Page 85 of Irresistibly Wicked

“Shh.” She put her hand over his mouth, her gaze darting around their booth, at the customers sitting nearby.

He covered her hand with his and licked slow circles on her palm.

Her eyes took on that heady look she’d had last night, but it was gone as quickly as it had come, as if she caught herself enjoying that secret touch, and she tugged her hand away. She focused on the croissant, tearing off another piece. He snagged that tasty treat from her fingers with his teeth.

“Hey!”

He laughed and tugged her into a kiss.

“You’re so greedy.” She speared a piece of sausage with her fork and pointed it at him. “What’d I tell you about keeping those lethal lips to yourself?”

“I can’t recall. I did just get over a head injury.” He hooked the crook of his arm around her neck, drawing her closer, and said, “Kiss me again, and maybe I’ll remember.”

“Now you’re just pushing it.”

Yeah, he was, and he had no intention of stopping. “What can I say? I want to nail the role.”

“I’ve got your number, Wicked.” She lowered her voice. “You want to nail me.”

“You don’t have to lower your voice. That’s not exactly a secret.”

THEIR BANTER CONTINUED as Zander took her to a nearby small town he’d found online, and they spent the morning exploring cool shops and interesting galleries. He’d never had the urge to hold women’s hands or buy them things, but whenever he was near Shauna, he wanted to be closer. He liked snagging her hand and stealing kisses, for which he gladly accepted her snark, and he wanted to buy her everything she liked. She wouldn’t let him, of course. His temporary wife was too prideful and careful for that. But he convinced her to let him buy her lavender, chamomile, and peppermint essential oils from a local apothecary—for when you’ve worked your muscles too hard and need your hubby to massage your pain away. He looked forward to using them with her, and from the look in her eyes, so did she.

They hit a bookstore, where Shauna checked out the romance titles, and Zander skillfully avoided putting his nose in any books. He went to pick out a few cute bookmarks and a booklight for her, admiring her from afar as she read back covers and the first pages of several books. When he asked which books she wanted, she said she didn’t want any of them and put the three she’d been holding back on the shelves. Then she went to use the ladies’ room, and Zander bought those three books, along with the other goodies.

She eyed the bag as she came out of the bathroom. “What did you buy?”

“Just a few of the…” Fuck. The word escaped him. Not now. Not fucking now. “Things you didn’t want,” he said to cover his ass, and then it hit him. Books. Fucking books. He hated his fucked-up head.

“Zan, I have a book to read, remember? You bought me the paperback of the one I’m reading for the book club.”

“Yes, but when we were moving your stuff into my house, we moved two boxes of books, and you said a girl can never have too many books or too much ice cream.”

“I can’t believe you remember that, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your money on me.”

“Thanks for clarifying.” He draped his arm around her, heading for the exit.

“You’re a pain.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

As they made their way through gift shops and more art galleries, he loved learning about the things she liked and the things she didn’t, but the morning passed too quickly. It was already after twelve. He wanted to spend all day taking her places where he could learn more about her, but he also wanted to share more of himself with her and bring her further into his world.

Soon enough he’d do just that.

They checked out the rest of the shops in town, and when they left the last one, a pet store, where they bought Kitty a pink outfit that had Daddy’s Girl written in black across the back, he said, “Think we can find one of these in your size that says Biker Daddy’s Ride or Die?”

Shauna looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Thinking about selling me to your father?”

“Hell no. Why would you say that?”

“Because if you think I’m calling you Daddy, I’m going to have to annul this marriage right now.”

“How about your king?” he teased, taking her hand as they headed to the truck.

“I wonder if that estate attorney handles annulments.”

Backing her up against the truck, he said, “You’re not annulling us.”