Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
As far as Sam was concerned, she hadn’t said enough.
“Thanks for showing me this place.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and let out a blissful sigh.
His cock responded to the sound. “My pleasure. So . . . you told me why you chose Serendipity, but why the move in the first place?” He asked the question dogging him since he’d discovered she was here.
She turned to face him, her gaze serious. “Because I was finished living my life for others.”
He already knew that meant her parents.
“I liked the town . . . and the people from when I was in town before. Despite the horrible situation, I felt a connection here.”
She didn’t shift her gaze from his, warming him with her statement, which clearly included him.
“I’m here for me.” She shrugged. “It was really that simple.”
So much . . . and so little revealed, Sam thought, intrigued by her. “What are your plans?”
“Eventually, I want to open a specialty bake shop, but I’ll start by seeing if someone here will hire me while I’m getting my bearings in town. I want to research the area and make sure there’s a need for what I’m offering before I invest.”
“There was a bakery off Main Street that closed down a while back. Not because they couldn’t sustain business, but it was too much for the couple who owned it.”
“Hmm. I’ll have to look into it.”
“It’s smart that you’re not rushing into something. Taking your time to understand whether a business is viable is an intelligent move.”
Again, her cheeks flushed a deep shade. “Thank you.”
Unable to stop himself, he reached out and twirled a strand of her dark hair around his finger. “Would it bother you if I said I couldn’t stop thinking about you after you left town?”
She gazed at him through her thick lashes. “Only if it doesn’t bother you to know I felt the same way.” Her husky voice tripped the lever on his banked desire.
“Good to know.” He tugged on her hair and she leaned in closer, their mouths inches apart.
God, he wanted to taste her, to explore this living, breathing desire that shimmered between them. And when her tongue swept out, moistening her lips, the unpracticed move broke his control. Covering the distance between them, he brushed his lips over hers and she welcomed him with a soft sigh of acceptance. But she held back, waiting for him to take the lead. His pulse pounded as hard as his dick had become.
His body wanted to go fast, but something about Nicole kept his baser impulses in check. Keeping the kiss under control, he tasted her lips, sliding his tongue back and forth until she parted and let him inside. His tongue brushed hers and the taste of her exploded inside him. Her flavor was better than he’d imagined, and her sweet scent went straight to his cock.
Without thinking, he twisted her hair tighter, tilting her head for deeper access, which she freely granted. His heart knocked against his chest, the connection between them deepening along with the kiss. Only his free hand, clenched into a tight fist, helped him keep a grasp on reality.
Her tongue tangled with his, and the kiss went on, sweeping him along with her, until he was lost completely. Suddenly, laughter and the rowdy sound of a group of kids broke into their intimate moment.
She jerked back, face flushed, lips damp and curved in a smile.
He grinned back just as a pack of teens strode up to the gazebo, talking loudly and ribbing each other with insults and innuendo.
“Oh, man. It’s taken,” one of them said.
Nicole quickly rose to her feet, straightening her shirt, shaking her hand over her jeans. “We were just leaving,” she said to the boys.
Sam stood, grateful for the darkness that had begun to surround them, hiding the obvious evidence of his arousal. “I’ll walk you back,” he said, his voice unsteady.
“Okay.” Her lips twitched in a knowing grin.
He placed his hand on the small of her back, and she trembled. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one still being pulled under by the desire they’d unleashed.
Sam couldn’t remember the last time he’d made out with a woman in the middle of town, where anyone could see. Not that it mattered when all he could think about was this woman—and when he could see her again.
* * *
Nicole spent the next day getting her new apartment into shape. It helped once she unpacked some personal photos and knickknacks. She liked knowing she was settled, that she could look around and feel like she was surrounded by her favorite things.
She had a mental to-do list, and with her personal space in order, she could turn her focus to her career. As for what to do about Tyler’s father . . . she still didn’t know. Each option turned her stomach. So she focused on Sam—which wasn’t difficult since she couldn’t concentrate on anything but that kiss. Her lips still tingled with pleasure.