Page 51 of Her Wild Coast Promise

The longing to kiss her and care for her crashes together inside me with the growing need to protect her and fight for her. Maybe she can rescue herself, but damn it, I can’t help wanting the role.

It’s like she senses the war going on inside me because her eyes soften and her lips tremble.

I have a hundred reasons not to kiss her, but in this moment, none of them are powerful enough to stop me from cradling her face in my hands and pressing my lips to hers.

The kiss starts slow, the warmth from her body flooding through me. She slides her hands to my waist and even through my coat I feel a connection—a need. I embrace her lip and give it a gentle tug. She responds by wrapping her hands tighter around my waist.

Cora inhales a sharp breath, and I feel it where our chests are nearly touching as much as I hear it. A hint of champagne lingers on her tongue, drawing me in to savor everything about this moment. Cora nestles her body closer to me, her hips nestled with mine. I comb my fingers into her silky hair, my tongue swirling deeper with hers.

A pair of headlights swing toward us from my approaching truck, and I force myself to step back. To my delight, Cora smiles, and looks away, licking her lips.

My truck arrives at the curb and the valet jumps out. I tip him then help Cora into my truck. Behind us, a new group exits from the hotel. I shut Cora’s door and hurry to my side, using the time to downshift.

Inside the cab, after working the fastener on my seatbelt, I make sure that Cora’s is secure, then put the truck in gear and roll to the exit.

I’m completely thrown by what just happened. Why did I let my guard down like that? “I’m not going to apologize.”

She shoots me a sideways frown. “Okay.”

“Are you upset with me?”

“No,” she answers slowly. “But it’s probably best if we don’t do it again.”

“Because you’re my campaign manager?”

Cora’s looking straight ahead, nodding. “Yes. And you’re my brother’s best friend.”

“He’s protective of you, I get it, but do you think he’d intervene?”

She crosses her arms. “Doubtful, but when you break my heart, I think he’d have something to say about it.”

“Who says I would break your heart?”

Her eyebrows arch in disbelief. “You’re a cop. It’s in your DNA.”

“Noah’s not a heartbreaker. He’s also a great dad.”

She throws my pack of gum at me. “Low blow.”

“So if I wasn’t your client, didn’t wear a badge, and didn’t owe your older brother my life, I could kiss you again?”

Cora’s smile fades and she looks out the window again. “Yes.”

Shit, now I’ve really put my foot in it. Because these conditions will never change. “Got it.”

I roll into my garage, and she jumps out before I can help her.

“Goodnight, Seth,” she says, hurrying to the house.

ChapterFourteen

CORA

I layin bed staring at the darkness. I’ve tried reading, a hot shower, and a breathing exercise I used in college to combat text anxiety, but I’m awake, with Seth’s comment on repeat in my mind.

So if I wasn’t your client, didn’t wear a badge, and didn’t owe your older brother my life, I could kiss you again?

I want to scream. Until he kissed me, I was doing fine. Focusing on the campaign is a full-time job, so pouring myself into it was almost effortless. But now? Now I just want more of that kiss and his body and those big hands and everything else.

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