Page 124 of Love in Riverbend
Letting go of his shirt, I take a step back, trying to ignore the erection trapped in his blue jeans. “It’s okay,” I say, “if you regret kissing me. Now and before.”
His touch returns to my chin, gently lifting it. “Regret? Fuck no.”
The sound of voices, Marilyn’s, Dad’s, and Ricky’s can be heard coming from the living room.
“You don’t regret it?” I ask softly.
“Do you?”
“No. But” —I jut my chin toward the door— “I don’t know what to do about them.”
“Right now,” he says, wiping his hand over his handsome face, “nothing.” His lips curl into a lopsided grin, and his blue orbs shimmer. “Maybe once you’re settled, we can see each other?”
“Are you asking me out?”
“Unofficially.”
No longer do I see my brother’s cocky friend. Justin is adorable and sweet when he’s uncertain. That is not the way he kisses. Heck no. There’s certainty in his ability. It’s this…talking…the unknown.
My confidence builds. “Let me know when it’s official, Justin Sheers, and then I’ll give you my answer.”
As the door opens, Justin lifts one of the totes from the floor, holding it in front of him.
I contain my smile, knowing what he’s hiding.
“There you are,” Ricky says to Justin. “Why the fuck is the door closed?”
“Oh, was it?” I say as innocently as possible. Looking at the open window, I reason, “Probably the breeze.”
Chapter 11
Justin
There are a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t have kissed Devan again today. Two of them will be seated in the cab of the same truck for three hours later today. There is only one reason I can justify what I did—I wanted to. I wanted to know if I’d blown BK up in my memory, if she was not the absolute best kiss of my life. I thought that knowing her identity would take away from the way her touch affects me.
Part of me wanted it to be true, for the feeling to be gone.
It only took a second of my lips on hers, her face in my grasp, the sounds of her breaths in my ears to know I’d made a horrible mistake. I should have spent the day pretending I didn’t recognize her. I should have kept with the mantra in my head about her being Ricky’s little sister.
Newsflash—she isn’t little anymore.
Shit.
I should have done almost anything other than kiss her again.
As soon as my lips captured hers, I was a fucking goner. I was already hard beneath my jeans before our tongues joined in on the action. Picking up that tote wasn’t because it needed to be packed. It was my shield. The last thing I need is Ricky to notice I have a hard-on with Devan.
“Something wrong?” Ricky asks as we move things around in the trailer.
“Hangry.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll take Devan’s car and get us all some lunch.”
“And leave me here to carry the rest of the shit down?” I shake my head. “Let’s find out what everyone wants, and I’ll go get it.” Yes, and I consider staying away until the trailer is filled. Staying away from the little firecracker upstairs that makes me want to forget everything and everyone but her.
Jack appears at the opening of the trailer with a large tote in his hands. “I’m running to McDonald’s. Can I get you two something?”
Shit.
