“You won’t get any argument out of me, sweetheart.” She played with the bottom of his shirt, teasing him by lifting the edge slowly, making certain her fingers grazed his skin with an erotic, hot touch.
A torrent of desire rushed through him, hard and strong. He wanted her in a way that surpassed sexual need. Not even her hellion sister or her self-imposed end-of-the-summer deadline could deter or deflect his actions now. Though that fact should give him pause, he had her alone and damned if he’d let anything get in the way.
“I want this shirt off you,” she murmured.
“Then do it.” He raised his arms over his head, giving her the control she’d once said he refused to give up. He’d give up more than that for her, Rick thought, damning himself at the same time.
He met her gaze as she lifted his shirt, then helped her toss it onto the floor. Her fingers raked over his chest, then she paused to bend and place a warm kiss against his fevered skin. Another touch of that mouth and he might not make it to the bedroom. Sensation shot through him and he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Sounds like I hit the right spot.”
“At this point any spot you hit would be the right one,” he said wryly. “But much as I’m enjoying this, I’ve been outside all day and I could use a shower first.”
A teasing smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I wouldn’t mind taking another one.”
He shook his head and laughed. “Oh, baby, you sure know how to tempt a man.”
She met his gaze. “Only you.” As if to prove her point, her fingers went next to the button on his jeans.
Who was he to argue? Once again he gave her free rein, gritting his teeth as her palms grazed first his thighs, and clenching his fists when she paused, running her hand over his hard length on her quest to divest him of all clothing. She had her own agenda, her own time schedule, and he didn’t mind. Her hands on his body was foreplay of the most intense and erotic kind and he could enjoy the sensation all day.
Shutting his eyes, he leaned back against the wall and gave himself up to her ministrations. Blood rushed through his veins and to other parts of his body and when he heard ringing the first time, he thought the sound was in his head.
And then her hand stilled and he recognized the noise as his cell. “Dammit.” He forced his eyelids open.
“You’d better get it. It could be important.” Kendall said.
He reached over and grabbed the phone. “This better be good.”
Kendall raised an eyebrow at his frustrated greeting and he winked at her.
“Rick, it’s Lisa Burton.”
He exhaled an aggravated groan. Lisa had annoyed the hell out of him at the DARE car wash. His taken status hadn’t deterred her this afternoon and now this phone call. “This isn’t a good time.”
“I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important.”
“Well, I’d have assumed a 911 call was important too.” His patience for games had run out. Maybe it was pure frustration talking or maybe now that he knew which woman interested him, he wished women like Lisa would accept and back off.
“I’m calling as a teaching professional. I have a young girl here named Hannah who says she’s your responsibility.”
At her words, Rick refocused. “You’re with Hannah? What’s wrong?”
Kendall came up to him in an instant, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Is Hannah okay?” she asked him.
“She’s fine,” Lisa told Rick.
“Then what’s she doing with you? I left her with Jonesy.” Not with the one woman he didn’t want any kind of connection with.
“He had to leave. Right after you left he got a call from his wife. I didn’t think it would be a big deal to watch over another teenager, so I told him I’d keep an eye out. I figured it was no big deal and it wasn’t . . . until Dr. Nowicki arrived.”
Uh-oh. Rick ran a hand through his hair. “What did Hannah say to the principal?” he asked, resigned.
Kendall groaned aloud, burying her face in her hands. “Oh, no. What’d she do now?”
Rick wrapped a hand around Kendall’s waist. “Your sister’s fine,” he whispered in Kendall’s ear.
“Oh, your girlfriend is with you? Figures.” Lisa sniffed, obviously offended. “Maybe Hannah has a right to act out. It seems her sister can’t be bothered with her. And you snuck off first chance you got to be with your new lady friend.” Lisa choked over the words, as if it galled her to admit she’d lost not just the battle but the war for Rick’s attention. “You left the poor girl alone in a strange town. It’s no wonder she’s looking for attention.”
Rick generally wouldn’t put much stock in Lisa’s obviously biased, jealous assessment of Hannah’s situation as it pertained to himself and Kendall. After all, when he’d left Hannah, she’d bonded with two very nice girls and she’d been happy—which had been his goal in taking her to the car wash.
But considering he had taken off to be alone with Kendall, he felt guilty despite the fact that he’d believed Hannah was settled and cared for. And he was sure Kendall wouldn’t be any more pleased than he was.
Before dealing with their feelings though, they had to pick up Hannah. “Are you still at the elementary school?” he asked Lisa.
“Actually I brought her to Norman’s. She said she needed to meet you there.”
“Thank you, Lisa.” He swallowed his pride. “I didn’t mean to snap earlier. We’ll be right down to get her.” He hung up the phone and turned to Kendall.
“What’d she do?” She cringed as if afraid to ask. “Lisa didn’t say. But she’s downstairs waiting for us now. You can ask her yourself.”
“Why don’t you stay here and take your shower. I’ll talk to Hannah and you
