Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82747 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
The man is going to get the biggest raise or, at a minimum, will be named employee of the damn year.
Riley swallows, a hint of that nervousness I didn't see before clouding her eyes a little before giving him a weak smile and handing over the spatula.
When she steps away from the group of men, I could easily guide her into the house, but flat, soft surfaces being at our fingertips probably isn't the best idea. As much as I'd like to strip her down and spend the day worshipping her body, I really do have a list of jobs to work through today.
"Save some for us or else," she warns them all before stepping up in front of me.
Instead of directing us toward the house, I guide her around the trees so we're out of sight of the crew. I can still hear them making obscene noises as each one tastes her food. I'd think they were exaggerating their pleasure just to make her uncomfortable, but I've tasted that particular casserole before, and my tongue is tingling with the mere thought of shoveling some of it into my mouth.
She turns to face me, and suddenly I'm nervous. I've said things in the past that weren't received the way I wanted them to be, and that makes me cautious about doing it again because of the threat of driving her away completely.
Worry fades away when, before I can open my mouth to apologize for whatever it is that has put days of distance between us, Riley steps in closer. In the next breath, her arms are around my waist as she lifts up onto the tips of her toes to press her lips to mine.
My brain fritzes for a second, making her pull back slightly with a look of pain in her eyes as if she made a move and I'm rejecting her.
"Get back here," I grumble and lock my arms around her waist.
This kiss feels like the first one, causing an arc of electricity down my spine, letting it simmer in the deepest parts of me before radiating out to every cell in my body.
I feel like a live wire, as if I could provide the amount of electricity needed to power the entire town.
I groan into her mouth, smiling when I feel her lips turn up into a smile against mine.
With an arm wrapped around her middle, I guide her a few feet backward, pressing her body against a massive oak tree and rolling my hips to let her know just how easily she affects me.
"Riley," I whisper, suddenly wishing we'd gone inside instead of staying out here. "I—"
"That right there looks almost better than the casserole."
I snap my eyes in the direction of the voice, ready to fire the man willing to interrupt this moment.
Riley buries her head into my chest, and I hate that I'm glaring at Ronnie instead of seeing the pink I know is in her cheeks.
"What?" I snap at the man.
"Sorry to interrupt," he says without an ounce of remorse in his eyes. "Ms. Riley, do you have maple syrup? My momma always had some when she made this type of breakfast."
"Are you kidding me?"
I'm seething, and Ronnie doesn't even spare me a glance as he waits for Riley's reply.
"There's some in the tote bag on the table," she says, her fingers curling into my shirt when I move to lunge at the guy.
Ronnie dips his head in thanks before disappearing around the edge of the tree.
"I'll kill him," I grumble as I look back down at her, trying my best not to get too lost in the way her lips are cherry red and slightly swollen from our kiss.
"Leave him be," she says, the warmth of her fingertips working their way up my chest before settling at the nape of my neck.
I could get lost in this woman's gaze for a lifetime, and there's something a little calming about that, but at the same time, it makes me question my sanity.
"I've missed you," I whisper, thoughts of Ronnie's interrupting quickly fading away.
"I've been right down the hallway. Let's go have some breakfast. I doubt you've had a decent meal in days."
Chapter 29
Riley
Thousands, if not millions, of questions, swarm through my mind as I look up at him.
The bite of the tree at my back counters the way his body pressed to mine makes me feel, and I find something thrilling about the opposing sensations. I can tell by the way he rolls his hips that there's a part of him that wishes we were alone right now, and if I take a moment to try and figure out exactly what I want, part of me wishes his crew were off on some job and not a mere ten or so feet away. But even with him looking down at me like I'm the only woman he's ever truly seen, there's always that whisper of doubt in the back of my mind. I can't imagine a day when that whisper isn't going to be just a little louder than the one urging me to sink into his arms and trust that he'll never hurt me.