The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(104)

“Good. I’m in Texas.”

“So you mentioned before. Connor can’t get over the fact that his ant farm saved the day. He’s so excited to be able to see the construction of the hotel’s ant farm.”

“We’re getting plenty of information from the bug guy.” Declan groaned. “There’s a word for him and I can’t remember what it is.”

There was something about his voice. A tone or a looseness that had her—

“You’re drunk!” She did the math and realized it was eleven-thirty in Texas, then laughed. “You went out drinking!”

“What? No. Okay, buzzed but not drunk. There were shots. Heath and I needed a break from our clients.”

“At least you’re not in a rock quarry examining fossils.”

“That would be grim. I miss you.”

The unexpected statement caught her off guard. She waited, wondering if he would take it back and when he didn’t, she said, “I miss you, too.”

“No. You’re busy with your regular life. How’s school?”

School? He wanted to talk about her math class? Couldn’t they talk about the missing more?

“Good. The tutoring is helping. I’ve signed up for a summer class. It’s going to be brutal. Four days a week for three hours a day, plus the homework. It’s a general education class. Sociology—so lots of reading. I’m nervous and excited.”

“Good for you. It’s just you’re so easy to be around. And beautiful.” He swore. “Sorry. I guess I’m more buzzed than I thought.”

Beautiful? “It’s okay.”

“You sure? I think we’re heading into dangerous territory.”

She shifted so she was lying on the bed rather than sitting up, and smiled. “What does that mean?”

“You being beautiful? I’m pretty sure that’s self-explanatory. But it’s not just how you look. I want to be clear about that, although I will admit there are things about your body that drive me wild. It’s the rest of it. The you part. I miss that most. Sorry—I’m not making any sense.”

Too much information crammed into her head, but what really caught her attention was The you part. Being missed for herself rather than her ass was kind of a big deal.

“You’re making sense,” she said softly.

“I hope so. When you smile, when you laugh—I like that. And you with Connor. You’re good for him.”

“He’s a great kid.”

“I know. I’m lucky to have him. Anyway, I just want to be clear it’s more than just wanting to make love with you.”

Before she could react or even know how those words made her feel, he started backtracking.

“No. I’m sorry. Dammit, Sunshine. I apologize. That was wrong and I didn’t mean to go there. You must be so uncomfortable. I never meant to—”

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Declan, it’s fine.”

He winced. “You’re very kind to say that, but I crossed the line. I blame the tequila.”

He had crossed the line and she’d let him. She’d encouraged a conversation that was dangerous. The right thing to do was to tell him they would go back to normal and pretend this never happened and then hang up. He would feel like crap for at least three days and that would make her feel guilty, but at least order would be restored.

“I think about it, too.” The words were soft, barely audible and the first step on the slick road to hell. Yet she didn’t want to turn back.

“You do?”

“Uh-huh.”

“When? How? Really?”

She laughed. “I’m not immune to normal human emotions.”

“I know but you’re...you. You could have anyone. I’m just, you know, me.”

Warmth spread through her, leaving her achy and restless. It had been a long time, she thought wistfully. Months, really, since she’d been with a man. She missed the touching, the teasing, the tension and the release. Only she didn’t just want a guy and an orgasm. She wanted Declan there with her, his hands everywhere. She wanted him naked and hard and looming over her.

As she imagined him pushing into her, she instinctively spread her legs, only there was no man. There was nothing but her rapidly swelling clit and a burning need to have him make her come. But he was a couple of thousand miles away and they were both alone.

“Sunshine?”

“Are you in bed?” she asked, unfastening her jeans and pushing them off.

“Yes, it’s late here and—” His breath caught. “You’re not asking what I think you’re asking.”

She pushed off her panties and shifted the phone to her left hand.

“Too soon?” she asked, closing her eyes.

“Not soon enough.”

She smiled and dipped her fingers inside to get wet and slippery, then circled her clit. “Are you naked?”

“I am now.”

“Good. Are you hard?”

“Pretty much if I’m talking to you, yes.”

“I’m wet and swollen. I took my panties off, but I left my shirt on. While I like a guy touching my breasts, I don’t enjoy it when I do it myself, which is strange because if I’m in the right mood and he really sucks on my nipples, I can come that way. He has to take his time, though, and most guys can’t be bothered.”