Page 11 of Bad Decisions

She spins, and a grin lights up her face. “Did you just sniff me?”

I shrug, smiling back because I can’t help myself. “You smell good.”

“What, of bagels?” she asks jokingly.

“No, sweeter. More like marshmallows.” I reach for her hand and pull her a step closer, then lean down to bury my face in the crook of her neck.

Honestly, it’s about time I let her know that I want her. Everything about her appeals to my senses. But this soft skin on her neck, which smells of undiluted Jewel, is particularly delicious, and I place a light kiss just below her earlobe.

Lifting my head, I meet her eyes. Her pale blue ones are filled with questions, while mine are dark and seemingly not holding the answers she’s looking for because she slips out of my arms and walks into the room. I frown at her back.

What just happened?

Chapter five

Jewel

“Is this your room?” I ask, my voice low and sounding a lot steadier than my wobbly legs feel holding me up. I stop at the large windows that form the room’s corner walls and offer a panoramic view up and down the white sandy beach. But the sight barely registers.

The look on Will’s face before I turned away, one of shock and maybe something like disappointment, is emblazoned on my retinas.

What the hell was I thinking? Instead of demanding more of his kisses and sinking into the sexy scratch of his chin against my neck, I walked away. Seriously, I’m tempted to bang my head against the wall to knock some sense into it.

I like Will. He’s shown me repeatedly that he’s a good man. And all that kindness comes in a sexy-as-hell package that I’m drawn to, linked magnetically like electrons spinning around the nucleus.

Wrapping my arms around my waist, I try to focus on the view and what Will is saying.

“Sorry,” I say, and it’s unclear whether I’m apologizing for not hearing him or for being a fool and not welcoming his advances. There’s no doubt that I’m physically attracted to him; it’s just my head that hasn’t gotten the memo. I turn around before quickly adding, “I was too caught up in this spectacular view, and I missed what you said.”

His brows are drawn low into a frown, but it does nothing to detract from his rugged good looks.

If I had to list the kind of man I’m attracted to, Will would tick a lot of the boxes. A strong jawline covered with thick stubble, firm lips, and eyes I could drown in, never wanting to surface again.

“I said that there’s more.” He peers at me through narrowed eyes like he can’t figure me out.

Flustered, I direct my gaze away from his, landing on the massive brocade-draped bed that dominates the wall opposite the windows. This isn’t the more he meant, and my cheeks heat with a pink flush. I should give myself a kick in the butt for making this even more awkward than it already was. But that one light kiss has sent my imagination skipping off to places where it shouldn’t be going.

“Come on, let’s continue the tour,” he suggests before turning and walking away.

Of course that’s what he meant by more.

He leads me downstairs in silence, and instead of turning back toward the open-plan living area, kitchen, and dining where we started, he goes the other way.

“At this end of the hallway is a home study and a gym.” He stops at a set of paneled doors. “But this is the room I want you to see.”

This time, he stands back and leaves me to open the doors myself, and I do. A large game room lies beyond. He flicks the light switch.

My eyes grow wide when I catch sight of the full-size billiards table that dominates the space. “Wow, this really is next level.”

He grins. “I’ve spent a few weekends over the years at the beach house with Blake and our former teammates, and this room is where the guys and I spend most of our time. Playing billiards, drinking whiskey from the well-stocked bar over there, or watching the latest game on that flat-screen TV.”

Will’s face lights up as he talks about spending time with his friends, and I can’t help returning his smile.

“Sounds like guy heaven.”

He chuckles. “The only time we’re not in this part of the house is when we’re out on the deck grilling or playing a game of football down on the beach.”

“Now, that sounds fun. Growing up, I played a lot of beach football with my friends.”