Page 16 of A Family Affair: The Cabin
“My grandmother always said I was healthy-looking.”
“You really don’t like compliments, do you?” What woman didn’t want to hear how beautiful she was? None that he’d known.
Elissa shook her head. “I’d rather you told me I was a decent person with a brilliant mind.” She tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear, cleared her throat. “We were raised to be practical. No room for big egos in our household.”
“It’s not like you’ve got your face stuck in a mirror. I’m beginning to wonder if you know how beautiful you are.”
“Beautiful? Uh, no.”
“You don’t think you’re eye-catchingly great-looking?”
“Of course not.” She gulped the rest of her wine. “I’ve known people who are, like Zachary’s other fiancée. I’m not one of those people, and I’m fine with that. It is what it is. If I were drop-dead beautiful then I’d have to worry about my hair and makeup being in place, and then I couldn’t go in public unless I looked the part. No thank you. I’m fine with ordinary.”
“Trust me, Elissa, you are not ordinary.”
She actually laughed, as though she thought he were so far off base it wasn’t funny. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
“What?” It was his turn to blush. “No, of course not.”
“Oh.”
She said it like she was disappointed. “Elissa? What’s going on?”
She dragged her gaze to his. “If you were trying, I’d rather you didn’t use a line on me.”
“It wasn’t a line.” He paused, his voice thick with emotion. “And if we got together, it would not be a staged seduction.”
“Good.”
“It would be because...”
Her eyes sparkled. “Because...”
“We both wanted it?” he ventured.
Her lips parted. “Uh-huh.”
Need fought with common sense; need won out. “So, do you…”
“Pete.” She reached for him, kissed him with such passion, his world exploded. Hard. Heavy. Complete. Another kiss, this one deeper, more consuming.
He broke the kiss, cupped her chin with his fingers. “Are you sure?”
A dip of her head, followed by a breathy, “I don’t want you to stop.”
His conscience kicked in. Did she understand this wasn’t going to be about more than lust and passion? “I’m no good at relationships.”
“I’m not asking for a relationship.”
Women like Elissa didn’t outright ask, but the implication was there, especially when they said it wasn’t. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He was dying to bury himself inside her right now, but she deserved more than just sex. Why couldn’t she see that?
“I understand. You don’t want a relationship.” Her voice turned soft, swirled through him in a rush of heat. “I get it.”
“I’m not sure you do.” How many men had she known like him? A handful? Less than that?
“I’m a big girl. I know exactly what you are and aren’t offering.”
“Elissa.”
