Page 19 of One More Time

“What?” I rasped.

“Can I kiss you?”

I nodded before my mind could tell me that was a bad idea. I didn’t kiss people. Kisses led to nothing but disappointment.

“Are you sure?” he prompted.

Perhaps my doubts flickered in my eyes. What the hell? It’s just a kiss.

Maybe it would be a good kiss, a little memory to tuck in my pocket.

“Yes.” My voice was low, barely there. “But why?” My doubts crowded their way forward, pushy and demanding.

“Because I want to kiss you,” Jack said simply.

We stared at each other. The air around us felt as if a storm waited, burgeoning with a force about to unleash.

He took another step closer, and I could feel the heat of him, the power of him. He dipped his head slowly, his eyes on mine the entire time. My own eyes fell closed just as his lips brushed over mine. That subtle contact was like a lick of fire. My breath drew in sharply.

His lips were soft and warm. He lingered for a moment before drawing back to look at me. When I dragged my eyes open, whatever he saw in them caused him to step even closer.

His next kiss was slow and lingering. I let out a soft sigh, my mouth opening, and his tongue swept in. Our kiss went from testing the waters to deep diving into the depths. I distantly heard a soft whimper in the back of my throat. I shifted closer, arching into him, and slid one of my hands around his waist. My fingers pressed into the banded cords of his muscled back.

He angled his head to the side, claiming my mouth. I wanted more. He tasted a little minty and smelled like salt-scoured ocean air, fresh and clean, underlaid with an earthy, masculine scent.

By the time we broke apart, I was nearly desperate for air. I gulped in deep lungfuls. We stared at each other, eyes wide.

I was taken aback, almost shocked at the force of that kiss, at the startling intimacy I felt flourishing between us. I was almost afraid of it.

Jack closed his eyes and shook his head sharply before opening them again. He studied me like he didn’t know what to make of me.

“I don’t think we can do that again,” I said.

“Why not?”

Chapter Twelve

Jack

“Because,” McKenna answered.

I knew any kind of entanglement wasn’t a good idea. Uncomplicated was all I could hope for.

For me, McKenna was anything but uncomplicated. I’d met her when I accidentally gave her a black eye. I’d wanted her every second since.

Every moment I spent in her presence only amped up the intense attraction I felt for her. But it was more than that. I wanted to know why she was so guarded. I wanted to know all of her secrets. I wanted to know her.

The following morning, I walked into Spill the Beans Café. One of the women who owned the place smiled at me warmly. “Good morning, Jack,” she said.

“Hazel, right?” I prompted as I stopped in front of the counter.

“Good memory.” She winked.

“Good morning to you.”

“Your usual?” she prompted.

“Do I have a usual? Am I that obvious?” I teased.