Page 30 of Summer in Kentbury
“I’ve missed you too,” Sinclair murmurs, his voice low and rough with emotion as he pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that makes my knees go weak. “More than I ever thought possible.”
As his words hang in the air, a palpable tension builds between us through so many texts and all those phone calls. For a moment, we’re frozen, caught in the gravity of unspoken feelings and the long distance that separated us for weeks. Then, almost as if drawn by a force beyond our control, Sinclair closes the distance.
His hand cradles the back of my neck, rough calluses scraping against my skin as he pulls me closer. I tense, a flutter in my stomach, knowing what’s about to happen but still not quite believing it. Our faces inch nearer until I can feel his warm breath, smell the pine and leather that is so uniquely him. His eyes lock with mine, an intensity and longing in his gaze that makes my knees weak.
“Are you sure about this?” he murmurs, his voice low and husky, vibrating with an undercurrent of longing.
My eyelids flutter closed, and I nod, past the point of words. There’s no turning back now. His lips meet mine, and a jolt of electricity races through me, igniting a fire along my veins. My hands rise instinctively to grip his muscular arms as he deepens the kiss, claiming me with a need that steals my breathaway. I can’t think, can’t focus on anything but the overwhelming sensation of his mouth on mine, his body pressed firmly against me.
In the fleeting moments we share, I marvel at how swiftly and recklessly we shorten the space between us—from strangers to almost friends, to something teetering on the precipice of much more.
So much more.
As we stand here sharing our first kiss, allowing the world around us to blur into a backdrop, I realize how much more there is to this budding connection. It’s not just our tongues and mouths that are aligning but something deeper, more intrinsic.
Perhaps our souls are beginning to entangle, knitting together in a pattern too complex for us to understand just yet. It’s thrilling and a bit terrifying to acknowledge how deeply someone can affect you, how quickly defenses crumble and how fiercely the heart can beat for someone who just moments ago was nothing more than a stranger.
Gradually, the kiss slows, the world coming back into focus. He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his breath mingling with mine, his forehead resting against my own. We stare at each other, both catching our breath, a silent acknowledgment passing between us that something profound has just begun.
Chapter Seventeen
Lavender
“Hi,”I say breathlessly after what might qualify as the best kiss of my entire life. My heart is still racing, and my skin tingling with the aftershocks of our connection.
“You okay?” he asks with a cocky tone, a smirk playing on his lips as he takes in my flushed cheeks anddazed expression.
“That was unexpected,” I manage to say, my voice still a little shaky as I try to regain my composure. “What happened to slow?”
He traces my lower lip with his thumb, his touch sending shivers down my spine. “I said it when you were miles away from me. Now . . . Well, how can I ignore such a beautiful woman?”
I feel my cheeks heat up even more at his words, a giddy smile spreading across my face. “Wow, smooth, McFolley,” I tease, trying to change the tone and mask the effect he has on me.
Sinclair winks at me. “You haven’t seen smooth, yet.”
“Are you saying you’re a player then?” I challenge, raising an eyebrow at him.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “No. Not even close, but I’m glad I can fake it enough for you to believe me.” He takes my hand in his, interlacing our fingers. “Why don’t I invite you to breakfast? We can catch up before we have to go to work.”
“How long are you staying?” I ask, trying to keep the hopeful note out of my voice.
“Four weeks, though I’ll have to do some remote work during the day,” he admits, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
“If you were busy—” I start, but he cuts me off with a quick peck on the lips.
“I’d rather be here, with you. I might not be able to relax one hundred percent, but I’ll take anything that I can get—as long as I’m with you.”
I feel my heart swell at his words, a warmth spreading through my chest. “As I said, you’re asmooth talker,” I tease, but I can’t hide the smile that tugs at my lips.
“No, I just decided that maybe going after what I want should apply to every aspect of my life,” he says, pulling me closer as we start walking toward town, our hands still intertwined. “My most important goal right now is to get to know you. The rest can be managed in other ways.”
And I think after that confession, I’m falling for this guy even more. Is that even possible?
Yeah, which again, is strange, but true. Sinclair McFolley has been getting under my skin gradually, seeping into my thoughts and my dreams until he’s become an integral part of my life. I’m not sure how he did it, but somehow, he managed to break down my defenses.
I enjoy Sin’s texts, the way they brighten my day and make me feel connected to him even when we’re apart. Waking up early because he’s ready to start his day bothered me the first two days because I’m so not a morning person. But after that, I’ve enjoyed every single moment of them, cherishing the opportunity to be a part of his life, even in this small way.
And then there’s the thing that he told me yesterday while we were on the phone. He doesn’t want to be just friends, but more. The mere thought of it sends a thrill through me, a mix of excitement and nerves that leaves me giddy and breathless.
