That was enough of a shock to make her laugh. “Well, you are pretty good at eating my pussy.”

His smile got very cocky. Making him even harder to resist.

“I am, huh? Well, I’m happy that’s the case ’cause I sure do like eating it. As for the boat, we’re seeing each other. Asa and Mick know. Obviously PJ knows. It’s just a fun thing so we can all hang out. Nothing more than that.”

It was weird that he understood her so well. “Uh, sure. I’ve only been on a boat a few times. Mainly ferries. But it looks fun.” She could even do the lunch as a thank-you.

“Good. You sure you can’t come to the track tonight?” He got a little closer and she snapped her seat belt like it kept him back, which it didn’t.

“I have errands to run.” Pills to drop at her mom’s place. She wanted to check in with her aunt and uncle too. “It’s not like I won’t see you tomorrow.”

“I like it when you watch me race.”

He gave her a look so potent that if it wasn’t her mom waiting, she’d have canceled and given in, heading to the track.

“I like to watch you race too. Luckily, you do it all the time.”

“Fine.” He winked and she rolled her eyes.

“You really don’t like it when you don’t get your way, do you?” she asked.

“Not when what I want is more time with a certain gorgeous redhead I know.”

“You’re so full of it.”

He kissed her right there in the parking lot! And she didn’t stop him.

“I half expected you to whack me upside my head for taking liberties with your mouth in a public place. But then I remembered you like the idea of being seen and I took my chances. Because your mouth is worth it.” Duke’s voice had gone huskier, whiskey rough instead of honey smooth. It never failed to send shivers through her.

“You’re using your sex voice. Also this is work, not you peeping like a perv through my kitchen windows.” But Carmella smiled a little as she said it and his answering grin told her he took it as the tease she meant it to be.

She liked getting to know him. Really liked what she found out with each new thing. Again the perfect stuff made her a little jittery.

“You bring it out. The perv in me and the voice.”

Before he did anything else to seduce her, Carmella pushed him back enough to get her door closed without hurting him. “Have fun tonight. Win all your races and try not to break anything or get a black eye.”

“Aw, gorgeous, you know I can’t make promises like that. I will win, naturally. As for not breaking anything or getting a black eye? Well, I’m not superhuman. Drive safe. I’ll see you later.” He squeezed her hand quickly and stepped back enough for her to pull the truck away.

Duke had worked outside most of the morning. It’d been a gorgeous Saturday morning and he needed to trim the hedges around his front steps. It also, not entirely coincidentally, gave him a view of Carmella’s little driveway spot and her front walk.

He wanted to see her. Had stopped pretending otherwise a few weeks before. And if he could sneak in some fantastic sex before they left to spend the day on the boat, even better.

He also wanted her to share with him about what her errands consisted of. She was rarely still when she wasn’t at work. He knew she was close with her uncle and cousins and she mentioned her mom living in the area too. But she didn’t share much more than that and he was hungry for details.

Hungry for her trust. For her to let him in a little more.

People told him things. All the damned time. So much so it got to be annoying. But she wasn’t that way. Carmella listened more than she spoke. And he liked that. She was thoughtful.

But he wanted her to tell him things too.

And when she finally pulled up in her driveway, he was moving to her before he’d registered it.

Ginger wasn’t with Carmella, which surprised him.

“Morning. Can I help you with anything?” he asked her as he opened her door.

Carmella smiled his way, turning her face up for a kiss. He tried not to show how startled he was. Because he dug it so hard. She wanted a kiss and he’d damn well give her one. He craved that again. Wanted her to turn to him, expecting affection. He took his time, needing to remind her what a good choice it was.

And got all tangled up in her. Her taste, the way she felt against him. She hadn’t even gotten out of her truck yet and he had to wrestle back his urge to lay her back and taste all of her.

He made himself back up instead.

“Uh, I didn’t need any help with anything, but I sure appreciate your idea of assistance,” Carmella said, a little breathless.

He took up at her side as they went into her house. Ginger was already waiting at the front door, happy her human was home.

“How’d you get out the door without your partner?” Duke asked.

“She was way happier here with her chewie and a patch of sunshine to sleep in than visiting my mother and her vicious little furball.”

“I really can’t blame her. But being around you is just as nice.”

“I have boobs, which you seem to appreciate like Ginger appreciates sunny patches for naps.” Her expression made him so damned pleased.

“You’re quite the comedian today.” Duke stole another kiss.

“Errands are done. Gorgeous man in my house wearing an I want to fuck you face. Going out on a boat with friends on a beautiful summer afternoon. I have a lot of wonderful coming my way. What’s not to smile over?”