When he put it that way, she felt churlish for saying no. Especially when she knew he was right, that working on the kit car together could be good for Jeremy. Her brother had blossomed around Will, even if it was only chatting on Skype in the evenings. Did she have the right to deny him this opportunity? She wanted to watch out for him, but she didn’t mean to stifle him, too.
Harper took a deep breath, one that didn’t give her nearly enough oxygen to make up for all that Will’s hot words had just stolen from her. “Okay, I’ll let you work with Jeremy on the car. I know he’ll be ecstatic when you tell him. But as for you and me...” She licked her lips and, despite the desperate need racing through her, forced herself to tell him, “I know I might have given you some mixed signals the other night—” And again today when I all but dared you to kiss me. “—and I regret doing that, but I still can’t date you.”
“Can’t?” He raised an eyebrow, the dark heat still in his eyes. “Or won’t?”
She raised an eyebrow right back at him, even though she wasn’t doing a good job tamping down the heat glowing inside her. “Is there a difference?”
“Can’t means you’re already with another guy and aren’t available to date me. Won’t means you still don’t trust me enough to let me take you out again.”
“We had a nice dinner, and you’ve been very sweet to my brother, but I don’t know you, Will. All I know are your intentions.” Very wicked ones, at that. Deliciously wicked, some might say.
“I’m not asking you to decide about us today, but I am asking you to give me another chance before you make up your mind about whether to shut me down or not.”
He held her gaze for another long moment, letting her see his desire—and something more. Something she couldn’t quite define, but that touched her all the same. Maybe because it mirrored the longing for him she couldn’t figure out how to stop feeling.
“I like you, Harper. I like how straightforward you are. I like how smart you are. I like how you care so deeply for your brother.”
She was nearly speechless from all the wonderful things he’d just said about her. Had any other man ever noticed—or appreciated—so much about her? Or thrown her quite so far off her game all at the same time?
“And I sure as hell like kissing you and holding you in my arms.” With that, he pushed away from the kitchen counter and said, “I’d like to tell Jeremy about the Maserati kit when he calls tonight, if that’s all right with you.”
Even if she knew that she needed to say no on her own account, she couldn’t say no for her brother. “That’s fine with me.”
“And will you be able to bring him over the Saturday after next to start the work?”
“Yes.”
But she honestly wasn’t sure whether she was saying yes for Jeremy.
Or for herself.
*
Will punched the gas and veered around a slow car in the fast lane as he headed away from Harper’s house and to his office. The Lamborghini shot ahead, and the burst of speed was a rush.
But it wasn’t anywhere close to the rush he’d felt with Harper.
She’d had every right to call him on his intentions with Jeremy. But he still wasn’t sure she understood that the cost of the Maserati kit was nothing compared to what Will would get out of it. Jeremy made him feel like he had a second chance to make up for the worst of the things he’d done when he was a kid.
And Harper simply made him feel.
He’d been charmed by the animal mugs, and her endearingly messy house, so in contrast with the professional fa?ade she wore. On the surface, she was polite and polished, but after seeing her at home, he now believed more than ever that there was a wild—and delightfully unruly—woman inside of her dying to break out.
She was so strong as she’d peppered him with her questions—and so sexy that he’d been this close to pushing for everything he wanted, right there in her kitchen. But he’d only let himself push a little bit. Only let himself tease her with words and brief touches until they were both panting with need.
Sweet Lord, had she ever been heaven against him. The leggings had revealed every gorgeous contour of her legs, while the sweater had made him desperate to uncover the rest of her sweetness. Even the striped toe socks had kicked his heart into high gear. She’d smelled delicious, like fruity shampoo and shower gel and lotion, and without makeup, her skin had been peaches-and-cream smooth.
In the end, though it had nearly killed him to push away from her and walk out of that kitchen knowing he wouldn’t see her again for nearly a week and half, the big tease had been perfect. Because they’d been riding the edge together. Soon, he’d push them both over.
Until then? Will knew he’d be going crazy with anticipation.
And if he’d played his cards right in her kitchen, hopefully Harper would be going more than a little crazy, too.
CHAPTER ELEVEN