“Can you pull up here? I’ll walk the rest of the way,” Tara said, a block away from her house.

“You’re taking this sneaking-around business pretty seriously.” He shifted the gear into park, and turned to face her.

“You better, too, if you don’t want our next date to be dinner with my family.” She unbuckled her seat belt. “Like you promised, I had fun today. Thank you for the lovely picnic.”

“My absolute pleasure.” He sat awkwardly for a second, wondering if it would be okay to kiss her again. But he remembered their kiss in the park and settled for a quick peck on her cheek. He wouldn’t be able to handle anything more if the goal was to let her go home. “Bye.”

“Bye.” Tara placed a sweet lingering kiss on his cheek in return.

He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to pull her against him, and watched her get out of the car. Long after she disappeared from the rearview mirror, Seth exhaled and unclenched his hands. Then he reached over to crank up the AC.

If he wanted any chance of sleeping that night, he better hit the gym hard.

CHAPTER SIX

Tara tossed and turned all night, sleeping fitfully and dreaming of brownies. She woke up groggy and cranky the next morning, not at all certain what she was feeling.

Her phone chimed when she stepped out of her bathroom, wringing her hair with a towel. She adjusted the towel around her and checked to see who it was.

SETH: If you tell me you slept like a baby, I’m gonna have to take you down.

She laughed, her crankiness immediately relaxing its hold on her.

TARA: Let’s just say I woke up craving brownies.

SETH: That brownie was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted.

Heat flared to life in her vagina, and Tara checked to see if her towel had caught on fire. No arson attempt had been made on her person.

TARA: Are you in bed?

SETH: Yes.

She squeezed her thighs together.

TARA: Lazy. It’s past eight. Get up.

SETH: Like I implied, I didn’t fall asleep until four in the morning.

TARA: What are you wearing?

SETH: I thought you wanted me to get up?

TARA: I do. Get out of bed and tell me what you’re wearing.

SETH: I don’t wear anything to bed.

She needed another shower. A cold shower.

TARA: So you’re naked? Right now?

SETH: Yes.

Why was she torturing herself like this?

SETH: Hello?

TARA: I’m here.

SETH: Your turn.

TARA: My turn what?

SETH: Tell me what you’re wearing.

It was time to torture him a little.

TARA: A towel.

SETH: Is it a small towel? A tiny hand towel?

TARA: Oh, for heaven’s sake. It’s off. Happy now?

SETH: Fucking hell.

Delight raced across her bare skin. It felt so fantastic to be wanted by him.

TARA: Okay. I need to get dressed, and go to the brewery. Have a good rest of the morning.