Deadly Promises (Tracers #2.5)(10)

She saw him much better as he climbed down.

He’d taken off his shirt. Oh, mama.

“You’re back in business.” Folding the stepladder, Jeremy stood it against the side wall. He walked over to where she was glued to one spot and reached past her shoulder toward the light switch.

When his chest moved close to her face, she inhaled his scent and wanted to lean forward another inch to touch her lips to his skin. To taste him.

But she didn’t move at all.

The light blinked on and glowed almost as bright as the smile he beamed at her.

What should she say? She sucked at casual conversation and had little experience intimately with men.

“I owe you one for that,” she joked, then cringed at how stupid that sounded. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.” Green eyes narrowed in pure devilment studied her. “You look… refreshed.”

She lowered her chin, glancing at herself like a dimwit who had forgotten what she’d put on.

The overhead light flicked off, leaving them in a dark garage except for the haze of twilight filtering from the dusty evening glow. Her eyes adjusted just as he touched a finger under her chin and lifted, drawing her gaze to his.

She ran her tongue along her lips and Jeremy’s eyes sparked with heat.

One kiss. Just something to give her a little confidence for tonight.

Jeremy eased closer, soaking up her personal space without taking a step, and cupped her face. “About that IOU. Mind if I collect now?”

“I’m all for paying my debts promptly,” she whispered, short of breath at the prospect of…

He lowered his head, gently touching his lips to hers. Slowly sweeping across in sweet nips then firmer. The tempo built, his tongue teasing, tasting her, asking for more one tiny move at a time.

She leaned into him. His long fingers spread across her face then moved to the back of her head. He wrapped an arm around her and she moaned at the feel of his muscled body when they touched. She wanted to climb inside that incredible body, feel him everywhere.

She opened her lips, raking his tongue with hers, playing. He tasted sensual, hot, and all male. She pushed her hands up the warm skin on his naked chest then reached around his neck, fingers driving up to fist his hair.

He held her at the small of her back, firm yet gently.

She ached to be with this man.

No way would one kiss be enough.

If the thick evidence of his reaction rubbing against her middle was any indication, she’d bet one kiss wasn’t enough for Jeremy either. Talk about a confidence boost.

His lips pulled away from her mouth to torture the skin along her neck.

Even though the garage was dark, she didn’t want to risk Vinny showing up and catching them together.

If she stopped Jeremy long enough to get inside the house would the moment be ruined? She’d been intimate with one man, well, actually a boy in high school. And he’d moved away five days later. She had no doubt her brothers had found out and spared his life but they made sure he left town.

Jeremy’s hand stroked up her back and she sighed. He kissed her again, taking her breath.

She had to protect him, but his kisses were intoxicating her to the point she couldn’t think clearly. The smart thing to do would be to stop this before it got out of hand and walk away.

But if she did, CeCe had a quick flash of worry she’d miss her opportunity with him. He’d keep asking only so many times before a man like Jeremy moved on. In spite of how much she’d tried to deter his interest and talked nonstop about nothing significant, he was still here and kissing the curl out of her hair.

Her heart thumped fast as a machine gun with the trigger pegged. If she wasn’t careful Jeremy would walk away with her heart in his hands.

Right now, his hands were driving her crazy to the point she was about to forget her first responsibility—to get them somewhere out of sight.

CeCe murmured, “Maybe we should—”

The rumble of a large automobile engine approaching sobered her quickly. She recognized the sound of that heavy sedan and jerked her head back. “Oh, crud. You have to go!”

“Why?” Jeremy lifted his head but held on to her.

She shoved at him and glanced at the end of the driveway where Vinny’s headlights shined on their mailboxes when he parked along her curb.

“It’s my brother. Go home,” she hissed at Jeremy.

The engine cut off and a car door opened then closed.

Jeremy’s hands fell away and he stepped back.

His withdrawal bruised her soul. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”

He started to walk past her and paused, leaning close to her ear. “I’m not.” He pecked a kiss on her cheek.

When he sauntered out of the garage she just stood there. The outside lights controlled by motion detectors flicked on. But Jeremy didn’t turn toward his house.

Vinny was lumbering along her driveway until he stepped around her truck and paused when the security lights flashed on.

Jeremy walked up to her brother and extended his hand. “Don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jeremy, CeCe’s neighbor.”

CeCe couldn’t breathe. No, no, no. Stay away from Vinny.

Her brother eyed Jeremy then sighed and shook his hand. “Vinny. What are you doing here?”

“Fixing her garage light and taking a look at her cracked statue base.”