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

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      From the get-go, he’d been drawn to her. For nearly a month he’d been flirting, chatting her up and teasing while keeping things superficial—the way he preferred his relationships to be. He liked to sit back and let women make the first move. Then he would inform them of his intent to stay single, and take it from there.

      Merrily hadn’t made a move.

      She was friendly enough, always gifting him with those dimples and smiles and bright green eyes.

      But then, she gifted everyone the same way.

      Why would an attractive, lusciously built, friendly woman have remained a virgin?

      Lack of interest from guys? No way.

      Merrily—God, he loved her name—looked like a stacked elf. Curvy, but still petite. Adorable, but with a sensual heat lurking in her gaze. Bubbly...and yet somehow a little reserved.

      Religious convictions?

      He didn’t think so. Not that he’d know how to tell just by engaging in occasional casual conversation with her while ordering lunch. But she had such a ripe look about her that it seemed at odds with any deep religious affiliation.

      Waiting for marriage?

      If so, then maybe he could convince her that experiencing life was better than waiting.

      She finished taking an order and turned to head back to the kitchen. Her silky brown hair, held in a high ponytail, swished back and forth between her shoulder blades with each hurried step she took.

      A plain sky-blue T-shirt hugged her upper body, while snug jeans showed off her curvy backside.

      Brick shifted again. In the weeks he’d known her, he hadn’t pressed her beyond friendly greetings and putting in his lunch order. But how much time could he spend hanging out at the diner before she caught on to his interest?

      Was she a virgin? He wanted to find out. He would find out.

      And with that decision made, he felt himself stir.

      Damn it, around her, he had to constantly fight off a boner. Insane. At twenty-eight, he didn’t lack control. But she affected him—and that was reason number one why he’d hesitated to ask her out. A woman with that much influence on his libido could only be trouble. He liked being free of commitments and took great pleasure in answering to no one for anything, being accountable only to himself.

      A clingy, marriage-minded woman could put a kink in his lifestyle.

      But he could be her first...

      Brick shook himself because reason number two—her supposed innocence—was a biggie.

      If she was waiting for Mr. Right, or if she had some strong reasons for avoiding intimacy, well...he’d be as wrong for her as wrong could be. He’d ensure she enjoyed herself while in the sack, but afterward, when the spark faded and he walked away...

      Yeah, much as he relished the idea of her innocence, he didn’t relish the idea of breaking her heart.

      Unfortunately, he wasn’t into self-torture, and not having her would be pretty torturous, so to hell with it. He’d just have to figure out a way to have it all, and if—

      “Hey, Brick. What’s up?”

      Guilty over the carnality of his thoughts, Brick jumped a good foot. “Damn it,” he complained when diners at nearby tables glanced at him. He scowled over the appearance of his good friend, Jesse Baker. “I didn’t see you come in.”

      As he sat opposite Brick in the booth, Jesse scrutinized him. Then he looked back at where Brick had been staring. He saw Merrily bent over a table as she served an older couple, turned back to Brick and grinned. “Taking in the view?”

      “I was—but you shouldn’t.”

      “Ho! Are you warning me off? Seriously?”

      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?”

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