“Grant. What are you doing here?”
He took in her hair, slicked back into a low bun, but it was wet, so he knew she’d showered. The leggings and long-sleeved T-shirt she’d donned fit her petite, curvy body beautifully. The woman was never rumpled or disheveled. Ever.
“Can I come in?”
Without a word, she stepped back. To torture himself or to give her something to think about, he brushed against her on his way through the door, and appreciated the swift intake of breath she rewarded him with.
He’d been wandering around for most of the evening. He’d had dinner alone, looking over fresh notes about the race, the atmosphere, comparing them to old ones, emailing Bronson and Anthony. And then he’d been stewing over his father’s call.
But he hadn’t seen Tessa for...too long.
“You did amazing today,” he told her, raking his eyes over her.
She closed the door, leaned back against it and smiled. “Thank you. It’s a relief to have today over with, but now the work and pressure really begin. But this is the part I love. The buildup, the anticipation.”
“Take this win and leave the rest for tomorrow,” he told her.
He glanced around the neat space, noting the perfectly made king-size bed, the single suitcase on the stand.
“I didn’t want to interrupt after the race. You had quite the press surrounding you.” Her fresh-from-the-shower scent and those hip-hugging leggings were killing him. “I had to tell you congratulations.”
Tessa’s smile widened. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”
Pushing away from the door, she moved through an open doorway to a small living area. When she sank onto the floral sofa, she gestured toward the other end. “Have a seat.”
He sat down on the edge of the couch, rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “So, we go back to Stony Ridge tomorrow?”
“Yeah. More training awaits,” she told him, tucking a bare foot up onto the couch. “Did you get more useful information today?”
“I did. I’ve touched base with Bronson and Anthony, and we’re excited for next week, when they arrive.”
Tessa stared at him, her gaze never wavering from his. “Want to tell me what’s wrong? I know you came to congratulate me, but there’s more.”
How did she know? She barely knew him, and here she was, so in tune with his emotions, his body language. They were all alone, yet instead of any seducing or flirting, she’d picked up on his emotional state. What was he, a damn woman?
She’d gotten so far beneath his skin, he couldn’t hide anything from her. Especially after she’d witnessed his raw emotions the other night.
“Long day,” he told her. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you if you were getting ready for bed. I just didn’t want to come by earlier when you were busy, and then I was sidetracked.”
By the haunting words of my father’s call, and so many damn emotions.
“You’ve avoided me,” she told him. “For two days, you’ve talked to everyone but me.”
“I’m working,” he retorted, even though he knew where she was going with this. So he beat her to it. “Besides, you were gone the other morning when I got up, so I assumed you were uncomfortable. I wanted to give you space.”
“You were angry.” Tessa traced her finger over a small pink flower on the cushion and shrugged. “Seemed like you were hiding.”
Angry, no. Fighting to earn her trust before taking things to the next level, yes. He’d never worried about getting to know a woman, learning all about her and actually caring for her before taking her to bed. Tessa had woken something in him, something even more primal.
“I don’t hide from anything,” he protested. “Especially a woman.”
Her eyes came up and met his. “No? You’ve made a point to be in my business every day for five days, and the last two you vanish.”
Grant gritted his teeth. “I was working.”
“Me, too. So, do you want to talk about it?”
“What?”
She flattened her hand, smacking the cushion between them. “You have nightmares you refuse to face. Or we could discuss the fact that had you not stopped the other night, I would’ve given myself to you.”
Silence settled between them, joining the already crackling sexual tension.
Her eyes narrowed. “Pick one.”
Grant came to his feet, resting his hands on his hips. “Fine. Why were you ready to throw away your virginity on me the other night? You’ve held on to it this long, why not wait for someone who might actually stick around? Someone who is more compatible with you? Because, as you’ve established, we’re too different.”
For the first time since he’d stepped foot inside her room, he saw doubt flash across her face. Good. He wanted to make her think, make her really want him. Because he wanted her with a force he could barely control.
“We are different, Slick.” Her blue eyes traveled up the length of him as she tilted her head and smirked. “And maybe you were right, stopping the other night.”
“I was.” Hard as it had been to put the brakes on, he’d known the decision was the right one, and he was the only one who’d been thinking beyond that point. But they would get there...when they were both ready.
Tessa came to her feet, crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. “I know we’re different. I know all the reasons we shouldn’t be together intimately, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t care. A part of me that just wants to let you do anything you want.”
Grant had to really fight himself to stand still, to let her speak. But her words—her honest, raw words—were killing him.
“You do things to me,” she went on. “The way I feel when I’m with you is...different. That may only be one-sided, but I’m finding the attraction harder and harder to fight.”
No, this spark of something beyond physical was most definitely not one-sided. He’d found it harder than hell to stay away from her for two days, while trying to focus on the job.
“Why are you fighting it?” he asked.
“Because...well, what if I’m a disappointment to you? What if I’m disappointed myself in all of it? I mean, I’ve gone this long, and if I give in, what if I’m let down?”
Grant’s control snapped as he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. Her hands came up to his shoulders as she caught herself.
With his lips a breath away from hers, he whispered, “I guarantee when I get you in my bed, nobody will be disappointed, Tessa.”
Her eyes widened. “When? You mean, you don’t plan on stopping again?”
“I’m not taking you here,” he told her. “I want you to be trembling with want. I want you to think about me, about us, when you’re training, and I want your fantasies to override anything else.”
“Why?” she whispered.
He nipped at her lips. “Because you’re so self-contained, and I can’t wait to see you out of control and knowing I caused it.”
Her fingertips curled into his shoulders as he slid his mouth over hers. The brief, powerful kiss nearly had him dropping to his knees before her. But he had to remain in control here, because he was damn determined to get her to loosen up.
He tore his mouth from hers and stepped back. “Lock that door behind me, Country, and I’ll