Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [19]
Feeling much warmer herself now, Tori slipped her coat off her back and draped it over a tall pile of unused planter boxes. “What is your part on the show, anyway?”
Drew’s coat joined hers. He was again wearing what he probably thought was casual, comfortable clothes. Back home, comfortable and casual meant jeans. She’d like to see this man in a pair of sinful tight jeans. But these dressy pants, loose where they needed to be but right snug across the front—where it really counted—were nice, too.
“I’m not entirely sure. I’m supposed to be some kind of overseer. To gauge everyone’s progress and help where I can.”
“You’re not, like, the celebrity host or something?”
“Good God, no,” he said with a shudder. “I didn’t want any active part in this at all, but allowed myself to be convinced. Believe me, I hate having any part of my personal life exposed on television for public consumption. I value my privacy and intend to stay as far out of camera range as possible.” Then he gave her a serious look. “Tell me you’re staying.”
She sucked her lip into her mouth, hatin’ to disappoint him. And knowin’ he would be disappointed, though they hadn’t known each other but for one day. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I can’t.”
His face went frowny. “You said you’d think about it.”
“I did. All night.” A yawn came over her then, just to prove the point.
He smiled. “I didn’t sleep well, either.”
“Was it them snails?”
Shaking his head, he stepped a bit closer. “No, it was our kiss.”
Oh. That. “Well, uh, that was one’a them…instinctual things,” she mumbled.
“See a man, kiss him?” His voice held an edge.
She slowly shook her head. “Huh-uh. See a dead-sexy man, talk to him a spell and find out he’s got brains to go with the looks and a smile to make you forget all your troubles. Figure you ain’t never gonna see him again so you better take your shot.” She shrugged. “Then kiss him.”
He nodded, lookin’ like he was thinkin’ things over, before coming even closer. “Funny,” he said, real softlike, “but you telling me you’re leaving has suddenly aroused the same instinctual reaction in me.”
But before Tori could figure out what he meant, he put his arms around her and pulled her close.
Then he showed her.
D REW HADN’T INTENDED to kiss Tori. But the thought of her leaving—of never seeing her again—got to him. Especially because of her explanation about why she’d kissed him…because she’d sensed there was something special between them and it was never going to be explored.
He felt the same way. She was beautiful. Funny. Smart. Had an irresistible smile.
And was leaving.
That, more than anything, made him pull her into his arms and press a hot, languorous kiss on her lips. She parted them immediately, licking at him, sucking his tongue into her mouth. Curling against his body, she moaned a little. Or maybe he did. He couldn’t be sure.
Kissing her suddenly didn’t seem enough. He wanted to feel her smooth skin beneath his fingers. Unable to resist, he slid his hands to her waist, easily moving under the bottom hem of her sweater, and lightly stroked her bare skin.
Just as soft, supple and appealing.
He groaned, allowing Tori to pull him even tighter against her, until not a sliver of humid air could come between them. The place was steaming hot and rapidly becoming more so. All he wanted was to take off his clothes—and hers—and make love to her right here in this heady-smelling place.
Reason reared its ugly head. You can’t do this.
He slowly—ruefully—ended their kiss and stepped back. Then he looked around, wondering just how desperate Burt Mueller was. Would he really risk expensive camera equipment by outfitting this greenhouse? Doubtful. There wasn’t one corner of the room that wouldn’t get misty. Besides, there were no unexposed hidden spots to conceal a camera.
So this kiss, at least, should remain private.
“Wow…you can say goodbye to me anytime you want,” she whispered, sounding a little dazed.
He slowly backed away, trying to regain control of his brain and his impulses.