In response, he reached toward the fence with one hand and pushed on the narrow picket directly in front of us. As he did, the picket – along with two pickets on either side swung toward us, opening a gap more than wide enough for me to duck through.
I whirled to look at him. "Didyoudo that?"
"Just now?" He grinned. "What doyouthink?"
"Oh, please. Isawyou do it just now. Imeant, did you open it up sometime earlier?"
He was still grinning. "I'llnever tell."
"But why not?"
He flicked his head toward my own property. "Because the owner of that house is a real stickler." He lowered his voice as if sharing one heck of a secret. "I don't want to get in trouble."
I laughed. "Hah! You'realreadyin trouble, because I’m totally on to you."
"Onto me, huh?" He gave me a long, appreciative look. "You promise?"
Did I ever.But I didn't bother saying it. Instead, I decided to show it by ducking through the opening and calling out from the other side. "That’s for me to know and foryouto find out."
A moment later, he was through the fence and standing beside me. When he took me into his arms, I melted against him, loving the feel of his rock-hard body and the warmth of his embrace as he kissed me soundly right there in my own back yard.
The yard itself was semi-private, surrounded by a nice smattering of shrubs and trees, mostly bare for the winter.
I pulled back and grabbed Bryce's hand, tugging him toward my own back door. Happily, not a whole lot of tugging was required. I mean, it's not like he was dragging his feet. But hewaslaughing – not in a condescending way, but in a warm, happy way that made me feel nice and toasty right down to my toes.
When we reached the back of the house, he pulled out a familiar key and opened the rear door so swiftly, it was like he'd been living there for ages.
This whole thing was absolutely crazy.I knew this.I mean, it's not like I made a habit of dragging hard-hatted hotties into my bed.
But there was something aboutthisguy that was propelling me onward even though he was practically a stranger.
But he didn'tfeellike a stranger. He felt like a partner-in-crime – first in smashing the drive-through and then in sneaking through the fence. It made me feel adventurous in a way I hadn't felt in years.
After we entered the back hallway of my house, I nudged the door shut with my foot and told Bryce with a laugh, "I hope you're staying in the blue bedroom."
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Because that one's mine." I stifled a giggle. "And there's no way I'm doing it in my sister's bed."
Chapter 21
Bryce
So Iwassleeping in Harper's bed. Back when I'd moved in, I'd looked at both bedrooms and had picked the one that had felt the most right.
If hers was the blue one, my liking it made sense. The room had pale blue walls, crisp white woodwork, and natural oak flooring that matched the rest of the house. The bedroom itself had come furnished with a decent double bed, crisp blue sheets, and an old-fashioned quilt along with plenty of blankets and pillows.
It was no hotel room, thank God.Harper's bedroom – hell, the whole place – already felt like home even though I'd been living here for less than two weeks.
But I wasn't thinking about the housenow. I was thinking of its sexy owner who'd been surprising me from the start. "So…" I said, glancing toward the kitchen. "Do you want coffee for real?"
She laughed. "Forgetthat.What I want isyou."
Man, I loved that about her.She was so direct, I didn't have to waste time deciphering what she really meant. Yeah, maybe she was cageysometimeslike at the skating rink, but for the most part she just laid it out there for me to pick up however I wanted.
Thislastthought inspired me to reach out and swoop her up into my arms as if preparing to carry her off. She gave a squeal of surprise as I tugged her close, and my hat thudded to the floor.Iwas surprised, too, but only because I'd forgotten about the hat.But was it any wonder, considering the girl in my arms?
Through peals of laughter, she asked, "What are you doing?"
