The heat in that glance set his blood humming again. "Just kinda?"
She licked her lips. "Okay, more than just kinda." Suppressed excitement vibrated in her voice.
The sight of her tongue wetting her lips had Derek choking for air. For a moment he thought of Caleb and felt guilty. He wasn't the squeaky clean boy scout Caleb wanted for his sister. On the other hand, Hannah knew what he was. He wasn't deceiving her, like her ex had.
He reached out and placed his hand over hers. "I'm relieved. I was afraid you'd shoot me down in flames."
"I doubt many women would shoot you down."
Chuckling, he stroked his thumb over her fingers. "I think you're hitting on me, Hannah."
"No, no. I don't know the first thing about hitting on anyone."
"You're doing just great. Keep it up."
She hesitated for a few seconds. "But I shouldn't be doing this."
"Why not?"
"I'm divorced, I have no money, and I'm starting college soon."
"So?" He liked the feel of her hand. He imagined it running over his body. Oh, yeah …
"I have enough complications in my life already," she said.
"I'm not looking to complicate your life."
"But you are because you're Caleb's best friend."
He sighed, the heat ebbing. Caleb, again. Yes, Caleb wouldn't like him hitting on his sister, but Caleb didn't know about his secret crush on Hannah because Derek was good at hiding his emotions. And besides, he'd never really thought about acting on his feelings until he'd bumped into Hannah tonight and sensed that she was attracted to him, too. He'd never have hit on Hannah if she wasn't putting out these more-than-friendly vibes.
"There's no law against admiring a best friend's sister," he said.
She blushed, and there was pleasure in her expression mixed with confusion. "I'm flattered, really I am." He read the admiration reflected in her eyes, and felt himself grow hotter in response. "But … "
The word hung between them. Was she still viewing him as a kid? God, how he hated that. He wasn't the deprived teenager she used to know. He was an adult, a success. A man. Couldn't she see that?
She pursed her lips, and the sight of her soft, cherry-red mouth pouting at him had his blood thumping.
He might never get this opportunity again. This was his last night in Pine Falls, and Hannah was more gorgeous than ever. And dammit he needed her to see him for the man he now was.
"Why does there have to be a ‘but'?" He tightened his fingers around her hand. "Why can't we live in the moment without worrying about the buts?"
"Live in the moment?" Hannah said, almost gulping. She couldn't even breathe properly while Derek was holding her hand. "Is that your motto?"
"It is for tonight."
"Tonight feels like a hallucination." She twisted her half-empty mojito glass. "Or maybe it's the mojitos. I've never had a head for liquor."
Derek plucked the glass from her fingers and set it aside. "Right. No more mojitos for you. I don't want you saying I took advantage of you."
"I don't think any girl would complain if you ‘took advantage.'" Oh my goodness. Why did she keep blurting out these flirty lines at Derek? "Er, I mean, yes, you're right. I'm sure you don't need the publicity, especially after Marla." Shoot. She was making this worse. She hadn't intended to mention Marla.
Derek's lips twisted. "You're not like Marla."
Her heart fell. "You're right. I'm no Marla Beaudry."
"No, I … That's not what I meant." He tugged on her hand, and his gaze focused on her. "You're much hotter than she is."
The intensity of his blue eyes stole the air from her lungs. "God, Derek, you shouldn't say things like that."
"Why not? It's the truth. I think you're beautiful and gorgeous and incredibly sexy."
He stroked his thumb across the tops of her fingers, his clasp warm and sure. She watched, mesmerized, as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each finger, slowly and gently. His lips were soft, contrasting with the graze of his jaw. Desire rippled through her.
Derek was so close she could smell his musky cologne and glimpse the faint smattering of chest hair revealed by his open shirt. An image of herself unbuttoning his shirt and sliding a hand over his superbly defined pectorals rose in her mind. Heat flamed in her, three quarters desire and one quarter guilt. She shouldn't be fooling around with her kid brother's friend, but she'd never felt such an instant, intimate connection with a man before. Her senses yearned for more …
His eyes held hers as he turned her hand and pressed his mouth to her palm.
She gasped. It felt like he was kissing the most intimate part of her.
"You like that?" he murmured against her palm, eyes fixed on her all the while.
All she could do was nod, mesmerized by his touch, his gaze. Derek looked at her as if there was no one else in the bar, as if she was the only person in the world, the only woman he wanted to be with. And as she basked in the blue glow of his eyes, for the first time in years she felt empowered and sensuous. Felt beautiful and gorgeous and sexy, just like Derek said.
She ached for his mouth on hers, ached to lose herself in him.
"Show me, then." He brushed his lips across her fingertips. "Show me how much you like it."
A new, extraordinary energy streaked through her. It felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. She arched her palm against his lips, then curved her fingers around his chin as she stretched her upper body across the table. The soft scratch of his bristles against her fingers excited her. The sudden flare in his eyes aroused her.
She pressed her lips against his. For a second she was still, relishing his softness, his surprise. Then she intensified the kiss, and Derek returned it, taking his cue from her. His lips were gentle and restrained, though she sensed him holding back. She lost herself in the kiss, tumbling headfirst into a sensuous whirlpool. Kissing Derek was like nothing she'd ever experienced. Her mouth clung to his as tiny gasps of pleasure shuddered from her. His lips moved over hers, asking for more, and she gave it to him, parting her lips to the pressure. The sweep of his hot tongue inside her mouth jolted her.
She pulled free, surprised at the deep surge of lust overwhelming her body.
"Hannah?" Derek's pupils were fully dilated. A pulse kicked in the base of his throat.
"W-wow." She sat back, helpless to the sensations pounding through her.
"Wow is right." He threaded his fingers through hers.
She fanned her hot face with her other hand. "Must be those mojitos."
"I thought it was my irresistible charm."
"No, I think I'd rather blame the mojitos."
He tugged at her hand. "Why don't we put it to the test again? Somewhere private."
"Private?" Her heart jumped.
"Yeah, like your place."
Her poor heart hopped again. "You mean you want to … " Oh God, she couldn't even say the words.
"You want to, too." His thumb drew circles on her palm, maddening her with desire. "Take me home with you, Hannah."
"I … " She bit her lower lip. She couldn't deny her need. Derek was all man, and if she let him, he could make her feel all woman again. Didn't she deserve that? Wasn't that exactly what she needed to kick off her new life? One night of hot, no-strings-attached sex to boost her confidence? "I want to, yes, but I don't want anyone to find out."
Especially Caleb. Since she'd moved back, her brother had become so over-protective. He seemed to blame himself that her ex had cheated on her, which made no sense. But he appeared determined she wouldn't fall for another player, and with Derek landing squarely in that category, she knew Caleb would get all worked up if he found out about her and Derek.
"No one will find out. I'm leaving tomorrow, remember?" Derek reminded her.
Plus, Caleb was out of town. And she was a woman with needs. And a hot, young man who knew his way around in bed was dying to take her home and take care of those needs. If ever she had a chance to throw off the shackles of her cheating ex and feel young and confident and sexy again, then this was it. Tonight only. A one-night chance for a one-night stand to make her feel like a real woman again.
"It can only be one night." She felt compelled to make sure Derek knew this, even though she was sure he was no stranger to one-night stands.
Holding her hands, he drew her to her feet. "One night is all I need to rock your world."
Chapter Four
Is this really happening?
The question floated through Hannah's mind as she found herself being driven home in Derek's SUV. She could barely believe this luxurious Range Rover was his. Back in high school, he'd driven a rusty old clunker that belched black smoke like a steam train. Now he had leather seats, climate control, and a serious sound system pumping out Red Hot Chili Peppers. In contrast, her beat-up old Ford Fiesta didn't even have working AC.