“Same here. How old did you say Sophia was?”
The question pricked her momentary fantasy bubble, reminding her she wasn’t free to act like she was a single, grown adult with needs of her own. But whenever she thought of Sophia, Tessa knew she’d make that trade-off every single day of the week. “She’s three.”
“Hmm.” He shook his head. “I can’t even imagine. I know nothing about kids. Like…nothing. Will she be awake when you get back?”
“No. She and Abby probably fell asleep to a Disney movie.”
Ian’s laugh rumbled in his chest, making Tessa smile. “How long will you be in town?”
Yet another reminder. Their time together was going to come to a quick, abrupt end—in about two blocks. There was no point in extending this expensive trip if Zach had returned to LA.
“Well, now that I can’t do what I came to do,” she said, “I’ll probably leave tomorrow.”
“That’s too bad.” They crossed the last street toward her condo. “What kind of law do you practice?”
“Legislative.”
“Sorry, I have no idea what that is. I’m quite the conversationalist tonight. Don’t know anything about kids, don’t know anything about law…”
“That’s okay. I don’t know anything about show business. I write law.”
He frowned down at her. “You mean you practice law?”
“No, I write law. I write the bills that go to Congress and become a law.”
“Damn, politics. I think that’s my third strike.”
“Not at all,” she told him truthfully. “You’re as refreshing in my world as I am in yours.”
“That’s nice to hear. Can’t imagine how someone like me would stack up against all those lawyers and political types.”
Warmed by the glimmer of insecurity, she leaned into him. “Well. Very well.”
“Really? Because all I can remember right now is that cartoon with a bill named Bill, sitting at the bottom of the steps at one of the monuments.”
Tessa pictured the very cartoon he was talking about and started laughing. She laughed so hard, she had to stop walking and curved an arm over her burning gut.
“You know what I’m talking about?” He looked at the sky a second. “What was that called?”
Tessa pressed a hand to her knee to catch her breath. “Conjunction…”
But it struck her as so funny, she couldn’t finish. The wine had kicked in.
“Yes,” Ian said, grinning. “Conjunction Junction.” He pointed at her with a flourish. “Schoolhouse Rock.”
She continued laughing, only able to nod.
Ian laughed too. Then he started singing the Conjunction Junction song, and Tessa laughed so hard, she thought her gut would burst.
“St—stop…” She said, trying to catch her breath. “Oh my God. Stop.”
When she finally straightened, Ian cupped her face in his hands and wiped at her tears with his thumbs. “You’re right,” he said, his voice soft again. “I don’t think it matters how much we have in common, because it’s been a while since a woman made me laugh like this.”
Before she knew how it had happened, his body was right up against hers. His smile faded. His gaze slid to her mouth and his head lowered. Tessa sipped a breath of surprise just before his lips pressed against hers, firm and warm. Shock pulsed through her body, and she froze. He lifted his head, his eyelashes fluttered open for a millisecond before lowering again.
This time, instinct took over. Tessa pushed up on her toes to meet his kiss. A rough hum of approval vibrated in his throat, and the sound shivered through Tessa. Then he broke the kiss, tilted his head, and covered her mouth again, his heavier, more demanding. Edged with the same desperation infusing Tessa.
His desire pumped excitement into her blood. The way he slid one hand into her hair and controlled the strength of the kiss while the other hand remained gentle on her jaw created a crazy contradiction that washed heat through her body. And when his tongue stroked her bottom lip, her mind disintegrated and her body reacted. She opened to him, met his tongue with her own, and melted. He tasted like beer and spices and hungry male heat. The dive and slide of his tongue stoked fire between her thighs. Her hands curled into his shirt while sounds of pleasure and desire hummed between them.