Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Time to go to bed.
Because God knows what Kelly Taylor will have in mind for me tomorrow.
I moved to rise when—
The door opens, and Kelly stands there.
“Oh! What are you still doing here?”
“Just leaving,” I say as I stand.
“Don’t.”
“We’ve been through this, Kelly.”
“I know. You’re right. But I’m not in the mood to be right tonight.”
God damn her. If she only knew what she was doing to me.
I sigh, take in her sheer beauty. “God, you’re beautiful.”
Her lips turn up into a smile.
An actual smile.
I can’t help but let out a soft scoff. “Wow. I wasn’t sure you could do that.”
Her lips draw back into a frown.
Then I realize with a laugh that I’m acting exactly like she acts. I’m lashing out for no reason.
“I apologize,” I say.
“You don’t have to apologize. I get why you said that.”
“Do you? Are you so unhappy that you’ve forgotten how to smile?”
“I think I just smiled. At least you said I did. It’s hard for me to tell anymore.”
I reach a finger out, trace her lower lip. “You have beautiful lips. You should smile more often. You’re a beautiful woman, Kelly. Every part of you is beautiful.”
“Except what comes out of my mouth?” she says haughtily.
“Yeah. When you’re right, you’re right.”
She moves to close the door, but I stick my foot inside it. “Maybe we should talk.”
“I don’t want to talk, Leif. I didn’t open this door to come find you to talk.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“You want me as much as I want you.”
I start to smile but stop myself. “You think so?”
“Do you kiss every woman like that?”
“As a matter fact, I do. I like to kiss.”
She’s right though. Kissing Kelly was special. Spectacular, even. There was a rawness, an ache, a need. Something I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever.
I’ve only been in love once, and it was with a woman from home. Falcon Bellamy’s sister Robin.
Damn.
That was so long ago. The last couple times I’ve been home to visit my folks, I haven’t even seen her. Robin is too sweet and innocent for someone like me now. I’ve seen things no one should have to see, had experiences that no one should have to experience.
But…
So has the woman before me. Kelly is far from too sweet and innocent for me. We have more things in common than not. I don’t know her whole story, but she doesn’t know mine either.
Yet we seem to fit together. The physical chemistry between us is hot.
And damn…
It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted a woman like this.
And as much as I thought I was in love with Robin Bellamy all those years ago, I don’t ever remember feeling this much of an ache for her.
I reenter Kelly’s apartment, and I look her straight in her beautiful blue eyes.
“This isn’t a game, Kelly. I told you before. If you want me to stop, you need to tell me now. Because once we start, I may not be able to.”
“You stopped before.”
“I did. And it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Her lips quirk up into that pretty smile again.
“There you go. There’s that smile.”
This time she doesn’t frown. She keeps the smile on her face. “No one has ever told me they like my smile.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“No one’s ever told me I’m beautiful either.”
I drop my jaw. “I’m sure you had tons of boyfriends, you know… Before…”
“Before the island?” She shakes her head. “I worked my ass off, living paycheck to paycheck, trying to make ends meet. I didn’t have time to date.”
“Surely you were asked out.”
“A few times. By customers. Other employees at the restaurant. But I never returned their interest.”
“But you’re returning mine?”
“Yeah, and damned if I know why.” Then she looks me over. My shirt is still unbuttoned. “Well, I guess I know why.”
I resist the big grin that wants to spread across my face. Sure, I’m attractive to women. I’ve known that since I got through puberty.
“I think you’re gorgeous,” I say, “but I’m not interested in a one-time thing, especially not with you.”
“Why not?”
“You know why. You’re my job.”
“I’m a human being, Leif. I’m not a job.”
I lift my eyebrows. “You’re right. I apologize.”
She drops her jaw. “I said something that makes sense to you?”
“Absolutely. You’re a human being. First and foremost, you’re a unique individual. I’m glad you know that.”
“Macy helped me with that.. And the therapists at the retreat center. They were good. Really good.”
“Were they?” I can’t help a chuckle.
“I know why you’re asking me that. I know how I’ve treated you, and I’m going to tell you right now that my instinct is to lash out at you.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“They’ve told me…”
“Go ahead.”
“No. It’s just too private to talk about. Can’t we just…go to bed?”
“We could, but isn’t that the most private thing we could do together?”