Page 28 of Dandelion Sighs

This time, I’d be fully honest. “Because you’re going to wake up tomorrow morning and be horrified at what you said.”

“No.” She shook her head so hard her mahogany hair swung. “No. I know you’re not attracted to me. You’re just a really nice guy.”

It was like I got slapped for being a decent person. I’d been accused of being nice but not ambitious, yet that wasn’t what was sticking with me now. She was so confident, I was driven to prove her wrong. “I’m a nice guy who appreciates a hardworking woman with a sweet ass.”

Her gasp resonated through the cab. “You think I have a nice ass?”

“Most definitely.”

“Aw.” She slumped against the seat. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me.”

The bar was that low? Had the compliments been that bad, or hadn’t she gotten enough of them? Probably both. It was a situation that needed remedying. I wouldn’t do anything she might regret, but at least she might realize she’d been too hard on herself. “Your eyes sparkle when you’re excited. You have the perfect set of lips that make a man wonder what you can do with them. And don’t get me started on those legs.” I couldn’t stop, and it was a good idea to. Things could get weird at work. But more compliments piled on my tongue. “I love how you’re determined and capable, and you’ll do the hard things no one’s been able to do.”

I risked a glance over, my pulse jumping all over the place. Did I go too far? Her eyes were wide in the streetlights. We’d finally reached town.

“What stuff has no one done?” she asked softly.

“Fire Constance. If I was a betting man, I would guess your mom wanted to, but upsetting the apple cart without your dad’s support was likely too much.”

“Oh. You might be right. Constance did a lot, though.”

“She did a lot, but she also did what she wanted and undermined authority. A place doesn’t run the best like that.”

“Yeah.”

A few minutes later, I pulled up in front of my house.

“What about my legs?” she asked before I could get out.

“I said don’t get me started, Sheridan.” It came out as a growl, blood pumping to all the wrong places in my body. She was right here, but she wasn’t mine. She wasn’t anyone’s tonight.

“My lips? What things do you wonder about?”

Mostly about how soft they’d be. How sweet she’d taste. And when the night was long, about having them wrapped around my cock. That wasn’t the answer I was giving her. “I think they’re very kissable.”

Her wide gaze pinned me, and those very lips we were talking about parted. Then she lunged over the console and claimed my mouth.

My mind blanked. She tasted of beer, fruity and yeasty, and I could drink her down. What was happening? I had Sheridan where I wanted her, but this wasn’t right.

She cupped my face, but I grasped her wrists.

Pulling back, I broke the kiss. “I’m sorry, we can’t do this.”

Horror filled her gaze. “Oh no. I was wrong. You’re just being nice again.” She flopped back with so much force I was afraid the door would slam open and she’d spill out. Smothering her mouth, she gawked at me. “I’m sorry.”

“No.”

“I can’t believe I did that. I’m sorry.” She opened the door and dumped herself out so fast it took me a moment to figure out that she was no longer in the truck.

I clambered out and sprinted around the pickup. She had stopped on my lawn, staring at her car like she realized she couldn’t drive. At least I didn’t have that fight in front of me.

“I-I can sleep in the back seat. I won’t bother you or make it awkward.” She started for her car, fob in hand. The lights flashed. “And don’t worry about work. None of this will be held against you.”

“Sheridan.”

She opened the back door.

“Sheridan.” I gripped her shoulders and spun her around. I could not have her sleeping in the back of her car, and I couldn’t have her blaming herself. “You’re coming in the house. I’m going to give you an old shirt to sleep in, and you’re going to get the bed. You’re going to rest and sober up. Tomorrow, you’re going to take some painkillers and eat a solid breakfast. Then we’ll talk about how much this nice guy wants to shove his tongue into your mouth and to get between those tanned legs of yours so I can feel you from the inside out in two different ways.”