“You don’t know that.”

“Hush, you,” he demanded, and she snapped her lips shut, her eyes narrowing.

“Your hands are cold,” she complained, moving closer to him.

“Someone has my coat,” he said, moving his nose along hers. “Now, tell me something. Did you have fun last night?” Her grin fell, her green gaze blazing as she sucked in a breath. “Don’t lie either,” he admonished, and when her lips fought to curve, Benji’s heart went wild. It was funny how life could change with just a flicker of a smile. Just a little bitty smile had Benji in knots.

Hell, this girl had had him in knots since the beginning.

“I did,” she admitted, her hands coming up to rest against his chest.

“Okay, so we both have fun together, right?”

She nodded slowly, not liking that he was right. “Right.”

“Okay, so let’s get to know each other. And, if at any time, it gets to where either of us feels we are wasting each other’s time, we’ll stop. Okay?”

He was pretty sure that would never happen, but obviously he had to say something to keep this woman from running the other way.

Like he knew she would be, she was hesitant as she bit into her lip. “I don’t know. I have so much baggage…and I just don’t know.”

She was preaching to the choir on that one, but it was time to no longer allow that baggage to hold him back from what he wanted. He wanted Lucy and she wanted him; he knew she did. So he just grinned, his hands coming behind her and reaching for her phone he had seen her tuck into her back pocket when they walked outside earlier. Her breath caught as he said, “Fine, let’s start with just your number. Give me that, and we can talk. If you get bored with me, just let me know and we’ll stop.”

“You think I don’t feel you taking my phone?” she asked as he dialed his number on it. “And that I don’t know you are dialing your number so I have no choice in the matter?”

He gave her look as his phone sounded. “Oh, baby, don’t act like you don’t have a choice. You could’ve stopped me at any time,” he said roughly against her cheek. He saved his contact info and then tucked her phone back into her pocket. Pulling back, he met her desire-filled gaze. “You just don’t want to.”

Her lips pursed and everything inside him went hot. “Maybe.”

He held her gaze, watching her eyes darken as he held her tightly to him. “Maybe you want another kiss?”

She pushed him away, her lips curving. “Not now. That’s a bad idea.”

He eyed her. “You sure? I’m going to be gone for a week.”

“Okay…?” she laughed, rolling her eyes.

“Now, Lucy, I know it’s going to be so hard remembering how I kiss. Maybe I should give you another taste?”

She rolled her eyes. “Dork, I’ll survive.”

“Will you?” he teased and she shook her head.

“I gotta go,” she said as she went to walk past him, but he stopped her, his hand holding her at her hip.

“Because I think I need another taste of you to hold me over. Because, while I could never forget the feel of those lips on mine, I just want something to keep me going until I see you again.”

“Bye, Benji,” she breathed as she tried to walk away, but he took her by the hand, lacing his fingers with hers.

She looked at his hand holding hers and then back to him, her cheeks reddening as she held his gaze. Bringing her hand up to his mouth, he kissed it softly as she gasped, her lids dropping a bit into a sexy, kitten look. As his lips pressed to her knuckles, a dreamy look appeared in the depths of those green eyes and he smiled against her skin.

Moving his lips from her hand, he held her gaze, fully expecting her to pull away.

But she didn’t move.

And neither did he.

With their fingers still laced together, he could see her eyes were dark. He was sure his were too from wanting her more than his next breath. He was pretty sure if she didn’t give him a kiss, he was going to fall to his knees and beg. Pitiful, he knew, but he couldn’t let her walk away. Not yet.

Letting out a long breath, she just looked at him, bewilderment in her eyes as she mumbled, “What the hell is it about you?”

And then she was moving. He was ready, taking her into his arms as their mouths met in a heated frenzy. Shit, he had missed her kisses. Her mouth. The feel of her. Jesus, it was almost too much to handle as his tongue moved with hers. Holding her close, he deepened the kiss as her fingers moved along the base of his neck, causing chills to run down his spine. His fingers dug into her back as she arched into him, moaning softly against his mouth.

But it was too much.

Way too much.

He pulled away because if he didn’t, he was going to take her into the back of his truck and do the naughtiest things in the world to her. He was pretty sure the neighbors wouldn’t appreciate that, or hell, Jayden. So he sucked in a deep breath, sliding his nose along her cheek. Begging himself to control his desire as her lips moved against his, he opened his eyes to find that her eyes were closed ever so sweetly.

“So beautiful. So fucking beautiful,” he whispered against her lips and she grinned, leaning her forehead against his nose.

“I needed that,” she admitted softly.

“Well, I’m your guy whenever you need to hear it,” he whispered against her eyes. Closing his eyes, he took in her sexy smell as his grip on her tightened. “And just in case you forget, I’m a phone call away.”