“Shawna.” Erin sang her name from the open door, a sly look on her face. “You have another delivery. This time it’s a special delivery.”
Right behind her, Ryan appeared in the doorway. Her heart jumped at his unexpected visit. Erin slinked away, and Shawna stood up. “What are you doing here?”
He closed the door and sauntered over.
“It’s been three days, and I stayed away as long as I could. I wanted to see you.” His low, sexy voice caused her pulse to flutter. He took a few minutes to drink her in before pulling his arm from behind his back and revealing another bouquet. Tulips this time.
“More flowers?” Shawna said, smiling. One vase of roses sat on the far corner of her desk, and the other on a file cabinet against the wall. Their sweet aroma filled the small space. “How many are you going to buy?”
“As many as I need to.” He walked around the desk and brought them to her.
“Thank you,” she said, taking them.
He tilted his head. “Look at all this space between us. There’s a good, what, two feet right now?”
Shawna laughed and shook her head. “And why did you mention that?”
He stopped smiling. “Well, you said you wanted space, but I really want to kiss you right now. I think I should get a little reward, don’t you?”
“A little one,” Shawna whispered.
Ryan stepped closer and lowered his head. They both moaned when their lips touched. His hand moved to the back of her head, and he slid his mouth over her mouth in the softest of kisses. His lips caressed the corner of hers, and she whimpered, slipping out the tip of her tongue to tease his lower lip.
He lifted his head and drew a shaky breath. She could clearly see the heat in his eyes and knew he saw the same in hers. “Stop trying to seduce me,” he said softly.
“I am not.”
“It sure felt that way,” he said. “Behave yourself.”
Shawna pushed him playfully and he laughed.
“Let’s go out tomorrow,” he said. “How about an action movie? I can come pick you up after I leave work.”
“A movie? Tomorrow’s the middle of the week.”
“I have a secret to tell you,” Ryan said, lowering his voice. She strained to hear him. “People go to the movies during the week, too.”
She shook her head at him. “Why do I get the feeling you won’t take no for an answer?”
“Because I won’t take no for an answer.”
“In that case, my answer is yes.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow around eight.”
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, as he walked to the door.
He paused and looked at her for a long moment. “Thank you for the kiss.”
After he left, Shawna sniffed the tulips and stared at them for a long time before she realized what she was doing—and that except for when they kissed, the smile hadn’t left her face the entire time he’d been there.
Chapter Eighteen
Outside Shawna’s townhouse, Ryan pulled his truck next to her numbered parking space and her shiny new Camry. It wasn’t a racy red or a sleek black. She’d chosen beige—a non-assuming color that didn’t draw attention to itself but fit her personality perfectly.
He exited his truck and walked toward her townhouse, casting his glance around to the buildings on either side. Someone in the building to the right quickly pulled the curtains back in place when he looked in that direction.
He liked the idea that Shawna had nosy neighbors. They always noticed unfamiliar faces and could be counted on to call the police. Although she lived in a nice community, one couldn’t be too careful nowadays.
When Shawna opened the door, he took in the sight she made, taking a deep breath and drawing in the light scent of her perfume. She wore her hair in a ponytail, with the bangs dipping down to her eyebrows.
Even dressed simply, she impressed in a pair of jeans and a purple three-quarter-sleeved blouse that draped off her left shoulder. He’d be kissing that bare shoulder later tonight. Her jewelry included a large necklace and big round earrings.