Page 16 of Mine to Love
She swallowed. “Hi,” she managed.
“What are you doing here, Liberty?”
“Can I come in? I won’t stay long. Promise.”
He took a step back and waved his arm. “Would you like a drink? I was just about to pour myself a nightcap.”
“Sure, why not.” She followed him back into the kitchen. “Wow. This is nice.” She ran her fingers across the white and green granite countertop. “Did you do all this work yourself? Or did you hire someone?”
“Jameson and I did most of it. What was above our pay grade, we subbed out.” Miles pulled down two short glasses and waved a bottle of tequila. “I’m in the mood for something different.”
She nodded. “How long did it take you to finish this remodel?”
“I’m not done yet. The upstairs is a mess and right now, my master shower is out of commission.” He handed her a tumbler and leaned against the counter. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s late and I was going to have this one shot and go to bed, so what’s on your mind?”
“I see you’re still pretty pissed at me.”
He ran his hand over his mouth. “I’m not sure that’s the right emotion. It might be coming out sideways.”
“I’m sorry I implied you could be fibbing to my brother.” She tossed her shot back and inched closer. She curled her fingers over his thick biceps. A shock raced through her system like a lightning bolt. Her fingers stuck to his skin like hot glue. “People do it all the time and generally, they mean well, but if Gabriel learns the truth, it always ends up a mess.”
“Once again, proof he’s not that much different than the rest of us, because that would anger me too.” He reached out andtucked a few pieces of her hair behind her ear. His touch was tender. Gentle. Kind.
“I didn’t mean to insult you in my desire to protect my brother from more hurt and pain. I know you care about him and to be honest, I was both touched and little surprised by your big reveal to Gabriel. You’re incredibly sensitive to others and you’re one of the smartest people I know.”
He cocked his head. “I might give you the former, but not so much the latter.” He laughed. “Ever wonder why I listen to my texts most of the time over reading them?”
“No.” She shook her head. “And that has nothing to do with one’s intelligence.” Gently, she poked his chest, for no other reason than she wanted to touch his body. “Everyone in this town says you know more about cars than anyone else. I’ve heard from a few people that you’re pretty good with historical facts too.”
“Rote memorization is what got me through school. Doesn’t make me smart.” He folded his arms.
Damn, he honestly believed he wasn’t intelligent.
That tore through her soul.
She rested her hand on his shoulder, leaned in, and pressed her lips against his cheek, letting them linger longer than she should. “Thank you for all that you do for Gabriel and please accept my apology for being a bitch.”
“You’re welcome and it’s forgotten.” He grabbed her wrist. “But don’t ever call yourself that again. Now that we’ve talked, I understand why you thought I might have done that. Just in the future, lead with stuff like that.”
“I can do that.”
“Good.”
Her chest heaved up and down with every deep breath. She stared into his eyes and his captivating gaze wouldn’t let her look away. Her attraction to him confused her and she didn’t knowhow to contain it any longer. Desire and passion rippled across her skin like a rudder cutting through the water.
He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger, parting her lips. A moan escaped her throat, and his mouth covered hers in one of the most electrifying kisses she’d ever experienced.
Not that she’d had many.
She’d started dating Charlie when she’d been twenty and he’d been twenty-six. She suspected Miles had closer to ten years on her, but with him, it didn’t feel the same way. With Charlie, there had always been this odd parent-child relationship. He never treated her like an equal.
Miles did.
Slowly, his hand glided down her neck, landing on her breast. His touch was soft, barely a caress, until his thumb grazed her taut nipple.
Arching her back, she dug her fingers into his skin while he teased and tortured her body relentlessly.
Gloriously.
