He shrugged. "Eh, don't worry. I get that a lot."
It was no wonder, given how expensive he'd looked on that very first day. Still, I hated that I hadn't looked any deeper than the surface. Normally, I was better than that. Or at least, I tried to be. "So…is your background some kind of secret?"
His mouth tightened. "I'm not ashamed of it, if that's what you're asking."
"That's not what I meant – at least, that's notallI meant." I shifted from foot to foot. "I just mean…you don't exactly scream blue-collar."
In reply, he looked down, taking in his own appearance. As he did, I saw what he saw – a plain black T-shirt, jeans streaked with grease, and basic black sneakers.
I was tempted to remind him that he was the one who'd bragged about never having a job. But the saner part of me – the part that dreaded making this worse – gavemea reminder instead.When you're in a hole, it's best to stop digging.
With an embarrassed laugh, I said, "Uh, yeah. I guess the blue-collar thingsort offits."Well, now, anyway.And yet, even as the thought crossed my mind, I couldn't help but notice that his current shirt had no collar at all.
Even worse, it was damp at the collarbone and clinging in all the right places, stretching faintly across his broad chest and well-defined shoulders.And don't get me started on that hint of a six-pack just above his jeans.
Standing there, watching me as I watched him, he didn't look like a Wall Street wonder at all. He looked like the kind of man who could repair your roof and sex you silly all in the same afternoon.
At the mere thought, a bolt of heat zipped downward and settled just south of my navel.And it wasn't from thoughts of roof-repair.
Until now, Griff had seemed so far out of reach that I'd been squashing sexy thoughts of him like a dangerous bug.But now?Those thoughts were back with a vengeance – louder, stronger, and impossible to ignore.
Almost from the get-go, I'd been insanely attracted to him. But it wasn't just his undeniable hotness that was drawing me in now. It was the way he'd looked at me when I'd first walked in – like he would've fought the storm itself to keep me safe and dry.
Was I being ridiculous?
Probably.
Logic said I was reading too much into it, seeing things that weren't there. And yet, I couldn't help but marvel at everything I saw right now in front of me – the look in his eyes, the set of hisshoulders, and the fact that our backgrounds weren't so different after all.
I was still lost in my own thoughts when Griff said, "It's not about shame. I just don't like people talking."
His words snapped me back to reality. And of course, I understood what he meant. I hadn't known him for terribly long, but even in that short time, he'd been incredibly private, which made me feel stupidly flattered that he'd opened up to me at all.
I smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not a gossip."
"Good."
I spoke without thinking. "But that doesn't mean I'm satisfied." As soon as the words left my lips, I wanted to pull them back and switch them out for some others – words that didn't sound like I was ready to rip off my clothes and beg him to take me on the front counter – or worse, on the hard tile floor.
Quickly, I added, "I just mean, you can't drop a bombshell like that and not tell me more." I searched his face. "And whydidyou tell me?"
"You want the truth?"
I nodded.
When he spoke, his voice was a soft caress. "I figured you could use the distraction."
Oh, wow.My throat went bone dry – because sure, it was incredibly thoughtful, but there was something about the way he said it that made me feel warm and gooey right down to my toes.
And his eyes weren't helping.In them, I saw the flicker of something new – something warm and dangerous that made my knees go just a little wobbly. Whatever it was, it felt like an invitation to forget all of my troubles, if only for a while.
And oh, how Iwantedto forget – that godawful meeting, the turbulent ferry ride, and the near-certain foreclosure barreling toward me like a wrecking ball.
My pulse quickened, and my stomach fluttered.If I was going to be wrecked, I didn't want it to be from bad financials or a loan called in early.
Without planning to, I stepped closer and confessed, "I should warn you…"Did I dare say it?The words were right there on the tip of my tongue, begging to be heard. But this wasn't me – at least not normally.
I wasn't smooth or worldly. I was just a girl in a storm, looking to hold onto something solid, even if only for a little while. My lips remained parted, but the words wouldn't come.
