Gavin’s smile faded to a frown. “Her love for me knows no bounds. I’m touched.” He shook his head. “Wow.”

“She has a lot of preconceived notions that come from years of listening to her disgruntled mother’s stories about working in Palm Beach. I don’t believe her, incidentally.”

“Good. Tell me why, though.”

“Because I base my opinions on actions, not assumptions. And you’ve given me no reason not to trust you. You’ve been honest with me—at least, I think you have.”

“There is something I’ve bent the truth on.”

“What?”

“I said my mother wouldn’t find out about this, and the fact is, I can’t guarantee that, especially with my meddling brother around. I can try like hell to keep things from her, but that woman has her ways sometimes. So tonight is a little bit of a risk. I’m technically putting your job in danger if somehow my mother finds out. Being here with you right now is really selfish and inconsiderate of me. But I can’t help wanting to be around you. And spending this time with you tonight only made it worse.”

How could I be mad at that?

“What other truths have you bent?”

“I’m pretending I’m okay being your friend right now, when all I want to do is taste your lips.”

I swallowed. He wasn’t the only one. I’d been staring at Gavin’s luscious mouth all night, wishing I could feel it on mine.

“I think you’re incredibly beautiful,” he added, “in a way that makes my pulse race every single time I look at you. Everything about you is different in a good way. You’re genuine as fuck, and I love being around you.”

Hardly able to breathe, I said, “You’re infatuated with me because I’m different. That will wear off.”

“Not sure how you could know that.”

As much as I loved being around him, too, I fell into self-protective mode. “I don’t want to be someone’s summer fling. I don’t think you’ll hurt me on purpose. I just think you’re having fun with the idea of me right now.”

“If you think that’s all this is, then why did you agree to come out with me tonight?”

That was a damn good question. There was only one answer. “Because on some level, I can’t help myself, either. I’m probably just as curious about you as you are about me.”

“Okay, so we know we’re bad for each other—or mostly, I’m bad for you—but yet…we want to be around each other anyway. So why bother trying to stop it?”

I didn’t want to stop it. And that scared the hell out of me. Instead of answering, I shut down. “I think you should take me home.”

“You’re deflecting. Okay. I’ll take that as you agreeing I’m right.”

He started the car and took off down the road.

After he turned onto my street, I pointed toward my house. “It’s this one right here.”

“I know.”

Surprised, I asked, “How do you know?”

“I saw it on Google Earth.”

“Creepy much?”

“I looked up your address in my father’s directory.”

“You wanted to see just how bad the other side lives?”

“No. Not at all. I was just curious. Not in a bad way.”

After he parked in front of my house, he looked out the window toward our modest home. “It’s…nice.”

“You’re so full of shit.”

“What do you want me to say? Nice rust stain on the side of the house?”

“At least that would be accurate!”

“I don’t think it’s bad at all. It’s a cute house.”

Feeling anxious, I looked toward the front door. “I’d better go before my mother notices the car.”

“Do you really think Renata would be mad that you’re with me? Or is it because of my mother?”

“It’s all about Ruth. My mom thinks you’re great. It has nothing to do with her feelings toward you.”

“Okay. Good. That would have sucked.”

I rubbed my hands together, not really knowing what to do with them. “Well…thank you again for a really fun time.”

Gavin just stared at me, his eyes heavy and fixated on my lips. Between that look and his arousing scent, I was so turned on. The last thing I wanted to do was leave. I wanted to taste him.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, though I loved the way he was looking at me.

“Like what?”

“Like you want to…eat me or something.”

“I do. Very badly.” He cocked a grin and shrugged. “Hey, you said you wanted honesty.”

The muscles between my legs clenched. “You’re so bad.”

“I think you like that about me, though.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because you’re still here. You could’ve run out of the car, but you don’t want to leave. I can feel it. You’re scared, but you don’t want to go.”

He reached over for my hand and threaded his long fingers with mine. My hand seemed so small inside his. He was a big guy.

He rubbed his thumb gently across my hand. I somehow felt it over my entire body.