Page 58 of Love in Riverbend
I shake my head. Nothing is coming to mind except him.
“Telling me you were thinking about kissing me.”
I feel the heat rise in my skin. “I think you sent that to yourself.”
Dax pulls me closer, bringing my hips to his. “I’m thinking about it, Kandace. I’ve been thinking about it since I saw you at the softball game.”
“I’m scared,” I tell him honestly.
“Me too.”
I’m looking at his lips, trying to remember the way they felt on mine. Slowly, we move toward one another until it happens, and our lips meet. Strong and firm. Possessive yet gentle. He tastes like desire, the way I remember but even better.
Pushing up on my tiptoes, I take what I thought I’d never again have.
Dax’s hand moves up to my hair as his tongue teases mine.
I feel his kiss everywhere. It’s only our lips, but my body is sparking to life. Synapse after synapse is firing as electrical current flows from him to me. It’s been so long since I’ve been kissed, really kissed. It’s been equally as long since I’ve been with the only man who’s ever touched me this way. My knees go weak as he holds me against him.
When we finally pull away, I feel my cheeks warm.
His smile quirks. “I’m sure glad you sent me that text.”
I reach for his hand and talk about why I brought him up here. “I want to tell you what I want to do on this floor and the one above.”
“Molly told me you want to make this your home.”
“I do,” I say excitedly. “Dad’s been talking with Lynell, and Mick’s been working with me on ideas. Nothing is official, but try to picture this...” I begin describing the layout as I had to my mother. With each passing day, it feels as if my dreams may actually come true. “And then I’ll be home with Molly while being able to work at the same time.”
“It will be expensive.”
“I have savings.”
“I can help.”
“No. I need to do this myself.”
Dax goes to the large windows in the front of the room and looks down on Main Street. “I can help,” he finally says as he turns toward me. “If not money, I can physically help. On weekends when I’m here.”
“Did you buy Ruth’s house?” I hadn’t brought up the subject since he mentioned it the other night at ice cream.
He nods. “It is all but done. I’m buying it as is. I don’t want my parents in charge of the remodel if it’s my house.”
“I miss Ruth’s pictures,” I say.
“Replacing that ugly paneling in the basement was a good move.”
“I agree. It sounds like you’ll be busy doing work on your own place.”
“I’ve talked to Mick too. Since I won’t be here during the week, he said he can send crews in while I’m gone.”
“You’ll pay Mick to work on your house, but you’ll help me here. Why?”
Dax walks closer, too close, as he again snakes his arm around my waist. “Because you said you wouldn’t let me pay. And more importantly, if I’m here, I’m with you and Molly. That’s where I want to be, Kandace.”
“When are you going back to Chicago?”
“Wednesday.”
