Lainie raised her eyebrows, and looked down, to where their bodies joined. “No?” she said innocently. Harrison smiled, shame-faced.
“No.”
Lainie giggled. This is so ridiculous. “I guess that makes me one special lady, then,” she drawled.
“It does.” Harrison sounded entirely serious.
Lainie smiled, and unwound her legs from his waist. He stepped back and she felt that strange emptiness again as he pulled out of her.
“Well, good,” she said facetiously. “I’d hope not all of your round-the-town tours end this way.”
“Only yours.”
Lainie touched his cheek. She’d noticed the laughter lines around his eyes and mouth earlier. They seemed softer, now. Relaxed and content.
She felt the same way. For the first time in… A very long time, she though with a pang.
Sheesh. If I’d known all I needed to get over my stress about this trip was a decent orgasm, I could have taken care of that weeks ago! For the first time, she regretted the fact that she was only staying in Hideaway Cove overnight. But maybe, if things went okay tomorrow, she could come back.
Yeah. That could work.
Harrison showed her to the shower, and helped her wash.
Well. “Helped.”
It was past midnight by the time Lainie pulled her pants and blouse back on. The game of hunt-the-discarded-clothes had brought her back to the front door, past the public area of the workshop.
Good thing none of Harrison’s colleagues are working overtime tonight, Lainie thought as she wound her wet hair into a knot at the back of her head to keep it off her neck. She would tidy it up properly when she got back to the B&B.
Harrison had put his jeans back on. The ones that accentuated his V, and hung low on his hips. Even though she already knew what was under them, Lainie found the sight tantalizing.
“So… should I call you?” she said.
Harrison looked startled. “Call me? You’re not going to stay?”
“I would love to.” Lainie was surprised at how true the clichéd words were. “Really. But I have an early start in the morning. There’s some things I need to sort out beforehand, and…”
She trailed off and shrugged, hoping he would understand. She really did wish she could stay. The idea was tempting—too tempting. She could all too easily see how waking up next to Harrison would lead to a late start.
Harrison met her eyes, his lips quirking into a small smile. “I understand,” he said. “Here—just a sec…”
He raced into the next room. Lainie followed him, watching him tip over the stacks of paper that covered the coffee table, and hunt under the sofa cushions. At last he found what he was looking for. He snatched it up with a shout of victory.
“Your business card?” Lainie raised an eyebrow as he passed it to her. Harrison grinned sheepishly.
“I don’t have much call for them usually. Everyone who wants to hire me already knows my number. Or just comes and knocks on the door.”
“Well, now I feel extra special.” Lainie laughed. “Where did my purse end up—oh, thanks.” She slung it under her arm, and kicked her feet back into her ankle boots.
Now that it was time for her to leave, she definitely didn’t want to. She lingered in front of the door.
“You know, you could stay,” Harrison said. He walked up to her, filthy promises in his eyes.
“Mmm.” Lainie closed her eyes. “That’s tempting. Too tempting.”
She felt Harrison’s breath on her lips, and then he kissed her.
“Tomorrow?” he whispered.