Page 46 of Finding Her Leading Man

She glanced over her shoulder, but the yard was empty. “Trevor—”

“Close your eyes, Sam.” When she had, he cupped the side of her cheek. “Nothing else exists. No hurt feelings. No wedding dresses. Pretend you’re simply happy.” Her lips twitched like she tried. He wanted her to remember this. He didn’t know what might happen in the future, but for now, her lips were his.

A small moan escaped from her throat as he pressed his mouth to hers. He’d wanted to go slow, give her a sweet memory. The woman had so much negativity in her life, he wanted to be a light in it for a little while.

The moment she melted into his arms, molding to his body, the sweetness in his kiss faltered before it disappeared.

He dominated the kiss the way he craved. He took. He gave. His lips demanded more.

Her hands fisted in the back of his shirt, and she pulled him closer. His Broadway Queen burned just as hot as he did.

He needed to feel that fire, quench his obsession, from more than her mouth. But she wasn’t made for a one-night stand. He took what she offered, matching her kiss for kiss. Controlling the pace. Controlling his hands. His body.

Keeping this tight grip on his physical desire for her was painful. The intensity between them had always been near the surface.

Every touch.

Every look.

And here it was. He slid a hand down her back and gripped her butt, pulling her tighter against him. He trailed his lips across her jaw and to her neck. “We need to go in before this goes too far,” he said against her throat. “Before the taste of you, the smell of your skin makes me lose my mind. God, but I don’t want to stop.”

Samantha’s head bobbed in agreement, but her body arched against Trevor’s, her arms tightening. She wanted more, too. Someday, he’d be the man to give it to her, but not then. Not when her ex-fiancé’s memory floated in her head. Not when the dress she’d dreamed of wearing while marrying another man hung a few yards away.

If he ever had the chance to take her to bed, there wouldn’t be another damn man in her mind but him.

He straightened, caught his breath, and then patted her hip. “Let’s go in.”

“I’m a little embarrassed.” She untwisted her shirt and faced the house. “I mean, it’s not like me to start making out in front of other people like that. I can only imagine what they think.”

“I don’t care what they think. You shouldn’t either. Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

Her nerves showed on her face, but she tilted her chin up and walked toward the house. The setting sun turned the sky a mixture of orange and red, the color picking up red and gold strands in her brown hair.

“Will you go on a date with me?”

She paused as she opened the door to Becky’s house. “Do you really want to get involved with me?”

“After that kiss, do you really have to ask?”

“You know you’d technically be a rebound, right? Those don’t last.”

“I want a date from you, Sam, not a lifetime commitment.” The sting of his words registered in her eyes and Grayson’s sentiment from before came rushing back. He shook it off and went with a different approach. “Am I anything like your ex?”

Her lips twisted into a bemused smile. “No.”

“Then, I don’t see what the problem is with a date.”

“The problem is that the food is getting cold,” Becky said from just beyond the doorway. “And you’re letting mosquitoes and gnats inside.”

Samantha walked in ahead of him, not giving him an answer. He’d try again for a date. After that kiss, his body already hummed with anticipation of another one later, when he told her goodnight. As long as she’d let him, even if they separated from their non-relationship at the end of it, he’d be the man kissing her.

Showing her how much better she could do than Jasper. Any man that would cheat on someone as amazing as Sam was a piece of shit in his book.

“Kissing her shouldn’t make you scowl.” Addie nudged him in the ribs. “What’s up? You look like that when dad lays into you.”

He wiped his hand over his face. “Sorry. No. I was thinking about her ex. She didn’t want to go on a date with me because she just thinks this is a rebound.”

“After that kiss!” Addie’s mouth dropped open. “I’m surprised your clothes didn’t ignite. Besides, who cares if you are a rebound? You’re, like, against long-term relationships, and she doesn’t need one right now. Seems perfect to me.” She nudged him again and winked. “Plus, it will help with the fake girlfriend thing for mom.”

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