Page 99 of The Guest Cottage
“Dirty pool!” Huffing a laugh, she pushed away from the sink to confront him. “I do trust you, but I really want to know.”
It was the most natural thing in the world to pull her in close, hold her pressed against him in blood-heating ways, and to kiss her. “I’m a Marine,” he teased. “I use whatever tactics I need to.”
“Well, you were great with Pixie.” Slipping out of his hold but taking his hand, she led him around the house to double check the doors. “Are all Marines so nurturing?”
Putting a hand on her ass, he countered, “Are all businesswomen so sexy?”
She grinned over her shoulder at him. “You know what? With you, I feel sexy.”
He gave a low growl, nuzzled her neck until she giggled, then got her started up the stairs. Along the way, he did more teasing. Touching. Making suggestions that had her hurrying her steps.
In the bedroom, she pulled her shirt away from her body, fanning herself a little. “We sat outside and it’s been warm. Maybe I should shower real quick—”
Knowing he wouldn’t last that long, Cort backed her up to the bed. “Let’s shower after.” And he removed his shirt.
On a slow breath, she removed hers, too. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m completely sure—that you’re perfect.” Absolutely perfect—for him.
* * *
An hour later, physically relaxed, Cort turned his head toward Marlow. Her hair was spread wildly over the pillow, her skin dewy as she sighed, and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his days like this, making love to Marlow, teasing her and planning the future. Watching her sleep and being with her when she woke up. Sharing sunrises and sunsets, fireflies, and life.
“Now I really need a shower.”
“You’re still perfect,” he said, meaning it.
She glanced over at him. “Do you think we could interrupt this pleasure coma for something a little more . . . serious?”
From one concern to another, Cort’s thoughts jumped around. Would she grill him on his plan to keep her in Bramble? Would she announce that she’d decided to move to Lankton? Was she concerned about Pixie? Concerned about something else?”
“Hey.” She grinned at him, then half crawled over his chest. “It’s not a big thing.”
“Okay.” So then what?
“With Aston and his goon . . . I appreciate that you were there. And I know I sort of used you as a threat.”
The way Marlow had said, so enticingly, that he didn’t have to behave had put caution in the other men’s eyes. Both Aston and his fancy-ass bodyguard had gone alert. Rightfully so. Of course, Cort knew Marlow wouldn’t want him jumping the gun and demolishing anyone. He wasn’t a loose cannon. The opposite. He was completely in control of himself. Except maybe where Marlow was concerned; from day one she’d kept him off kilter.
“I just want to make it clear,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware. You could take care of yourself, a business, and this entire town, and no doubt look hot doing it. Your point?”
Her lips twitched. “I love the way you see me. Before you, no one would ever have accused me of being sexy.”
“You hung around with a bunch of businessmen, right?” They might have been uptight and too polished to show it, but there was no way Cort would believe they’d been unaware of her earthy appeal. “Trust me, they saw it.”
“Before you,” she said again, “I’m not sure I’d have wanted anyone to think it. With you, I like it—a lot.” She smooshed a smiling kiss to his mouth. “The thing is, unless I specifically ask you to intervene—”
Whoa. He levered himself up to an elbow. “Don’t expect me to stand by, waiting for permission, when some asshole is threatening you, because that’s something I can’t do.”
“Cort!” Surprised by his language and his vehemence, she frowned. “There were no threats—”
“Bull.” He cupped her face. “I get that you were fine with your father-in-law. Totally trust your judgment on that. You know him, and people like him, in a way that I don’t.” In a way he never would. That kind of money and prestige were well out of his world. “But the guy who was with him? That dude I know. He was there to intimidate, and your father-in-law would have allowed it, because he’s the one who brought him along.”
“Hmm,” Marlow said in a thoughtful way. “You could be right—though I still think I could have handled him.”
God love her, the woman thought she was invincible. Honestly? He thought she might have handled the bodyguard, too—not physically, but with cutting intelligence that would have put the guy in his place. Only Cort wasn’t willing to risk it. “When it comes to someone like him, doesn’t matter if he’s a drunk who’s pissed himself or a guy in a thousand-dollar suit.” Cort kissed her soundly. “As a kid, I had to stand by and watch my mom get battered.” Just saying it still had the power to tighten his guts. “There’s no worse feeling in the entire world than seeing someone you care about going through that hell.”
