Free Seducing the Playboy (A Hot Nights Series Book) (Entangled Brazen) by Amanda Usen

shoulder bumped his arm as they walked, and she could tell he was shortening his stride so she could keep pace with him.
    When they reached his car, he let go of her hand to open the door. She hoped he would take it again when they were seated, and he did. Her entire body tingled as he played with her fingers, threading their hands together then unfolding them in a constant, lazy exploration that made her think of bodies rolling together and coming apart, winding and unwinding, until she could barely sit still. She wondered if he knew what he was doing to her. Glancing to the side, she decided he did. There was a decidedly smug tilt to his lips that made her want to best him at his own game.
    He wanted to play hand-holding games? She could do that.
    She shifted sideways so she could take his free hand in both of hers. She clasped their palms together and trailed her fingers over the back of his hand. She teased and tickled, satisfaction flowing through her at the liberty of touching him, as she wanted to. When she had learned the texture of every part of his hand and wrist, she explored the spaces in between his fingers, thumb rubbing the hollow of his palm, echoing the rhythm beating inside her. She pressed her fingers to his wrist, feeling his pulse.
    He pulled to a stop in front of her house and slipped his hand from hers, breaking their connection. Instantly, she felt uncertain, disappointed her hand-holding skills hadn’t driven him to pull her into a clinch the moment he stopped the car. The locks released, and her thoughts flashed back to last night, when he’d all but booted her to the curb. His slight smile was gone, and he stared straight ahead.
    She hated not knowing what to do, so she opened the door. “Thanks for the ride.”
    She climbed out of the car, surprised when he joined her on the path up to the front door.
    She got her keys out of her pocket. “See you tomorrow, I guess.”
    The porch light illuminated his grin. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
    “Nope.” She gave him an equally bright smile. Ball’s in your court, buddy. She was not going to founder right out of the gate. She was on her best behavior, and even if she felt like she might fly into a million pieces if he didn’t touch her, she was going to keep it together.
    “Can’t forget a good-night kiss.” A serious expression settled over his face as he stepped closer. She swallowed, feeling time slow, stop, and then turn back. She felt longing well up in her center, an unbearable ache that took her back to their moment in the snow. Her breath caught. Her heart felt like it was expanding in her chest, and she wanted to stay here forever, breathing in time with him, feeling the heat of his skin, living in anticipation. Then every part of her rejoiced as their lips met, and she felt the same certainty she experienced when facing the ocean—anything was possible.
    He stepped back.
    She shook her head, feeling dazed. He chuckled, tucking an escaped curl behind her ear. “’Night, Goldilocks.”
    “Good night,” she echoed, watching him walk down the path to his car.
    Snapping out of it, she turned to unlock the door. She heard him start the car, but he didn’t pull away from the curb until she opened it. She sighed then giggled. Oh, man. Her heart was racing, her cheeks were hot, and she felt giddy. If it got better than this, the Roman Gallagher experience was going to ruin her, but she couldn’t care less. So worth it.
    She walked down the hall to her room, imagining her feet floating six inches from the ground, which was possibly what he intended, and she couldn’t wait to see what he had in store for tomorrow.

Chapter Five
    Jenna caught a bus to Venice Beach early the next morning, figuring she could explore the area until the Beach House opened. She wanted to get into the kitchen as early as possible to prep the dessert menu before the guys came in and took over the ovens. There was no way anyone would be working at six