“Only Mom and my brothers know I was out of town, so we’ll see what happens.”
Her mother knew too, but since she rarely left the house to socialize, there was no chance of her disclosing the news. “Breaking into houses and stealing panties,” Charlotte said with a shake of her head.
A blush stained his cheeks and she raised a hand to touch him one more time. As her fingertips lightly stroked his roughened cheek, he met and held her gaze. Knowledge glittered in those intelligent blue eyes and she pulled back, embarrassed by her simple display of affection that gave away too much of her feelings.
“This is more serious than a juvenile prank,” she said, keeping things between them light. “No one in their right mind would blame you. The whole idea of panty theft is ridiculous.”
He shrugged, drawing her gaze to his black T-shirt and the tight muscles beneath. “You never know what’s going to turn a man on. A strange man, anyway.”
She nodded, then swallowed hard. Silence surrounded them. No noises sounded from the other apartments or the street below. Nothing remained but to say so long. “So . . .”
“So.”
“Will I see you again?” She mentally kicked herself as soon as the words escaped. That should have been his line.
“Why? Looking for more sex?” he asked, a wry smile on his lips.
She scowled, his words hitting like a punch in the stomach. She’d regretted the defensive words as soon as they’d escaped her lips. Now she knew how she’d made him feel. “I suppose I deserved that.”
She’d obviously hurt him when she’d classified their relationship that way. She hadn’t meant to, had merely been looking to protect herself. As a means of defense, words were too little, too late, anyway.
He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand. “I just don’t want you to shut me out with remarks like that. Open your mind and see where things lead.”
Charlotte already knew the outcome. She’d end up in Yorkshire Falls while he traveled abroad. End of discussion, end of relationship.
But he didn’t seem in any rush to reach that inevitable conclusion, didn’t seem to be leaving town anytime soon. So why borrow trouble by arguing with him? She summoned a smile. “I suppose I can manage that.”
“She says too lightly.”
“Come on, let’s not ruin a spectacular weekend by arguing, okay?”
He stepped closer. “I was spectacular, huh?”
His masculine scent wrapped around her, became a part of her, and her heartbeat kicked into high gear. “I meant the weekend was spectacular.”
His arm came to rest above her head and his lips came within kissing distance. “And I?”
“You were even better,” she murmured as his mouth touched hers. The kiss was too light, too fast, and over too soon. He left her wanting more, which, she supposed, was the point he’d intended to make.
“You will see me again.” He grabbed her key from her hand, opened the door, and let her inside.
By the time she turned back, he was gone.
CHAPTER NINE
Roman walked into an unlocked house and tossed his keys onto the counter. The darkened rooms and absolute silence told him his mother wasn’t home. He muttered a curse. You’d think the woman had more sense than to be careless, with a thief on the loose. Then again, she probably thought the panty thief business was a joke—along with half the women in this town.
“Ridiculous.” Tomorrow morning he’d touch base with Rick and find out what, if any, break-ins had occurred last night.
But for now, he needed sleep. God knew he’d gotten none last night, and the memory of why was enough to set him off once again. He made his way into his old childhood room, dumped his bag onto the floor, and headed for the bathroom.
He set the shower water on cold, but it didn’t help ease the ache Charlotte inspired. He’d showered with her earlier today and he vividly remembered coming inside her, water pelting them from all sides. The spray hit his skin now, but not even this ice-cold dousing could cool him off.
He was tired and aroused all at the same time and when he walked into his room, he was so exhausted he didn’t even turn on the lights. Only one thought cruised through his mind. After his time with Charlotte, his life and future had changed, and not just because of a family promise.
He had decisions to make, but first he needed sleep. He crawled into bed. His head hit the cool sheets, his back eased into the mattress, and his body came into contact with warm, soft flesh.
“Holy shit.” Roman jerked back and bolted upright in the bed. “Who the hell’s there?”
He jumped out of bed and started for the door, intending to hit the switch on the wall so he could shed light on the intruder.
“That’s not the reaction I expected, but I suppose a girl has to start somewhere. Now get back into bed and I’ll show you what I brought for you.” The voice sounded more feline than female.
Considering Roman definitely felt like trapped prey, the analogy made perfect sense. The sound of a hand patting the mattress echoed around him.
He flicked on the light and was greeted by the grotesque sight of Alice Magregor, her frizzy hair overwaxed and oversprayed, and her body stuffed into Charlotte’s infamous panties. It was a body Roman wouldn’t touch in drunken stupor, and he was stone cold sober now. More’s the pity.
“Oh, you don’t sleep naked.”
She pouted in a way that turned his stomach.
“Never mind. I’ll take care of that. Now turn out the light and get back into bed.” She arched and preened, stretching her hand across his pillow.
Damn, he’d have to change the sheets before getting some sleep. He clenched his jaw, her invasion of his privacy unwanted and unwelcome. “I’m going to turn around and let you get decent. Then I’m going to pretend this never happened and you’re going to do the same.”
She didn’t flinch, and before he could turn, she said, “Don’t tell me you aren’t interested. I flashed you a sign the other day and you smiled at me.”
“You’ve got your facts out of order. I smiled before you flashed your panties.”
“You journalists and your facts. It all means the same thing. You smiled. You showed interest. Now come to bed.”
Whether she was being deliberately dense or pitifully stupid, he couldn’t say. “We live in a small town, Alice. I was being neighborly. Now get dressed.” He crossed his arms and turned away. He leaned against the doorframe, unable to believe Alice Magregor was naked in his bed.