He grunted, then studied her. “It’s not because of the beard?”

Becca giggled. Was that a joke? Was Hank Watson joking with her? “It’s not my usual, but I don’t mind it.”

“Tore your face up something awful last night when we kissed.” His voice was low and husky, and for a moment, it felt almost as if he were kissing her again. Becca’s skin prickled with awareness as he gave her a lazy smile and then touched his beard. “Gonna have to figure out how to soften this up for when I kiss you again.”

She could feel her cheeks flushing. “You sound so certain.”

“That I want to kiss you again? Never been more sure of anything in my life.” With his free hand—his other arm still around the sleeping Libby—he reached out and carefully traced her mouth with his thumb. “I’d do it right now except . . .”

“Except you’re a human pillow.” Oh, but she ached with want. She wanted him to kiss her, too.

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I’m not good with texts and shit like that. So if you send me those, I might not answer right away. My hands are usually pretty filthy when I’m working, so the phone stays inside most days.”

“Okay.”

“I work long hours, too.”

She tilted her head, pretending to study him. “Are you trying to scare me off from dating you?”

“Just don’t want you thinking I’m someone I ain’t.” His fingers brushed along her jaw and then down to her shoulder. He stared at her skin as if entranced, and she mentally willed him to drag his hand lower, to her breast. “Like I said, I’m not real good at this.”

“Then lucky for you, you’re a good kisser.”

Even though it was dark in the room, she could have sworn his eyes grew heated. “You keep saying shit like that and I’m gonna toss you down on this couch and show you all the things my mouth is real good at.”

The insides of Becca’s thighs tightened with arousal. That was a bold statement, but . . . she didn’t mind it. In fact, she rather liked it. “But then you’d wake Libby up.”

Hank sighed heavily and glanced at his sleeping daughter, who was oblivious to their soft, heated conversation. “I know. I should be getting back soon.”