“You’re an incurable smart-arse, do you know that?”

Stu smiled and dropped down beside me, his shoulder bumping mine. “Ah yes, smart-arsery runs in the family. You’ve met my brother, right?”

I nodded, thinking he was definitely correct on that one. “I have.”

A moment of quiet ensued as I stared at the shelves in front of us. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Stu studying my profile, but I didn’t dare move. I felt like I was on display somehow, my every thought on view to him. Lacing my fingers in my lap, I tried not to let the quiet affect me but it was a lost cause. It wasn’t necessarily awkwardness I felt, but I was definitely uncomfortable.

“You should come meet the rest of my family,” said Stu, breaking the quiet, his eyes still on me.

Now I turned to him. “Huh?”

I know, so eloquent.

Stu reached out and began pushing my hair back behind my shoulders. I normally wore it up at work, but today it was down. “It’s Trev’s twenty-fifth today. We’re having a party at Lee’s. I like your hair like this.”

His offhanded compliment made me blush as I tried to think of the nicest way to decline the invitation. “Thank you. I can’t come to the party though. I promised Jamie I’d help him clean up after the reading,” I croaked.

Stu’s eyes told me he didn’t believe that for a second. “I’m sure he’ll manage. How messy can things get?”

I swallowed hard. “Pretty messy.”

“You’re right. I bet those history buffs leave empty beer cans and cigarette butts everywhere,” Stu quietly teased, his hands still on my hair as he groomed me. The feeling was heavenly, probably because nobody ever touched me like this. I couldn’t help sinking into it.

A smile curved my lips. “It’s true. They go a little wild after they’ve gotten their books signed.”

Stu moved ever closer, his mouth at my ear as he whispered, “Do you know what I think, Andrea?”

Goosebumps marked my skin as his breath washed over me. “What?” I replied, so quietly I was surprised he heard.

“I think you’re a dirty little liar.”

He startled a gasp out of me when he tongued my earlobe into his mouth and gently sucked.

I should have pushed him away, jumped to my feet, proclaimed my indignation. But I did none of those things. Couldn’t do any of those things. Instead I sat there, eyes closed and frozen to the spot as I sank into him and he continued to do magical things with his tongue.

Breaking away, he murmured, “I like you. Come to the party.”

“O-okay,” I breathed. What the hell? I hadn’t meant to say that. It just slipped out, my body running ahead of my mind. For the first time in years I felt unchained from my inner worries, and all because Stu Cross had sucked on my earlobe.

Figure that one out, because for the life of me, I couldn’t.

Stu’s mouth smiled around one last suck on my earlobe before he pulled away, standing and offering me his hand. I took it and he yanked me up to standing, my chest bumping his in the process. My heart was beating an erratic rhythm again and I couldn’t seem to find my voice.

Finally, I managed. “Actually, um, maybe I shouldn’t . . .”

Stu placed a finger over my lips and involuntarily, I shivered. “You said you’d come, no going back now, Miss Anderson,” he teased, his hold still tight on my hand. “Do you have a bag with you? A coat?”

“Yes, just behind the counter,” I answered and Stu guided me over, grabbing my things for me before I realised what he was up to. I caught Jamie’s eye just before Stu led me outside. My friend wore a quizzical expression as if to ask, who is that and where is he taking you?

Of course, I didn’t have time to answer. A black Toyota with a bright orange stripe along the bottom was parked just around the corner, and when Stu pulled the keys from his pocket I admit I was surprised. This was his car? It was certainly eye-catching.

“Me and my brothers all have a background as mechanics,” he said, as though to answer my unspoken question. Where did you get this? “Lee and Liam fixed this beauty up for me while I was inside. It wasn’t quite ready by the time I got out, which is why Trev’s been picking me up. She’s all fixed now though, runs like a dream, too,” he said, sliding his hand over the hood almost reverently.

“I take it you’re a petrolhead then,” I replied, and he shot me a grin.

“You have no idea. Get in.”

I hesitated, still trying to think of a way to get out of going, even though part of me was dying to spend the evening with Stu. “Are you really sure you want me to come? None of your family know me. They might not like it if a stranger just shows up.”

“That’s not true. Trev’s met you, and it’s his day so that’s all that matters. The rest of them will get to know you.” The next part he muttered under his breath. “Whether they like it or not.”

Placing his hand to the small of my back, Stu reached forward to open the passenger side door and ushered me in. Before I knew it he was helping with my seatbelt and then we were off.

I was on my way to meet Stu Cross’s family. How the hell had that happened? And why did I feel more excited than anything else?

Eight

“This feels a little bit like a kidnapping,” I said to Stu on the drive. “How on earth did I let you talk me into this?”

He flashed me a devilish grin. “Got a magical tongue. Works every time.”

I shook my head, trying not to let him see the effect that grin had on me. My body was literally buzzing with awareness, because the man was right. His tongue was magical.

“This is so wrong. I could get fired for this, you know.”

Stu’s grin grew even wider. “How? We haven’t broken any rules. Yet.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re a bad influence.”

“I hope so. Maybe I can influence you into letting me do more tongue stuff,” he said and winked.

I shook my head, a fizzy feeling of excitement in my belly. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so spontaneous. And I quite liked watching Stu drive, the way he moved his body. It was certainly a new experience to be driven by a man. Alfie had never learned, and Mark and I didn’t own a car when he was alive because we’d both lived within walking distance of our work. It was something we’d always planned to do. After he died it was a bittersweet challenge to go it alone.