“Not really.”
Cara ignored him and retrieved the pack from her room.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re bossy?” he asked dryly, when she returned and sat cross-legged facing him on the sofa.
“Yes.” She shuffled the cards on the cushion between them. “What do you want to play?”
“Gin rummy?” Wes suggested.
“Okay, grandpa.”
“I used to play it with my grandparents all the time. They weren’t fans of popular television, and I found it preferable to Bible study.”
Cara scrunched her face. “Sorry, that was an asshole thing to say.”
He gave her a soft smile, and part of her melted. “It’s okay. I’ll even keep score.”
“That’s good,” she sipped her wine. “Because I don’t know how.”
He laughed, and she grinned back at him. They played several hands, teasing each other whenever they won a hand. When Wes got up to grab a few more beers, he brought the bottle of wine, filling her glass.
“Such a gentleman,” she joked, as he pretended to give a half-bow. Warmth spread through her body. She knew in part it was the wine, but it was also simply sitting there with Wes. There were so many complicated things going on in her life right now. It was nice to be somewhere where she felt so comfortable. Safe.
“What’s that smile for?” Wes’s voice caught her off guard, but instead of hiding it, her smile widened as she met his eyes.
“I’m happy.”
He appeared to consider it, his smile growing until it reached his eyes. “Me, too.”
Wes dealt the cards, and as casually as he might ask if she wanted more wine, he said, “Melody’s getting married.”
An emotion she couldn’t identify flowed through her. She searched her mind for the right words, her mouth opening and closing, making her resemble a goldfish.
“That was pretty much my reaction.” His lips twisted.
“I’m sorry, Wes. I know you’d hoped you could have a future with her.”
He drew another card. “I’m not giving up. She’s not married yet.”
Cara bit the tip of her tongue. They were having a nice time, and she didn’t want to have an argument—but he had to hear how insane he sounded.
“What are you expecting tomorrow?” Wes asked, changing the subject.
“Make you a deal? Let’s have fun today. No Melody, work, or family drama talk.” She stuck her hand out, and Wes clasped it in his warm palm, giving it a firm shake.
Thirty minutes later, Cara was slowly going out of her mind. She was tipsy, alcohol happily humming along her bloodstream, and thinking this was the best day she’d had in years. Who would have thought playing cards on a rainy afternoon in a tiny house could be this perfect? She smiled goofily. Her brain drifted. The only thing that would make it better would be if… her eyes roved over Wes.
He’d shrugged out of his hoodie earlier, and now only a thin white undershirt covered his chest, doing little to hide the muscles beneath. He sat with one leg bent in front of him and the other dangling off the end next to her thigh.
Cara had a sudden vision of crawling toward him. Pushing Wes back against the cushions... Her breath hitched, her pulse doubling its speed. Her gaze fell to his hands, where his long fingers deftly shuffled the cards. She suddenly, desperately, wanted to know what else he could do with those hands.
“Are you okay?” Wes asked when she failed to pick up her hand. “You’re flushed.”
“Must be the wine.” She snatched up her cards and began arranging the matches, trying to hide the fact that her entire body throbbed with need.
When Cara finally lifted her eyes, Wes was staring intently at her. Her arousal must have been written across her face because his golden eyes darkened. Wes’s gaze fell to her breasts, the skin around his mouth tightening. His chest rose and fell rapidly as his eyes returned to hers.
The air between them grew heavy and thick. The current of attraction pulsed along with the electrical storm still visible through the glass doors.
