Sinner (Shelter Harbor #1)(3)

I swallow the thick lump in my throat, feeling my heart thump scandalously in my breast. My eyes ignore what my brain is telling them, and start to trail down over his muscled back, down lower, and lower still to the hard curve of his-

Heaven help me.

I suddenly regain control of my senses and force myself to look elsewhere before my eyes can really focus on his bare bottom.

I pointedly look away as I loudly clear my throat.

He mumbles something, stirring a little, but it quickly turns back into even breathing.

I bite my lip, still adamantly looking away.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

This is Rowan Hammond? This is the man I need to get the spare key to the rental house from? I chance another look, but immediately regret the decision as my eyes drop scandalously back to his backside.

His very muscled, very perfect, very naked-

Stop that!

I quickly turn away, facing the door and admonishing myself for giving in to the wicked temptation of the flesh.

Just get the key. Get the key and get out of this place.

I cough again, louder this time, but it only gets the same mumbled snore as before. I square my shoulders, take a deep breath, reach for the doorknob, and quickly open and slam the door shut.

“Fuck!”

The deep, gritty voice from the man behind me startles me, even if I’m the cause of waking him.

“Who the fuck?”

I chance a glance behind me, and his mouth snaps shut.

He grins.

“Well a good morning to you too, angel,” he says in a smooth baritone.

I freeze, head turned toward the man now sitting up on the couch with a sheet over his lap. “I, uh, I need-”

“Didn’t see you here last night.”

“Oh, no,” I shake my head as I turn towards him. “No, I’m just here for-”

“Shoulda stuck around for last call,” he chuckles, bringing a hand up and pushing his fingers through his thick brown hair. Dark eyes pierce up into me, standing there frozen in place.

“Man, things got a little crazy last night.” He clears his throat, bringing the bottle in his hand up and squinting at it before grimacing and placing it on the floor at his feet. He glances back at me as he lounges back on the sofa, and I swallow again, forcing myself to look up at the wall above his head instead of the way his lean body coils and ripples as he eases his hands behind his head.

“You and me?” He grins, nodding his chin at me. “I think you and me could’ve had a good time.”

I lose the battle to avert my eyes from him, and when I do cave and glance back at him, my face immediately turns bright red. “Oh, no, I don’t think so,” I say with a frown. “I’m-”

“And yet, here you are.”

“I’m Evangeline.”

There’s zero recognition on his face. “Sounds good to me,” he says with a roguish grin. His dark eyes slide down over me, sending a shiver through my body I try to ignore and I hate that I can’t.

“No,” I shake my head, not sure if I’m saying it in response to him or to myself. “No, I mean… I think you were expecting me?”

He grins widely. “I wasn’t, but let’s call this a pleasant surprise.”

His eyes move back down over me, and I’m immediately regretting my choice in sundress.

“I’m just here for-”

He chuckles. “I think we both know why you’re here, angel.”

Suddenly, he stands, and the sheet drops away.

Oh Lord!

I force myself to look away, but it’s too late.

I clutch my hands in front of myself, swallowing again and wrinkling my brow as I stare at the ceiling.

I can feel him move towards me, and it’s everything I can muster not to turn and flee from the room.

I just need the key. Besides, what exactly would I say to father if I got back without it? ‘Sorry, I couldn’t get the key to the rental house because the naked man wouldn’t give it to me?’

‘That’s how you go to hell. That way leads to wickedness’, is what father would say.

And he’d be right.

“So, I’ve got an idea,” Rowan purrs.

“Look,” I say pointedly. “I just-”

“What’d you do, sweetheart? Left your card here last night? Forget to pay your tab?” He chuckles. “You girls threw one hell of a bachelorette party, I’ll tell ya.”

“No,” I shake my head. “No, I-”

“Well whatever it is, don’t you worry your pretty head about it.” I can feel him lean close, and even though I’m still pointedly looking away, I can feel the heat of him tingling across my skin. His hand is suddenly on my arm, and I shiver as I feel his fingers walk their way up. My breath catches as he walks them higher, all the way to my shoulder, where they linger on the strap of my sundress.