Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
“He and my mother had a falling out. I used to spend my summer with him, and I loved it. Before I was old enough to know what wine was, he showed me how to age, smell, and sip it. My mother’s didn’t approve when they finally got wind of it and forbade me to come back. I cried every summer and begged for them to let me go, but then one day…” Her words faded off, and I knew what she was going to say because the day he died, sitting on the porch of his home, I left exactly the same way.
“Oh, sweetie, I am so sorry. That would explain the sad look he would often get out of the blue, and when I would ask, he would just say, " Fight for the things that matter, boy. They are the only reason to keep going.” She gasps and puts her hands to her mouth, hiccupping.
“Oh God. He still loved me. I missed him so much.” She is once again in my arms sobbing, and the only thing I can think of to make it stop is to kiss her. So that is what I do. I lift her chin and plant my mouth on hers. I know she has stopped crying, and I can lift my head, but now that I have her like this, I can’t talk myself down. When she gasps, I use the opening to slide my tongue into her mouth.
“Kiss me back, baby,” I whisper against her sweet lips. She hesitates, and I fully expect her to slap me or something, but then her hands grip my jacket, and the heat factor goes up. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her into relishing the evidence of her innocence. Slowly with actions, I show her how to kiss me back, and thank fuck she is enjoying this as much as me. I damn near forget where we are until dipshit clears his throat.
“If you two are quite done.” Butt hurt asshole. I look down at my girl's flushed cheeks and swollen lips and smile at her.
“Not by a long shot,” I say, staring right at her before following the group to our next destination. One place I am going for sure is inside of her, sooner rather than later.
CHAPTER
THREE
FEBRUARY
ONE WEEK LATER
The view from my room is lovely. The hotel I wanted to book was full, so we’re in an Air BnB. It’s the first time I’ve stayed in one. I had my doubts before, but there is something to be said about privacy. I’m drinking coffee, and wearing a bathrobe; the sun is shining down on my face. The sandy beach and water look so inviting. I slept in for the first time in years, and it was wonderful. Last night, we stopped in Mississippi and spoke to Chris Leonard, who emphatically did not donate sperm back in the day, but now we’re in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and all I can think about is putting on my bathing suit and heading down for a swim, so I do just that. It’s Saturday, and for the first time in forever, there’s no work to do.
I quickly change into my suit and knock on his closed bedroom door. He gave me the master, thankfully. All I can think about is that kiss we shared. My first kiss ever, and I swear, though it’s been days, my lips are still tingling from it. We haven’t talked about it. Do I really want to? Do I want him to tell me it was a mistake? I want to do more of it, but I have no idea how to bring something like that up. Before I can a second time, the door flies open.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. I feel my eyes widen as I take in the fact that he’s not wearing a shirt. Holy shit. His muscles have muscles. “Feb?”
“Ummm… Nothing is wrong. I was headed to walk on the beach and then hit the pool. I wanted to see if you wanted to join me.”
“Of course. Give me a few minutes. I was just having coffee.”
“Same.” I love the fact we are leisurely doing this. We could just as easily move quickly through my list, but Connall wants to have fun. With me. I’m trying desperately not to read too much into that, but it’s hard. I watch him walk away, and I stand awkwardly in the open doorway between our rooms, staring after him like an idiot. I force myself to make myself busy by tidying up the desk, getting rid of his coffee cups.
When he comes out of the bathroom, he’s wearing swim trunks. I almost swallow my tongue. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
We walk down to the beach in silence. It’s a little too cold to go into the ocean, but the house we are staying in has a heated pool. We walk back to the pool and move to the lounge chairs. I drape a towel over the chair. I kick off my sandals and pull my cover-up over my head. I hear Connall gasp behind me. He grabs my arms, pulling me closer to him.