When he stood, she crossed her arms and shook her head. “Neat boots, but you can’t go out like that.”
“Oh?” He arched a brow. “Why not?”
“It’s cold outside.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He was already damn fine with his luscious torso bared for all the world to see. A thick lock of dark hair hung over his brow, drawing attention to those beautiful eyes and sexy-as-hell lips. If they went outside with him looking like that, they would be mobbed by a pack of infatuated women.
Her lips pursed. “I’m not taking you around like that.”
Aidan frowned. “What do you want me to do?” Then his eyes widened and he crossed his arms, mimicking her pose. “Is this your way of saying you don’t want me to go with you?”
“No! Well…yes.” She tossed up her hands. “Maybe I can come back at lunchtime with something for you to wear? Then you can spend the rest of the day with me.”
“Remember what we talked about?” he asked grimly. “You be open with me. I do the same with you.”
Snorting out a laugh, Lyssa said, “Funny how that’s led to you knowing everything about me and me knowing jackshit about you.”
“I’m ready to talk anytime. Now would be good. You’re the one who’s got to fit me into her schedule.”
“You’re the one who invited himself over without a common courtesy call first!”
Aidan opened his mouth to retort, then blew out an exasperated breath. “You want to tell me why we’re arguing?”
“We’re not—” Lyssa stopped when he arched that brow at her again. She shrugged lamely. “I’ve got a problem with you being seen half naked, okay?”
He blinked. Then a slow, sinful grin spread across his features. “Are you feeling possessive, Hot Stuff?” he asked with laughter in his voice.
“No,” she lied, turning away and moving quickly toward the door. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be back around—”
He caught her with both arms around her middle, lifted her feet from the floor, and carried her out. Down the stairs they went, with him chuckling the whole way.
“What are you doing?” she asked in the sternest voice she could manage while grinning like an idiot. He was a big, brawny bully with an adorable smile and far too much arrogance.
She liked him. A lot.
“Coming with you. I’ll wear one of Mike’s lab coats, if that makes you feel better.”
She stiffened. “You know what? The stalkerlike amount of information you have about me is freaking me out.”
“I’m sure it is.” He stopped in front of the breakfast bar. “Grab your stuff.” She caught up her purse and keys. “And the two books right there.”
“Yeah, about these books. What the hell are they, Aidan, and why are they in my house?”
“They’re homework to keep me busy.”
She bit back a retort, and then found herself fighting to stay mad, which wasn’t easy while being carried around like a sack of potatoes. Aidan nipping at her neck didn’t help, either.
“Stop that! Watch where we’re going.”
He didn’t need the admonishment. He moved with unerring precision, clutching her with one arm while using the other hand to turn off the lights and coffeemaker, and open the door to the garage.
“We’re putting the top up,” she muttered as she dropped into the driver’s seat, imagining stopping at a red light and the stares Aidan would elicit.
“You’re being silly.” He stilled her hand when she reached to engage the automatic soft top.
His mouth was a breath away from hers. He paused there, caging her in, making her wait. She could lean forward just that little bit and press her lips to his, but the need for answers and her growing unease were strong enough to hold her back.
Aidan hid his mounting frustration as Lyssa held out, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, but otherwise making no move to close the gap between them. He caught the seat belt, pulling it across her lap and snapping it into place. Then he gave her a quick buss on the lips, walked around the front end, and slid into the passenger seat.
She waited a moment, staring at him with those dark eyes that told him everything she was thinking. It was one of the many things he adored about her—the lack of guile. With her, he could just be. There was no mask to wear, no rigidity to maintain.
The relief of that was like a deep sigh after holding one’s breath too long, but the new wariness he felt in her made his entire body tense. Needing to hold her to him, Aidan reached out and laced his fingers with hers.
“You’re trouble with a capital T,” she murmured with a sigh.