Page 13 of Come to Me

“So, if you could stick around a let him teach you to skip rocks, I’d appreciate it. As far as your car goes, anything we can do to help, let me know.”

“I will.” If it involved money though, he’d take care of it himself. If they couldn’t afford screen doors, because of a roof issue, they weren’t going to be able to afford to fix the window of his rental.

She turned to walk out the door and an uncontrollable need to keep her there had him saying, “Ms. Kincaid?”

She turned, giving him that bright sassy smile. “I think we can go back to Micki.”

“Michaela,” he said, noting the same slight blush on her cheek that he’d seen the night before when he called her by her given name. It must have been what had him moving toward her. He was like a moth enraptured by the fire in her eyes. “Am I really an enigma?”

She narrowed her eyes, studying him. “A little. You’re more like a wrapped box. I’m dying to know what’s inside. What about me? Am I an enigma to you?”

He took a chance, gently tugging on a loose dark curl. “A little. Mostly I’m fascinated by you.”

She gave him that bright smile again, and it felt like he’d given her gift. “Really? I’m just a country girl. Not much to be fascinated by.”

“I disagree.” His gaze drifted to her lips. Those red, ripe lips that his mouth salivated to taste. What would she do if he kissed her? But Patrick was nothing if not a gentleman, so he tore his gaze away back up to her blue eyes shining at him with intrigue.

“Do you want to kiss me, Dr. Andres?”

Her boldness surprised and thrilled him all at once. “It’s Patrick. And yes, I want to kiss you, Michaela.” Taking another chance, he moved closer to her and was relieved that she didn’t move away. “Do you want me to kiss you?”

She shook her head and all the sensual sensations drained from his body. Had he really so badly read this situation?

Before he could step back, she gripped his shirt. “I want to kiss you, Patrick.”

It took him a second to compute her words. When they registered, all the heat and titillation returned.

“Is it a competition?” He settled his hand on her waist.

“No.”

“Perhaps we could kiss each other then?” He’d never been one for banter, so he wasn’t sure where this was coming from. All he knew was that he was feeling things he hadn’t felt in a long time. Excitement. Surprise. Attraction. Happiness.

“I like that idea. Should we start soon, or do we need to schedule a time?”

Ah the things that came out of her delectable mouth. He decided no words were needed. Instead, he dipped his head, closing the distance between them.

Like all other aspects of Michaela, her kiss brought him back to his younger years when meeting a woman and experiencing attraction was exciting and pure. There wasn’t anything but the two of them in this moment. He lost himself in her; the softness of her lips, the sigh she elicited when his tongue risked taking more by running along the seam of her mouth. She opened for him, and he didn’t waste time exploring her mouth with his tongue. She was sweet, like honey and vanilla.

“Dr. Patrick. Dr. Patrick.” A child’s voice interrupted his concentration.

Michaela pulled back. She stared up at him with the look she had before when she said she didn’t know what to make of him. Had he confused her more?

She smiled. “Yes, I think I’m going to enjoy discovering more about you, Patrick.”

He used his thumb to wipe a smudge of her lipstick off the side of her delicious mouth. “I am too, Michaela.”

“Mr. Patrick.” Tate rushed up to the door, panting from his run to the cabin. “Can you skip rocks now?”

“It’s Pat?—”

“Mr. Patrick,” Michaela interrupted. “It’s one of those old-fashioned rules of the south. He can call you Dr. Andres or Dr. Patrick. Or Mr. Patrick.”

He nodded knowing cultural traditions were important.

“Dr. Patrick is unpacking,” she said to Tate. She glanced at Patrick, giving him another flirty smile before finishing her comment to Tate. “Why don’t we get one of your sand buckets and put some skipping rocks in it and he can meet us at the beach when he’s finished.”

“Will you?” Tate looked up at Patrick in anticipation.

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