Why was she so darned attracted to him? This was definitely going to be awkward, especially since she would have to work with him over the next few months as they tried to finish work on his house.
The night air was cool and fragrant with the scent of ocean and flowers and rain. Andrew stood close, his presence both comforting and electrifying. Rosie looked up, meeting his gaze, and felt the world around them fade away. The intensity in his eyes made her breath catch, and she found herself drawn to him like a magnet.
Andrew’s eyes dropped to her lips, and Rosie felt a thrill of anticipation course through her. Without conscious thought, she swayed toward him, closing the small distance between them. Time seemed to slow as Andrew leaned down, his intention clear.
When his lips finally met hers, it was as if a spark had ignited. The kiss started soft, almost tentative, but quickly deepened. Rosie’s hands found their way to his chest, feeling the solid warmth beneath his shirt. Andrew’s arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss was everything Rosie had forgotten she needed. It was passionate and tender, awakening sensations she’d thought long dormant. She lost herself in the feeling of his mouth on hers, the gentle pressure of his hands on her back, the solid strength of his body against hers.
As the kiss intensified, Rosie felt a warmth bloom in her core, spreading outward until she felt flushed from head totoe. It had been so long since she’d felt this alive, this desired. She melted into Andrew’s embrace, savoring every sensation, every gentle caress of his tongue against hers.
When they finally parted, both breathing heavily, Rosie felt dizzy with desire. She looked up at Andrew, seeing her own hunger reflected in his eyes. For a moment, they simply stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of what had just happened settling over them like a warm blanket.
Chapter Eighteen
Andrew
When he decided to make a mistake, he never did anything by half measures.
Even as he kissed her, Andrew knew he would regret this. Rosie was the contractor he was going to have to work with on the house renovation for the next few months. Now he had made everything extremely awkward by throwing in a spontaneous, unprovoked kiss that would definitely tangle their relationship.
Even as he thought the words with one part of his brain, the rest of him was consumed with the taste of her. She was small and soft in his arms, her mouth tasting of mint and sugar cookies. The kiss was intoxicating, awakening a hunger in him he’d long forgotten. Her lips were pliant against his, moving with a passion that matched his own.
Andrew found himself lost in the sensation, his body responding with an intensity that both thrilled and terrified him.
He pulled her closer, one hand sliding up to tangle in her hair, the other pressing against the small of her back. Every curve of her body fit perfectly against his.
The world around them faded away, leaving only the sound of their ragged breathing and the pounding of his heart. He deepened the kiss, savoring the small gasp that escaped her. A primal part of him wanted to sweep her off her feet, to carry her inside and explore every inch of her. The desire coursed through his veins like liquid fire, consuming all rational thought.
Time seemed to stand still, and yet it wasn’t enough. Andrew knew he should stop, that he should pull away before things went too far. But he couldn’t bring himself to end it. Not yet. He wanted to memorize every detail. The softness of her lips, the warmth of her skin, the way she melted against him.
The rumble of distant thunder made her body jerk and sent reality crashing into him like a rogue wave.
She eased away to gaze at him through the darkness, eyes wide and her breathing ragged.
He drew in a breath, fumbling for a way to explain his actions.
“I’m sorry, Rosie,” he finally said. “I’m not exactly sure where that came from.”
Had he ever felt quite so awkward and socially inept? Even at the Academy Awards ceremony, he had been more at ease—and that entire experience had been far outside his comfort zone.
He was fairly certain none of the characters he wrote would actually apologize for kissing a woman they were attracted to. They would simply go for it and damn the consequences.
In his experience, real life was a great deal more complicated than fiction.
Unfortunately.
She released a shaky breath. “I think webothwere not expecting that.”
“I hope you don’t think I’m the kind of guy who goes around randomly kissing the people who work for him.”
Oh Lord. He was making this worse.
She blinked, her gaze fixed on his. He couldn’t read her expression. Was she annoyed? Offended? Disgusted?
“I don’t.”
He wanted to slip out of her yard and rush home as fast as he could but he couldn’t just kiss and run, as it were.