Page 35 of Wish You Were Mine

Her nostrils flared and she growled. “I’m getting some seriously mixed messages from you, and I don’t know what you want me to do about it.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as conflicted emotions roiled in my gut. She was right. It wasn’t fair of me to be hot and cold.

“I’m sorry.” I squeezed her hand gently. “I’m still figuring that out myself, but I’ll try to be less confusing.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Someone bumped Summer from behind, and she caught herself on my chest. Instinctively, my arms tightened around her, my hands coming to rest on the small of her back. I could feel each inhalation and exhalation as her wide eyes held mine.

I buried my face against the side of her neck and skimmed my lips along her silky skin. She smelled faintly of chlorine, with a sweeter underlying scent that was all her own. I breathed her in, and noticed her chest expand as if she were doing the same to me.

I pulled back just enough to see her face. Her pupils nearly swallowed her irises, and her pouty lower lip was caught between her teeth. Those beautiful emerald eyes of hers sparkled in the firelight.

She stole my breath. For all I cared, she could have it.

Her teeth released her lip, and her tongue darted out to wet it. I couldn’t look away. I wanted to taste her. To trace the same path her tongue had, and to discover whether those lips were as plush as they looked.

I wanted to learn whether she’d gasp when I kissed her, or if she’d be silent. Would she take whatever I gave her or make her own demands?

I suspected the latter. Summer Braddock wasn’t a submissive kind of girl. I loved that about her, even when it meant listening to her chew me out for something idiotic I’d said or done.

“Ash,” she whispered.

My head lowered. Inch by inch, the distance between our mouths vanished. But just before they made contact, a body slammed into me from the side. I jerked in shock and automatically shifted to shield Summer from the impact. Once I was sure she was fine, I spun to glare at whichever asshole had interrupted us.

Toby beamed at me, his arm around the waist of a tall, athletic blonde woman.

“Ash!” he exclaimed. “This is Winita. She’s my new girlfriend. Isn’t that right, baby?”

Winita, clearly every bit as drunk as Toby, swayed on her feet. “Nice to meet you.”

She spoke with a European accent, which suggested she was a tourist who’d come to town for the skiing. How on earth she’d found her way to the party, I had no idea.

I sighed and forced myself to smile at her. “I’m Asher. This is Summer, Toby’s sister.”

Winita stumbled forward and tried to hug Summer. “Happy birthday!”

“Uh, thanks.” She steadied the other woman and patted her shoulder.

“Summer, you have to come and talk to Wini,” Toby said. “You’re going to love her so much.”

“But I—”

He grabbed her arm and tugged her away. With a reluctant glance back at me, she followed him.

I watched her go, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d just lost something special. But maybe it was for the best. If I’d kissed her right here, where anyone could see, everyone would assume we were an item. Best not to open that can of worms.

Dragging my feet, I returned to the chair beside Liam and grabbed the drink I’d left there earlier. I flopped onto the seat and drained the beer, grimacing at the unpleasant aftertaste. Smoke and something bitter. Ash from the fire must have landed in it at some point while I’d been gone.

“I’m going to get another drink,” I told Liam, and began to make my way across the yard, toward the cooler. Part way there, the world seemed to shift around me. I couldn’t focus on where I was going, and my thoughts became as blurry as my vision.

Damn, I must have had more to drink earlier than I’d thought. Perhaps I’d been so distracted by Summer and irritated seeing her whirl in Blair’s arms that I hadn’t noticed.Hopefully, she wouldn’t realize. After how she’d shut me down the last time I’d drunkenly hit on her, I couldn’t imagine she’d be pleased if she did.

I changed direction and ambled toward the house, slowly making my way up the stairs and across the deck. My heart was racing, and my head spun. If I lay down for a while, hopefully I’d feel better.

I entered through the open double doors. The lights were off, and I’d seen Heather and Eugene dancing earlier, so I doubted anyone was inside—unless they, like me, needed a rest.

I crossed the living room and patted the wall until my fingers brushed the edge of the light switch. I flicked it and rushed to shield my eyes as the hall was suddenly illuminated.

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