“Isn’t that like trying on the first wedding dress and saying it’s ‘the one’? Nobody does that.”
“Okay, that would be crazy. Nobody tries on just one dress. And we aren’t talking weddings here.”
“I’m using a euphemism. It may not be the exact same, but it’s the same.”
“Macie.” Dodger said my name like it was going to make me see things differently.
“Dodger.” I repeated his name. “Don’t you feel it? This house feels . . . I don’t know? Home-ish.”
“That’s not even a word.”
I waved my hand in the air. “Not the point. I’m saying, from the moment we walked in, something about this house made me feel good. It felt warm. It’s everything I didn’t realize I was looking for. It’s where I see the baby coming home for the first time. And where it will grow up. This house feels happy.”
Dodger regarded me and everything I’d just said. He was letting my words sink in. I don’t think when he came in here with me, that his mind was as open as mine was. He was thinking about other things, like me, instead of seeing the larger picture. He broke eye contact and turned, giving me his back. I watched as he placed his hands on his hips and looked at the home as I’d just described it. When he turned back around and his blue eyes connected with mine, I knew he just pictured what I did.
In typical Macie fashion though, I said, “You do realize you have no say, right?”
He rolled his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Oh Lord, here we go again.”
“Here we go, nothin’.”
“Any house you’re in, and any house my baby is in, is a house that I absolutely have a say in.”
Stubborn ass. Show time. “Well, while I value your opinion or feeling on the matter, it’s my money, my purchase, my home. Period.”
Dodger approached me. His stance was rigid. I’d pissed him off. He was so close that he had to bend down to come to my level. Otherwise I’d be craning my neck to see him.
“Test me.”
“I believe I just did.”
Him being this close, breathing in my face, seeing the little flecks of dark blue in his eyes, was a heady experience. Riling him up was fun for me. And my body was reacting to it. I naturally leaned in closer like he was the matching magnet to me. My nipples hardened and I knew my pupils were dilated. I wouldn’t doubt for a single second he knew I was getting turned on.
“Are you sure you two aren’t married?” I’d completely forgotten that James was in the room with us.
I said “positive,” at the same time that Dodger said, “Not yet.”
This man . . . he was so certain of himself. One side of his mouth tipped up in a grin. Yep, he knew. I huffed and stepped back. No need to argue over something that I was in control of.
While I maintained eye contact with Dodger, I said, “James, what do you think would be a fair offer?”
I heard him tapping on his phone. “Well, considering the house hasn’t actually been on the market any longer than thirty days, I’d say you need to go in at close to asking price.”
“Do it,” I said without skipping a beat. “Put in whatever you have too to make sure I get the house.”
“Are you sure? I have a couple more places on the schedule if you want to see those just to be positive.”
“No, thank you.”
“Okay, I’ll submit the offer as soon as I get to the office.” It got awkwardly quiet. “Erm, okay well if you two want another minute in here just to take another glance around, I’ll step outside to make a call.”
“Yes, please,” Dodger replied.
As soon as I heard the front door close, Dodger took another step to me. He was almost flush with my body. I could feel him like he was actually touching me. The energy in the room changed from friendly and cozy, to hot and bothered.
“Now,” he said. “Test me again.”
I was perplexed. “How do you want me to te—”
I was cut off. Dodger came in so fast, that when his mouth came crashing down on mine, our teeth clinked together. It was a bruising, passionate, needful kiss. His hands dove into my hair, pulling me impossibly closer to him. He was engulfing me with his entire being and I was consumed in a matter of seconds. He was demanding my response as his mouth moved against mine. He led this moment from start to finish. His lips moved in a sinful dance that was neither graceful, nor controlled. Soft lips felt crushed, and his tongue dove into my mouth like he was kid who couldn’t wait long enough for a piece of chocolate birthday cake. I tasted him and his lips with each stroke of his tongue, and I craved more. Every ounce of oxygen had been sucked from my lungs and I didn’t want to come up for air ever again. If I could die just like this, with him kissing me and holding me close, I’d die the happiest woman in the world.
As quickly as the kiss started, it rapidly ended. I was so engulfed in the moment that when he pulled away, I didn’t even realize he had cut me off. My eyes were still shut, and I tipped forward, my mouth searching for his. I was hungry for him.
“Macie, open your eyes.” His voice was an octave deeper than normal.
I wasn’t responding. Where in the hell was his mouth and why was he talking?
His hand brushed my face. My lids fluttered open and I was staring into very amused bright baby blues. “There you are.” He was pleased with himself. “At least we still do that well.”
He was referring to the kiss. My brows came together. “Why’d you stop?”
“Because James is waiting on us.”
James? Yes, the realtor. So what? I was about to lift my hands and pull his face back to mine, but he took a full step back. I suddenly felt cold. I would have whined, but my brain was trying to reconnect the synapses that misfired during that crazy ass kiss. He looked smug. He drug his thumb across his lower lip, bringing my attention back to his mouth.
“Are you proud of yourself?” I asked, wiping my hands down the front of me.
“Mhmm.”
I shot a look at him. “Get over yourself. And don’t ever do that again unless you’re willing to lose a valuable body part.”
“No worries, Macie.” He was very self-satisfied. “If it happens again, it’ll be because you’re begging me too.”
I looked at him, dumbfounded. “You are hands down the most arrogant, cocky son of a bitch that I think I’ve ever come across.” I shook my head, which was no longer feeling light headed. “Let’s go.”
He followed me out the door. James and I talked out a couple of details and we parted ways. When I got in Dodger’s car, there was no denying the electricity that was still buzzing between us.
“So, you’re buying a house.”
“You’re so astute.”
He did my favorite side smirk. “That sassy mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble.”
“Yeah? How’s that?”
“You really like to push my buttons don’t you? You enjoy seeing my reactions.”
There was no reason to lie. “Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s fun.”
“Why is it fun?”
“I don’t know, it just is.”