Page 24 of Come to Me

Patrick remained silent; his eyes locked on the stars almost as if he wasn’t hearing her.

"Life for us is pretty hard too. It’s easy to get lost in feelings of defeat. But then I think about what I do have—a beautiful home.” She glanced out over the lake and toward the lodge. “I have a family that's happier than not."

Her eyes flicked to Patrick's form beside her, taking in the rigid set of his shoulders, the barely perceptible clench of his jaw.

She knew she'd struck a nerve but pressed on. "And you. You have enough money to buy happiness. You've got friends in Mitch and Sydney who care about you."

She let out a breath, working to pull her temper back down to a simmer. "And look at you. Sitting under the heavens and you can't even appreciate that."

She waited a moment for him to respond. When he didn’t, stood up to leave.

"You're right."

She turned back to see him roll up to sit. He looked at her then. "There are good things in my life.”

She pursed her lips. “Can you name them?”

“The stars. My friends.”

She was disappointed that he could only regurgitate the blessings she’d mentioned.

“You spending time with me.”

“That makes you doubly lucky, Dr. Andres.”

His lips twitched upward. “It’s Patrick. And for your information, I did like the kiss.”

“I know.” Her anger and irritation dissipated, and she sat down next to him.

His gaze drifted to her lips. “I think I’d like another one.”

“You think?”

He let out a laugh. “I know I’d like another one.”

She arched a brow. “Would you, now?”

“If you’d allow it.”

She snorted. “We need to work on your powers of perception around women.”

“Oh?”

She was dying for him to stop talking and start kissing. “Are you going to keep talking or are going to kiss me already?”

His lips met hers in a kiss that was an apology and a thank you all at once. It was different from their first kiss—less of an impulsive clash. Instead, it was soft, sweet. Even so, Micki’s body responded sensually, her blood heating and rushing to her more sensitive parts.

When Patrick pulled back, she tried to hide her disappointment that he wasn’t taking the kiss deeper, hotter.

"See? Much better when you stop thinking so much,” she teased.

Patrick's smile was genuine this time, reaching his eyes. "I'll have to remember that." He tugged her back, his mouth covering hers, and this time, the heat factor went zero to one hundred in an instant. His tongue slid along the seam of her mouth, coaxing her to open for him. Of course, she did, moaning as his tongue danced with hers. Stars burst but none were in the sky.

Her fingers gripped his shirt as her world tilted off its axis. Wowza, was all she could think as Patrick thoroughly kissed her in a way she wasn’t sure she’d ever been kissed before. Or maybe it was surprise that this reserved, closed off man had so much fire inside him.

The kiss continued on, and on, and when it ended, it wasn’t a quick pulling away. It slowed, moved from hot to tender. He slowly withdrew, kissing the edge of her lips before finally separating.

“Whew Dr. Andres. You are full of surprises. I do believe I’ve underestimated you.”

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