias.”
“You’re welcome. How are you?”
“Good,” she chirped. “Business is picking up again, finally.” April’s smile remained but her eyes turned a little sadder.
Elias felt a tap on his shoulder and he jumped as his heart sped up.
She’s here. She’s ?—
He turned to see Rochelle smiling sweetly right behind him. Elias quickly hid his disappointment.
“Hey, Elias. I saw you looking around when you came in. Are you looking for Gabe? He’s on his way over from the rec center for lunch.” She fidgeted with her wedding ring as she spoke—a beautiful band with a mountain landscape carved on it that Gabe had their friend Ben create.
“No, I was just…looking around,” he ended lamely.
Rochelle tilted her head as she studied Elias. “You sure? It looked like you were expecting to see someone.”
Waylon chucked next to him. “Told you this would happen if she showed up here, didn’t I?”
Rochelle’s eyes went round. “She? Do you have a girlfriend, Elias?” She looked past Elias and caught April’s eye. “Elias has a girlfriend.”
“No, I don’t,” Elias said, caught off-guard. “I just loaned a patient a shirt today and she wanted to give it back, so I told her I stop by here every day.”
April smirked. “ That’s a new one, Elias.”
Waylon laughed while Elias tried to defend himself. “What? She didn’t have any clothes on so I was being a gentleman.”
That only made Waylon, Tim, and Andy laugh harder while the women exchanged incredulous looks.
“A gentleman and a professional,” Elias added, and that made April erupt in laughter.
“Are you sure you weren’t ‘playing doctor’?” she asked.
“Hey, I’m a paramedic, which is way better than being a doctor.” Elias pretended to be offended, but it was worth getting laughed at to see April’s smile reach her eyes.
“Well, if anyone comes in here with a scrubs top, I’ll be sure to get it for you.”
“Oh, why do that?” Rochelle asked, eyes twinkling. “I think he’d rather retrieve it himself.”
“No, I…well.”
“What’s her name?” April propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin on her hands.
“And, it’s starting,” Waylon drawled.
“Your fault.”
“What’s starting?” Rochelle asked.
“The gossip grapevine. Which one of you is going to call Ellie?” Waylon looked back and forth between Rochelle and April.
Rochelle put her hands on her hips. “That’s so insulting, how you just assume things.” She shook her head in disgust, then smiled. “Of course I’m the one calling Ellie.”
“And I’m calling Arden and Gina,” April added. “Right after I tell Hannah.”
“Then I’ll call Stephanie after Ellie, and I’ll text Sandra. I think that’s all of us,” Rochelle finished.
“Wait, no!” But their laughter drowned out Elias’ words.
An alarm on Tim’s phone interrupted the hilarity. “That’s our next call. Time to go,” he said.
“Tell Gabe we said hi,” Waylon called over his shoulder as they jogged out the door.
“Be careful out there, guys,” Rochelle shouted just before the door closed behind them.
Wren wasn’t at Riversong the next day either, much to Elias’ disappointment. He didn’t have to ask about her—April greeted him with “I haven’t seen a woman with a scrubs top, sorry” before he could open his mouth.
Oh, well. It was just a shirt .
It wasn’t just a shirt. He’d practiced what he wanted to say when he saw Wren, even though everything he came up with sounded corny. He’d dreamed about Wren all night and awakened sweat-drenched and aroused beyond reason.
She can’t possibly be as hot as you remember. Your brain has made her into some sort of goddess and you’d just be disappointed if you saw her again. Move on .
“Hey, don’t worry, brother,” Waylon said as he clapped his hand on Elias’ shoulder. “We’ll find you someone new tonight.”
Right . It was Friday, which meant Cocktails and Chicken Strips. No way she’d show up there if she wasn’t taking him up on coffee first.
“Who all’s gonna be there?” Elias asked. That used to mean all their brothers—Shane, Ben, Bear, Gabe, and Badger. Now it included Bear and Gabe’s new wives, Ellie and Rochelle. Badger and Brianna were a maybe these days, too. Brianna had a budding music career and Badger was often on the road with her when he wasn’t working as a bodyguard with Watchdog, along with Shane.
“The marrieds are staying in tonight,” Waylon informed him.
“You know if Shane’s going?”
April had her back turned toward them but Elias couldn’t help but notice her shoulders rise halfway to her ears when he asked about Shane.
“Shane’s a no.”
And he watched her shoulders ease back down.
“Ben’s a no, too, so it’s just you and me,” Waylon continued, which didn’t surprise Elias. Ben wasn’t much into the bar scene, preferring quieter, more nerdly pursuits. He was like their friend Bear that way—both men were big and quiet and not as likely to go out unless it was with the whole crowd.
Elias nodded. If it was just him and Waylon tonight, the objective was clear—find the hottest women and have fun. Elias smiled softly as he mentally waved goodbye to the image of Wren in his head.
“Sounds good. Hell, let’s make it two women each.”
Waylon punched his upper arm. “Yeah! And the Lion is back.”
It would take two women at least to measure up to one Wren.
Elias and Waylon had an easy workday for a Friday, and with a whole weekend off to look forward to, Elias’ mood lifted by the time he pulled into the bar’s parking lot. He was ready to dance, ready to drink, and ready to feel soft hands playing with his hair and softer lips brushing his neck. Would tonight be a blonde, a brunette, or maybe a redhead? Didn’t matter, so long as she could dance and was up for a good time.
He saw Waylon’s truck so he headed on in to find his buddy. There he was, at a high top near the dance floor, a pitcher of beer at the ready. Walking to the table, Elias’ head was on a swivel as he checked out the women clustered at tables and standing along the bar. Several checked him out in return. Their gazes swept up and down his body, lips curving up into seductive smiles. But the usual thrill of deciding which woman he wanted to pursue first just wasn’t there.
None of them are as attractive as Wren .
He pushed the thought of her away as he lifted his chin at Waylon, who’d just caught sight of him. Waylon grabbed an empty mug and poured Elias a beer from the pitcher.
“Maybe this’ll cheer you up.” Waylon pushed the beer across the tabletop as Elias sat down with his back to the door.
“What do you mean?”
Waylon just stared. “Come on. You should have hoovered up at least three women on your way in.”
“I’m waiting for someone special.” Dammit, the words came out all on their own. Elias quickly took a swig of his beer. It was way too hoppy—which taught him to show up before Waylon so that he could order a normal pitcher of beer. The dude was constantly trying new things, the more extreme the better.
“You don’t like it?” Waylon pointed at the mug.
“Is this actually beer or is it just straight-up pine sap? It tastes like licking a forest.”
“Better than the boring shit you order.” He chugged the last of his and poured another. “Don’t tell me you’re waiting on your patient to show.”
“Told you, I don’t date patients.” He took another sip as if a second try would somehow magically turn this undrinkable swill into an actual beer. Surprise—it didn’t. “Like I said, I’m just waiting on someone special.”
Face it. She’s about as likely to show up as this beer is likely to start tasting good . Time to pick up a shot of whiskey and a blonde chaser at the bar .
Elias started to stand but paused when he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as chills ran down his arms. But these were good chills—the kind that said something exciting was on the way. He turned around and looked toward the entrance.
His gaze immediately fell on the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Curling chestnut hair framed a perfect oval face. Full, luscious, red lips. Inquisitive hazel eyes that said she was up for all sorts of fun. And her body—she was model-tall but with all the curves Elias could want. He was a shameless boob-man, no denying it, and her blouse was unbuttoned far enough down to show off her ample cleavage.
“And there’s someone special now. Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots.” Elias pointed subtly at her but he didn’t need to. Waylon was already staring as she made her way through the crowd. She outshone every woman around her.
Wren Stapleton had entered the building.
She looked around until her eyes met his and those luscious red lips parted in a dazzling smile.
And yes, Elias’ memory had lied in his dreams.
She was even more gorgeous than he remembered.
“Whoa. She is way above your paygrade, brother,” Waylon said.
“You’re just jealous.” Elias grinned.
“I might be. Except she only has eyes for you.” Waylon grinned back. “Think I’m gonna find myself a dance partner and let you examine your patient.”
“Not my patient.”
But Waylon was already headed for the bar, which might as well have been on the moon as far as Elias was concerned. He stood up to face Wren and his vision tunneled. Wren took up the entire field until she was standing right in front of him.
“Well hi there,” she said as she plopped her bag onto the bar stool beside Elias. “Fancy running into you here.”
“Yeah. It’s not like I told you where I’d be on Friday night.”
“No? I distinctly remember you telling me exactly where you liked to hang out and when.”
Elias tapped his chin. “Oh, that’s right, I did tell you. You know, I was at Riversong this week, too.”
“Were you?” Wren unzipped her bag, reached in, and pulled out his scrubs top, folded in a neat square. He hoped she hadn’t washed it, that the scent of her skin clung to the fabric. She laid it on the high top and smoothed her hand over it. Elias got the sudden image of her hand stroking his chest—her long fingers gliding over his pecs and down to his abs, then lower. Hell, he could damn near feel it. He did his best to suppress an intense shiver of desire as his mouth went dry.
“Yup,” he said, his voice catching lightly. “I was at Riversong yesterday and earlier today. I don’t remember seeing you there.”
“Well, I didn’t want to give you the wrong idea about me.”
“Wrong idea?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “See, I’ve been to Riversong so often that I’m addicted to their cinnamon-honey lattes with a double shot of espresso. I wouldn’t have been able to control myself and order just one.”
Elias felt his lips twitch. “Double shot? So you’re a caffeine addict.”
She nodded solemnly. “Don’t judge.”
“Never.” Elias leaned on the table. “Is that why your pulse was racing when I took your blood pressure? Too much caffeine?”
“Nope. I was relaxed from the acupuncture, remember?”
She took a step closer and Elias caught a whiff of her skin—ripe peaches in midsummer with a hint of salt. His tongue pressed against the back of his front teeth. He rolled his bottom lip in to keep from licking his lips.
“Right, you were totally relaxed. In that case, I’d hate to see your pulse when you’re excited.”
She focused on his mouth as she said, “Aw, what a shame.”
Holy shit .
She lifted her gaze and locked onto his. “Or maybe not a shame. If you checked my pulse right now that would mean I was your patient again.”
He tilted his head. “You don’t want to be my patient?”
She stepped closer until he felt the warmth from her body against his chest. “Nope.”
His lips twinged again. “You weren’t satisfied with my care?”
“Absolutely not.” She pursed her lips in an attempt to look serious but her sparkling eyes weren’t fooling him.
“What was it about my care you didn’t like?” Then he slapped his forehead. “Oh, right. You called me a pervert.”
She pressed her lips together and looked to the side. He noticed her belly quivering with suppressed laughter. “Did I?”
Elias pressed on, just to make her laugh first. “You did. You accused me of bestiality.”
She snickered.
Ha! Score one for me .
“I never said that.”
“Yeah you did,” he continued. “Right after you told me what a nice person you were.”
Her head snapped back and her gaze laser focused on his, making his belly tighten and his cock twitch.
“Hey, you said I was nice first. And you know what? I am a nice person.” She glanced at the two mugs on the table. “I’m so nice, that I showed up at an animal strip joint just to return your scrubs top. And , to prove that I’m over-the-top nice, I’m going to sit down here and share this table with you to keep you from looking like a friendless dork.”
Elias snorted. Wren’s eyes blazed and he realized she was keeping a laugh score, too. That did something to his chest. If he wasn’t mistaken, his heart had just broken all the laws of medical science and flipped over.
“I’m not a friendless dork.” He pointed to the two beer mugs on the table. “See? I have a friend.”
Wren considered the mugs. “Or, it could be camouflage.” She rounded the table and took Waylon’s seat in front of his mug. Elias missed the heat from Wren’s skin and her salty, peachy scent immediately. “This mug’s empty.” She reached for the beer pitcher.
Elias’ hand shot out and grabbed hers before she could pick it up. Now, not only did his heart flip when he touched her, but he could have sworn he’d accidentally touched a patient receiving an electrical shock from a defibrillator. Wren looked up at him as if she’d felt the same thing.
“I can’t let you drink that,” he said.
“I didn’t think I was your patient.”
“You’re not. But I wouldn’t let my worst enemy drink that swill.”
“Then why did you order it?”
“I didn’t order it. My friend did.”
Wren twisted on her seat as she looked down and around. “Your invisible friend whose lap I’m sitting on right now?”
Wren scored another point when Elias laughed.
“Why can’t I drink this?” She leaned forward and sniffed the beer. “Wow. This is not swill. This isn’t even beer. It’s a pine tree disguised as beer.”
“Yup, that’s what I told my buddy. There’s a forest in every pitcher.”
She snickered again. That left them tied by Elias’ count.
“So, let me buy you a real drink instead?” he asked.
Instead of answering, Wren glanced at the dance floor then turned her gaze back on him. “Do you dance?”
“I do.”
She stood up. “I think I’d rather dance than drink for the moment.”
“Fine by me.” Elias came around the table and lightly laid his hand on the small of her back. He guided her through the bar until they stepped onto the dance floor. She rewarded him with a grin as she rose up on her tiptoes and leaned toward his ear. Her breath tickled him and this time, he couldn’t suppress his shiver.
“Another reason why I wasn’t happy with your care? You didn’t touch me nearly enough.”
Elias inhaled sharply. Damn . He was used to being the pursuer, leaving no doubt in a woman’s mind what he wanted. Wren was outpacing him, and that was a first.
He liked it.
As she faced him, he pressed his hand against her back and drew her closer just as the first notes of Riley Green’s “Worst Way” started playing. The way Wren smiled told him that she knew the lyrics too. The way her eyes locked with his told him she was feeling every word of a song about desire so strong you skip the wine and roses and go straight for the good stuff.
Elias slid his hands from her back to her swaying hips. He took his time, running his fingers along the stretch of warm, bare skin between her shirt and her shorts, luxuriating in the way her skin rippled under his fingers and her eyelids dropped to half-mast.
“How’s that for touching you?” he breathed against her ear.
Wren rolled her lower lip into her mouth and let it slide back out under her teeth. “It’s a good start.”
She ran her fingers up his chest—lightly, teasingly, just like he’d imagined—and laced them behind his head. Her fingertips played with the nape of his neck and her thumbs caressed the sides of his throat, sending electric tingles throughout his body. Wren swayed to the music like a pendulum, her body casually brushing against his. Teasing. Infuriating. Building a fire inside him that threatened to rage out of control if he didn’t maintain his composure.
He realized his body had other ideas when he found himself pulling her tightly against him, turning the teasing brushes into firm pressure. It still wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
“Wren Stapleton,” he murmured in her ear. “I don’t want to be here with you.”
She jerked in his arms and he gripped her tighter so she couldn’t get away. She looked into his eyes, hers full of sudden confusion.
“That’s not what your body’s telling me.”
“No? It’s not telling you that I’d rather be with you someplace quiet and dark and as far away from other people as possible?” He grinned as warmth replaced the confusion in her eyes. “Guess I’ll have to work on my communication skills.”
“Oh, I see. I feel it, actually.” She pressed against his hardness and did a little shimmy with her hips that made him groan.
“So.” He swallowed hard. “What do you say you come home with me right now?” He felt slightly dizzy at the realization that his happiness depended on her answer. He never asked a woman to his home anymore, but always went to hers so that he could leave before morning.
I never get in this deep, this quickly, with anyone .
But he couldn’t deny it—there was something special about Wren, from the moment she opened her mouth and made him laugh. He wanted more of her.
No. All of her. Now .
He waited for an answer that never came.
Wren only looked him in the eye, saying nothing. She unlaced her fingers and dropped her hands to her sides. He let go of her hips, his gut churning. Dammit . He’d gone too fast, made her think she was just another cheap pick-up.
What an idiot. I’m a fucking moron. Why did I tell her to meet me here?
She turned her back on him and he followed her to their table, trying to think of something to say that might salvage the evening. Wren slung her oversized purse onto her shoulder. Then she picked up his scrubs top and held it out for him. He took it.
“Wren, I?—”
She smiled as she grabbed his hand.
“Drive fast, but not so fast that I lose you as I follow. I’m still new in town and the last thing I want is to get lost tonight.”