Page 51 of Pinch of Love
“Okay, all set. Thanks for letting me get that out.” She glanced at me. “Would have been the topper to send the email and have it get lost somewhere in space.”
I nodded and started the Jeep. “You ready for some food for the soul?”
“You have no idea. And please pardon me in advance because I just might order everything on the menu.”
“Go for it.”
We pulled onto the road, and the lanky pines swayed gently in the breeze as we made our way back to town. It was a beautiful end-of-summer day, the kind we lived for and embraced before winter hit. However, I was one of those guys who loved the Wisconsin winters. I glanced at Maya and wondered if she’d like the weather.
“You were one of the campers, right?” I asked, remembering the rumors about the Bailey sisters. I was older than all of them, so I missed most of the gossip. But I did know enough to know that they spent the summers with their grandparents, and there were some issues at home, wherever that had been.
“A summer girl.” She grinned, glancing at me. “My sisters and I would come for the summers, so we were the summer girls.”
I grinned. “Too bad I was too old for summer camp.”
She chuckled. “Why’s that, Cash? You might have had a crush on me?”
A low growl of affirmation rolled off my lips as I turned onto the main street of town. “No doubt about that, Maya.”
“Really?” she prompted, almost surprised. “You seem like you’d be into someone who adores hiking, fishing, and camping for weeks on end.”
I found a parking spot on the street, parallel parked, and then turned to face her. “Really?”
“Yup.” Her brows furrowed. “I must confess that I love nature, but I’m not very good at hiking, and fishing involves things that I don’t usually like to touch.”
“What about camping?”
“I like showers. Daily. Daily showers.” She shuddered. “I can’t imagine living with myself after day three of no showers. Just ick.”
I nodded, noticing her gaze stayed on mine as if she were waiting for some affirmation or something.
“I’m not much for hiking, but I don’t mind a good walk through the woods. I only like ice-fishing because I have a great hut to hang out in and drink and eat. And I’m not much for camping unless my Winnebago is hooked behind my pickup truck.”
The look on Maya’s face was priceless, almost like I took the wind right out of her sails.
“What?” I teased gruffly. “Were those the reasons you came up with as to why you couldn’t give me another kiss?”
A blush crept up her cheeks as she unbuckled. “Maybe.”
Without thinking, I moved closer and slid my hand around her waist and pulled her a little closer as my eyes dipped to her mouth.
Maya drew a breath and slowly licked her lips as my other hand moved to the nape of her neck.
I leaned over the center console as she slowly closed her eyes.
There was no backing out as my lips touched down to hers. A frenzied need ripped through me as I felt the softness of her skin under my hands, smelled the sweet smell of her, and tasted Maya’s even sweeter taste.
She parted her lips, and my tongue met hers as she melted into me. It felt like time stopped as our kisses deepened.
I’d always been guarded around town, but at this moment with Maya, I didn’t care.
I wanted to kiss her forever.
The need only grew when she moved her small hand to my chest, and she let out another little moan as her other hand slid through my hair. The hardness rising was nearly painful, and I had no idea how’d I’d get through the damn breakfast.
Maya softly nipped my lip and giggled as she slowly pulled away from me, dropping her hands from me and straightening in her seat.
“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that,” she said softly. “I’m... I’m sorry.”