Page 63 of Single-Minded
“A second dose of Presley?” I tried to resist the urge to move a fallen strand of hair off her cheek but couldn’t do it. I gently brushed it away with the backs of my fingers.
Turning her cheek toward my hand, she said, “Mm-hmm,” her lids fluttering shut.
I let out a quiet growl, my blood pounding with desire, teeth clenching with frustration at this weakness for her. “It wouldn’t be smart.”
“Because of your job?”
I studied her beautiful face, working to get my mind to focus on the question instead of the little bow of her upper lip. In that moment, I admitted to myself, as important as my job was, it wasn’t what had me fighting myself so hard.
“We proved we could keep it a secret,” I said. “What Levi doesn’t know can’t hurt me.” His main concern seemed to be the optics anyway. I kept it to myself that he’d seen us Saturday, knowing it would only embarrass her.
“We did prove we could keep it a secret.” She looked at me expectantly. Hopefully?
“The thing is, I can’t give you anything, Presley.”
“You proved you can give me a hell of an orgasm…or three.”
This woman…
I loved the way she could be so proper and put together one moment, then throw out a blunt comment the next. The contrasts in her fascinated me and made me want to know her inside and out.
As she watched my reaction, desire was clear in her eyes. I ached to make her come apart right here, right now.
I put some space between us. Inhaled deeply, trying to get a grip on myself and this need for her that was more out of control than a runaway train.
“When my last relationship ended,” I said, unfolding the large cloth tarp and spreading it over the patio table to protect it from the paint sprayer, “my daughters suffered a profound loss. The second mother figure in their life left just like their mom did.”
“Oh, those sweet girls.” She pressed a hand to her chest and frowned.
“There’s nothing worse than watching my children’s hearts break—except knowing I caused it. I vowed to myself not to get involved with anyone while they’re at such vulnerable ages and so readily latching on to any woman who’s kind to them.”
Presley closed the space between us again and touched my chest. “Such a good heart in here,” she said quietly. She met my gaze. “They’re so lucky to have you, West.”
I swallowed. “That wasn’t true when April left. That was my fault. My careless decision to invite her into their lives got them hurt.”
“You couldn’t have known how it would end.”
“I should’ve known it would end sooner rather than later.”
“Your daughters seem like well-adjusted, happy little girls.”
“I can’t risk them getting hurt again because of my inability to make a relationship work.”
She nodded. “That’s a noble decision.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out whether that was a sincere comment. I didn’t give a shit about being noble. I just didn’t want anything to hurt my girls again, especially not something I brought upon them. I couldn’t spot any hint that she didn’t mean it.
“The thing is,” she continued, “I’m not a relationship girl myself. I’m not looking for anything permanent, West. I wouldn’t know what to do with a real relationship if it smacked me upside the head.” Her lips flickered into a vulnerable smile. “I like what I know of your daughters, but I’m not asking you to take me home to them. I happen to love what you do to me when they’re not around.”
I had a hard enough time resisting her when she wasn’t saying things like that. “We’re supposed to be working on your coffee shop.”
“You haven’t started working yet,” she said, her tone dripping with flirtation. She stepped closer, facing me, leaving inches between us, like a dare.
As if I needed to be dared.
I cradled her cheek in my palm and kissed her, aiming to be gentle and civilized instead of crazed, but at the first taste of her sweet, tempting lips, need shot through me. Presley seemed right there with me, gripping my upper arms as if she wouldn’t let me go if I wanted to.
As I kissed the hell out of her, I wound my arms around her, trailed them down to her sweet ass, and gripped her to me, pulling her against my erection, aching for release. Our moans and sighs filled the new room, bringing me out of myself enough to remember the door was unlocked. I carried her to the table and set her on the edge of it.
