Page 7 of Tiago

“I broke up with Silvia four years ago.”

My breath hitches.“You haven’t dated anyone in four years?”

“Nope.I’ve hooked up with a few women since then, but not for anything serious or long-term.It’s been a while since I did that, too.”

“Why?”

He glances at me.“They weren’t you.”

I turn my attention back to the path.It’s wide enough to continue holding his hand here, but it will narrow in some places.He’ll have to let me go eventually, and I find myself not looking forward to that.

“So, you’re an artist?”

“Yes.I’ve been painting for most of my life.I’ve been fortunate enough to sell enough of my work to keep myself afloat.After I broke up with Silvia, nothing was tethering me to Upstate New York, so I bought an RV and started touring the country.”

“I’ve never been more than twenty miles away from Wilde,” I admit, feeling jealous.

He squeezes my hand.“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, Reagan.”

My heart races.He’s like a dream.Surely this isn’t happening.“I guess you have the funds to do so now that you have your inheritance.”I flinch as soon as those words come out of my mouth and look at him.“That didn’t sound right.I didn’t mean…”

He chuckles.“Don’t worry.I know what you meant, and for the record, I don’t exactly have my inheritance.Thomas McAndrews is the executor of the will.Each grandchild who shows up is entitled to a hefty chunk of the estate after ten years of living here.In the meantime, if we want some of our money, we have to go to Thomas and ask for it, and he has to approve it.”

“Oh.Ten years… That’s a long time.”

He chuckles.“Were you hoping I would be your ticket out of here?”

I gasp and jerk my hand free of his again.“No.”

He stops, turns, and wraps his fingers around the back of my neck.“Baby, I was kidding.Besides, I don’t give a fuck about my inheritance.I came to Wilde because I was curious.I figured, why not check out the situation?I’ll admit the town has grown on me, but you are quickly becoming far more important to me than anything in here.If you wanted to leave, I’d put gas in the RV and drive away without looking back.”

I stare at him again.He’s so intense.I know he’s serious.It’s madness.

He lifts a brow.“Any more questions?”

“No,” I whisper.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know, Reagan.I won’t keep secrets from you.”

“Okay.”I’m breathless as I lower my gaze to his lips.I want him to kiss me.Really kiss me.Not like the peck he gave me earlier.The only kisses I’ve experienced were sloppy ones from Greg in high school.I’d like to know what it feels like to kiss a man.

“Do you want me to kiss you, Reagan?”

“Yes,” I breathe, surprising myself.

Tiago slides his other hand to the small of my back and hauls me closer until our bodies are lined up and touching.After staring into my eyes for a long time, he angles his head to one side and sets his lips gently on mine.

His kiss is sweet.It’s more of a whisper.A promise.He takes his time, tasting my lips before opening his mouth and licking the seam of my lips.

I gasp as I open for him, and my knees go weak as soon as he expertly deepens the kiss, melding our mouths together as one.He slides his tongue in to duel with mine, taking his time, getting to know every crevice of my mouth.

By the time he releases my lips, I’m panting.If he let go of me, I would sway and probably trip and fall.But he doesn’t let go.He’s still holding my neck and my lower back.His huge hand is splayed so wide that I feel enveloped by him.Cocooned.Cherished.

If anyone passed us on this path, I would have no knowledge of it.The gossip mill would be running at full speed by the time we got back to town.I don’t think I care.

“Better than Greg?”

“Light-years.”

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