Page 9 of Wild Hope
We stare at each other, our faces inches apart. I can’t breathe.
Travis reaches his good hand up and cups my chin. He leans forward, and my lips part. I’ve been waiting for this kiss my whole damn life, and as he presses his lips to mine, all thought flies out the window. His lips are firm and warm andhungry.
His fingers grasp my neck, pulling me toward him and making my entire body light up. A moan escapes my lips. This is everything I ever dreamed of. Everything my schoolgirl self ever wanted.
The sound of the door to the restaurant swinging open has us jumping apart.
“You seen the mop?” Arlo asks as he swings his body around the office doorframe.
“Yeah.” Travis’s voice is tight with irritation. “In the cleaning cupboard.”
“Not there, boss.”
Travis sighs and heads for the door. He glances back at me, and his eyes are lit up like fire. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
He leaves the office with Arlo and I touch my lips, loving the way they tingle from his touch. A smile creeps across my face.
The kiss was better than I imagined. All these years, I’ve waited for Travis to kiss me. I’ve not let another man get close. I’m a twenty-four year old virgin. Stupid I know, but I’ve saved myself for him, for the only man I’ve ever wanted to touch me.
It seemed too easy to give it to someone else. I thought I’d meet someone who made me feel the way Travis does. But after working plenty of bars, I haven’t met anyone I want to be intimate with.
Buzz Buzz
Travis’s phone vibrates from the table where it’s sitting.
A text from my brother lights up the screen.
You’re keeping an eye on Kendra, right?
I want a full report.
I stare at the words, and my chest tightens. Travis has only been so attentive because Quentin asked him to be.
My stupid girlish fantasy got away from me. Thinking he’s sitting at the bar watching me because he’s attracted to me, but he’s only watching me because my brother asked him to keep an eye on me.
He hit that guy not to stand up for me, but because Quentin wants a full report and he’ll need to tell him what he did to protect his little sister.
And here I am throwing myself at him, practically begging him to kiss me.
Embarrassment prickles my skin. I’ve been so stupid.
I’m a silly girl who doesn’t know a damn thing about men. I’m not going to stick around to embarrass myself anymore.
Grabbing my purse from the locker, I head upstairs to my room.
5
TRAVIS
The black waitress uniform hugs Kendra’s luscious hips. The curve of her ass is a mouthwatering sight. I take another sip of my coffee, but it doesn’t quench my thirst.
It’s been over twelve hours since I kissed Kendra’s pouty lips. But the taste of her lingers, filling up my senses. The imprint of her lips on mine, the memory of her teeth tugging my lower lip sends heat skittering over my body and blood thundering in my ears.
I thought I could resist Kendra. I thought this thing between us was stoppable. But now that I’ve had a taste, I realize how naïve I’ve been.
The pull I have towards her is overwhelming. It's bigger than her or me or her brother. I want to feel those lips on mine again, and to hell with the consequences.
I’ve been sitting here watching her work for the last two hours with my laptop open in front of me. I’m supposed to be doing inventory, but there’s no way in hell I can keep my eyes off this woman.
