Turn Up The Heat: Love Won't Wait / Beach House Beginnings / Strong Enough to Love

Brick hated to admit it, but... “Yeah, I am.”

“Huh.” Jesse eyed him with humor and great interest. “Well, in case you missed it, every guy with a pulse is also taking in the view. Why should I be the only one not to look?”

Brick didn’t have to answer because Merrily joined their table, menus in hand. As she leaned over to place a menu in front of him, she said, “I’m so sorry for the wait. What can I get you guys to drink?”

Brick inhaled the scent of her hair and skin and froze as his pulse rushed and a slow heat unfurled. Her nearness affected him like a full-body caress, leaving him in a lust-inspired stupor.

Straightening, she struck a casual stance, one slim brow lifted, a half smile on her mouth, her eyes inquisitive...and Brick knew he was going to get hard.

Jesse eyed him again, snickered at his obvious condition and said, “I’ll take a Coke.”

“Yeah.” His voice was so thick, Brick cleared his throat. Fighting the urge to study her body, he locked his gaze on her face. “Coke, light ice.”

“Sure thing, guys. Be right back.”

As she sashayed off, he released a pent-up breath.

And Jesse let loose a big guffaw. “What the hell, Brick?”

“Shut up.” He tugged at the leg of his jeans, but it didn’t help with the restriction of the denim.

“She’s hot,” Jesse agreed, as if he’d invited comment. “For a virgin, that is.”

Eyes closing, Brick fought off the wash of automatic anger. He had no claim on Merrily—and he didn’t want a claim.

He just wanted to be first.

So why should Jesse’s taunt bother him so much? Easy answer: it shouldn’t.

When he felt calm enough, he stared at Jesse and spoke in what he hoped sounded like mere curiosity. “You heard that, too, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jesse studied him with tempered humor. “It’s an intriguing concept, right? Initiation and all that.”

Oh, yeah. Brick shook his head in denial. “You’re an ass, Jesse.”

“Just being honest. What red-blooded guy wouldn’t be drawn to the idea of a woman who looks like she does but is still untouched?”

“Who says she’s untouched?” The croak was back in his voice, but he pretended not to hear it. “There’re all sorts of things to do that could leave a woman a technical virgin but not really inexperienced.” And thinking about those things wouldn’t help to cool his engines.

Merrily returned. She set the drinks down and pulled out a notepad and pen from her apron pocket.

And damn it, even that rumpled apron seemed somehow sexy, which was absurd given it was plain old sturdy white cotton.

“What’s it gonna be, guys?”

God, such a loaded question.

Jesse, obviously enjoying his predicament, looked at Brick and waited for him to order.

Without touching the menu, Brick said, “Burger, loaded. Fries. And some hot sauce, please.”

Her dimples appeared. “I should have known. That’s a regular order for you. Maybe I can start using that old clichéd line.”

The things her smile did to him... “What line is that?”

She struck a pose, then asked, “The usual?”

“Ah.” She was so cute. “Could be. I’ve been eating here forever, but you’ve worked here for...what? A month now?”

“Just about.”

He already knew that, of course. Hell, he could tell her how many days, and if he thought about it, probably how many hours. He’d been a little obsessed since the first day he saw her, and once he heard that virgin business, he’d been lost. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

Jesse kicked him under the table. Yeah, that was pretty lame, deserving of a kick.

But she didn’t seem to notice. “I like it here. Everyone is so nice. And they’ve been great about working with me on my hours.”

This was the first time she’d deliberately lingered to talk and Brick wanted to take advantage of it. “Meaning?”

She was always there for lunch but barely for the start of the dinner crowd and almost never for breakfast.

“I have classes.” The smile widened. “I’m going to be a physical therapist—that is, if I ever get done. It’s been slow going so far.”

“Yeah?” His elbows on the booth top, absurdly charmed for no apparent reason, Brick leaned forward. “Why the delay?”

“I relocated, and that threw me off for a while, getting settled in and everything. It wasn’t easy finding a place that’d take my pets. And the pets, of course, take up some of my time.”

“Pets, plural?” So she was an animal lover, too? Nice.

“Two dogs and three cats.”

He liked animals, so that didn’t faze him. “A regular menagerie.”

She laughed, and it was like getting French-kissed by a really hot chick.

“They have very different personalities, and I love them all. They’ve gotten me through some rough times.” Suddenly catching herself, she shook her head—still smiling—and turned to Jesse. “I’m sorry for going on and on. What can I get you?”

As if waking up, Jesse said, “Hmm? Oh. I’ll take a BLT and chips, and throw some pickles on the side, will you?”

“You’ve got it. I’ll get this right out to you.”

Off she went, with Brick staring after her...until Jesse grabbed his heart and feigned a swoon.

Damn it, it rankled that Jesse had reason to harass him. “Go screw yourself.”

Jesse laughed. “You look like a lovesick pup! What the hell, Brick? Mooning over her? Hanging on her every word? I half expected you to slide out of your seat and onto your knees before her.”

“I repeat, go screw yourself.” But he knew it was true. Even now he had to consciously fight the urge to track her every movement in the restaurant. He didn’t do things like that. He didn’t get all hung up on a woman. Ever.