Page 44 of Taming the CEO

"Why?"

"I can't explain it. Ever since our first meeting..." I still couldn't put into words what had happened, which was unlike me. "I didn't flirt with you because I’m an ass," I said, looking her straight in the eye. “Or because it’s a habit. It was because I couldn't help myself.”

She licked her lips, and I kissed her. She tasted like banana bread. I wasn't gentle or holding back. Fuck, how I needed to kiss her. I tangled our tongues, cupping the back of her head as I kept my other hand firmly on her waist even though I wanted to explore every curve. I wanted to know her intimately. I groaned as a current of her energy shot through me. She moaned against my mouth, and I deepened the kiss even more.

She stumbled backward and then gasped slightly. I came back to my senses, opening my eyes and seeing I’d pushed her into the swing.

"Are you hurt?" I asked.

"Not at all." She brought a hand to her mouth, touching her lips as if she couldn't believe it. Then she blushed. She put her hands on her cheeks and looked down. "I must look like a tomato right now."

I started to laugh—the description wasn't that far off.

"Fuck, it only makes me want to kiss you even more."

"Maddox," she said.

I cleared my throat, looking down between us for a few seconds. "Right, this isn't working."

"What?" she asked, sounding confused.

"I'm trying to cool myself down. And failing."

"Oh, good. I thought it was just me."

I glanced up at her, grabbing the notebook. "I think the only way we'll manage to cool down is if I go."

She licked her lips, nodding. "Okay."

I stepped closer. "But just for the record, I don't want to go. All I want is to kiss you again."

She blinked, lowering her hands to her sides, and her cheeks turned a deeper red.

"You don't mince words, huh?" she murmured.

"No."

I actually did step back this time; otherwise, I was liable to really kiss her again. As I headed down the porch, I said, "Thanks for the cookbook."

"Thanks for fixing my roof."

I looked straight at her as I got into my car. "Anytime you need anything fixed, just let me know." I wiggled my eyebrows, and she started to laugh.

"I sure will."

Chapter Eleven

Cami

––––––––

It was a good thing that Maddox fixed my roof, because the weather turned moody the very next morning. We only got light rain—not enough to scare customers—but it would have surely damaged the leaky parts even more. But who had a super-sealed roof? This girl right here. And as a bonus, I’d gotten a smoking-hot kiss too.

I was still not completely sure how it had happened. Or even if it had happened at all. Maybe I'd just fantasized because I hadn’t been kissed in a long time, and Maddox was extremely handsome.

In fact, as the day went by, I was certain I’d imagined it. But all that changed in the evening after I slipped into my bed and got a message from a mystery number.

Unknown number: Gran loves the cookbook. She gave me your number.

---