Page 31 of Oz Wisdom

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was admiring it earlier while cooking.” Taylor reached out. “I’ll take it back to my room.”

“I think the kitchen is the perfect place for it.” Oz opened a drawer and began digging through the contents. “This is how this is going to go,” Oz began telling Taylor. “I’ll hang this in the kitchen window to remind you every day what you are. Where you’re going.”

“I’ll only be here for a few days,” Taylor reminded him.

Oz wasn’t ready to hear that, so he chose to ignore it and hang the decoration in the window.

“Every butterfly begins as a caterpillar,” he told her. “Crawling from leaf to leaf, searching for the perfect place to change. You’ve tried your greener pastures. Now it’s time to break from the cocoon of fear you’ve wrapped yourself in and spread those wings. You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman. Focus on that and what your heart desires. Not the past or what others expect, but what is true to you. What your wings hold for you.”

“That’s beautiful.”

“Yes, you are.”

“But . . .”

In an instant, Oz caught her chin, stopping her thoughts with his thumb. “Negativity will seep into here from time to time.” He tapped her temple. “But never allow it to escape through here.” Her lips were soft under his touch. “If your ears hear it from our own lips, your heart will learn to believe it.”

***

Oz locked the kitchen door. The thought of a movie with Taylor by his side sounded promising. She had been in her room when he finished his shower. A knock on her door and if she was still awake, he'd ask her.

Oz turned and froze. Taylor stood leaning against the doorway. The shirt she had taken from his closet hung loosely on her shoulders, the front open. Her perfectly round breasts that he itched to feel again were right there within reach.

“Thank you for the place to stay.”

Oz couldn't control the grin that took over him. He crooked his finger, summoning her to him.

The shirt slipped from her shoulders as she sauntered toward him.

Her skin was warm and reminded him of silk under his touch. His palm cupped her cheek and slid down her neck pausing at her shoulder. "There is nothing I would love better than exploring every inch of you. Again.” He hooked his fingers underneath the edge of the pale blue material and slid it back up her shoulder. “But if we do, it won't be because you feel obligated to. You’re worth so much more than this.” He hooked one button. “That’s not why I’m doing this.” Another button. “And that night at the hotel.” A third button and his words fell off. How did he not injure her already shaky confidence? “I should have never taken advantage of you.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I did. I thought I’d not see you again and I had a weak moment. I’m stronger than that, and you’re better than that.”

Her fading smile stabbed him in the chest. He had disappointed her, but no more disappointed than he was. He pulled her to himself and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Forgive my old-fashioned flare, but I was thinking that we should curl up upon the couch and get to know each other at our own pace."

Taylor leaned back. "Snuggling? That's even better.”

Snuggling? That word never passed my lips. Oh, but that gleam in her eye. “Let’s pick out a movie and grab a drink.”

She whirled away, nearly bouncing across the floor.

Snuggling. Oz shook his head. Not at all better, but that’s all that would happen tonight. He adjusted his arousal, wishing he had put on more than pajama bottoms. Damn that girl was going to make this tougher than he'd imagined.

Chapter 14

Taylor pulled into the drive just ahead of Oz. What perfect timing. By the time he was pushing down his kickstand, Taylor stood next to the car. Her body trembled as she bounced on her toes and watched him hang his helmet on the handlebar. He cocked his head toward her, and that smile she was becoming helpless against was her undoing.

She ran toward him. "I got a job!"

His smile turned into laughter as he circled his arms around her, lifting her from the ground and spinning. "So proud of you!"

Her feet met the ground again, and she sucked in a breath ready to spill all the details.

"Don't tell me,” Oz cut off her words before they tumbled out.

What? Why? Taylor’s shoulders fell and she stepped backward.

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