Katie swallowed. “I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m fantastic.”
They hadn’t touched each other, testing their limits as to who would cave first. Katie could feel her nipples pebbling under her satin bra as he closed in on the space between them. Her fingers ached to slide her hands up and down his skin. She considered his penetrating gaze, willing herself not to reach out and touch the curl hanging over his ear. His scent was intoxicating—clean and musky. His broad chest oh-so-tempting.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and let your hair down. You know, get comfy. I picked up dinner.”
“That was so sweet of you.” She deliberately skated her bottom lip under his chin, trying to make him cave. Instead, he took a step back and shook his head, the smile on his face making her heart skip a beat. “Dinner first, then dessert, Hot Mama.”
She pouted, jutting her lower lip out and slipped off her heels. He inhaled sharply, his hands suddenly holding her cheeks, pulling her body close.
“I suppose one hello kiss couldn’t hurt.”
“I suppose,” she whispered.
Very slowly and deliberately, he pressed his lips to hers, his tongue pushing the seam of her mouth open, welcoming her home. She moaned in his mouth immediately aware of a tingling sensation happening between her legs. It was amazing what one kiss from Clay Watkins could do to her.
Pulling back, he panted, his lips reddened from the intensity of the kiss. “Go get comfy,” he insisted, out of breath.
She nodded quickly before trotting up the stairs, her face feeling hot, knowing he was intentionally watching her swing her backside for his pleasure.
Several minutes later, they sat on her couch, indulging in Mongolian beef and Kung pao chicken.
“Thanks for picking up dinner. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
“That’s because you skipped solid food last night in favor of a liquid diet,” Clay joked bringing a bowl up to his lips and shoveling a piece of chicken into his mouth with chopsticks.
Katie giggled and leaned back on the sofa cushions licking the sweet sauce from her lips. “Stacey has always been a bad influence on me. She can get carried away and likes to take me with her.”
“I get it. That’s the joy of having a best friend.” He sipped on a bottle of beer.
“Do you have a best friend?”
Clay pursed his lips before replying. “I have close friends. You met Buddy. He’s one of them. I have a couple of other song-writing friends that I would call close.”
“But no best friend?” Katie interrupted. She watched him place his beer on the coffee table in front of them.
“My best friend was Big Daddy. No one could ever replace him.” His tone was soft and reminiscent making Katie feel bad.
“I’m sorry, Clay. We’re still getting to know each other. If I start to cross a line, please tell me.”
His warm smile made her heart melt. “You’re not crossing any lines.” He patted the space between them. “Come closer to me.”
She scooted across the cushions to where she was right next to him. They smiled at each other before he leaned toward the table and grabbed two cellophane-wrapped fortune cookies. Handing her one, they both ripped at the packages and cracked open the hard shell wrapped around the tiny piece of paper.
“You go first,” she insisted.
Clay cleared his throat and read from the slip of paper. “Where there is love, there is no darkness.”
“Wow, that’s beautiful.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’m gonna hold onto this one. Now read yours,” he gestured with his head toward her cookie.
“Okay,” she held up the small slip of paper and squinted. “A thrilling time is in your immediate future.” A giggle escaped her mouth.
“Why is that so funny?”
Katie bit her lip and shook her head. “Stacey always reads her fortune cookies and then adds the phrase, ‘in bed.’”
