Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Was she?
Had she been thinking about this kiss as much as I had? The way she trembled in my arms told me she had, told me that as much as she disliked me, our mutual attraction was powerful, and her curiosity had won out this time.
Her hips bucked against mine and she gasped, giving me time to deepen the kiss and explore the depths of her mouth. She tasted like coffee and chocolate, with a hint of cherry somewhere in there, and I pulled her even closer, kissed her even deeper. Something deep inside my brain told me to pull back, but my body had other ideas.
Bella pulled back first, brown eyes wide with shock, lips swollen from my kisses. “What was that?” She didn’t sound horrified—thankfully—but genuinely surprised.
I took a step in her direction and put my hands low on her hips. “That was something I’ve been dying to do for a long damn time.” Then I kissed her on the cheek, turned on my heels and left before she could tell me that kiss was a bad idea, and that it was not a part of our agreement.
Because it sure as hell would happen again.
Very soon.
Chapter 19
Bella
There are too many people here.
That was my first thought when I came downstairs dressed for Mom’s barbecue. Since I had no clue when the social worker would show up, I decided to dress as if I always looked well put together, which meant a lightweight blue cotton t-shirt dress and canvas sneakers with polka dots on them. Polka dots. Mom thought they made me look like a young, hip mother, and who was I to argue?
I stepped out on the back porch and took in the sheer amount of people in my backyard. Had the whole of Carson Creek showed up for this barbecue? Valona and Trey had shown up with their three girls. The twins had their faces buried in their phones while Keri chatted animatedly with Everest. Carlotta and Chase were here, looking like the quintessential small town power couple in their matching blue and white outfits. Ryan and Pippa sat on a blanket watching Ryanna pull up grass and shove it in her mouth. Derek and Roman chatted with some older people I either didn’t know, or didn’t remember from my childhood.
And Mom was the belle of the barbecue, in an aquamarine floor-length dress and an arm filled with bangle bracelets. She stood in the middle of a crowd of older townsfolk, laughing and smiling, the center of attention.
It was just after noon, and already the party was in full swing. At least it provided the perfect distraction from the kiss that my mind wouldn’t stop replaying in my mind. It was on a demon loop of never ending hotness. How could a man kiss so well? It started off nice and sweet, the kind of kiss that might guarantee a second date without promising anything, but in the next moment it was an inferno of heat and need. And when evidence of his arousal appeared, I wanted more. So much more.
I shook my head at my wayward thoughts, feet still frozen on the top step of the porch, gaze unfocused on the group having fun in front of me. One stupid misguided kiss and I was acting like a school girl with a crush, much as I had been back in the day before Derek had shown his true colors.
A hand on my back pulled me from my roiling thoughts. “You all right?”
Derek.
Think of the devil and he shall appear. I smiled at that and turned to him, which was exactly the wrong thing to do. This close, he was too potent with his piercing blue eyes staring down at me like I matter. His t-shirt pulled tight across his chest, showing off his ripped shoulders. I refused to let my gaze go lower than his abs, and yanked my eyes back up to his face. “I’m fine,” I assured him in a breathless tone. “Just a little overwhelmed by all the people.”
His hand started a soothing circle in the middle of my back, which had the desired effect of removing the tension from my body, but it quickly returned when he brushed his lips against my cheek. “You’ll be fine. Just smile.”
“Smile?” I looked at him like he’d grown two heads. “I’m not great with crowds.” Probably because I was always waiting for someone to start making fun of me, or making me feel as if I didn’t belong.
“It’s a barbecue, and all these people showed up to see you and Everest, and what you’ve done with the farm.”
I nodded, because he was right. This was a great time to promote the farm and remind people that there was plenty of fresh produce to be had. “Thank you, Derek. I feel like I’m saying that to you a lot lately.”