Page 103 of When You Had Me Adapting

“Oh dang. Joe doesn’t have beer?”

“No, he has some homemade concoction that he claims is beer, but if I’m honest it didn’t look safe to drink.” I laugh. “It’s been an interesting couple of days.”

“How so?”

“Apparently a couple goats are missing, so he thinks BigFoot is living on his property. I’m exhausted and ready to come home.” He chuckles and leans back against the headrest of the driver’s seat.

“You should have made Tanner go with you. Don’t Archie and him go way back?”

“Yeah, Archie introduced us, but T had to work.”

“What exactly are y’all doing there?”

“He has an old barn on his land that needs to be torn down. Dad didn’t want him doing it by himself, so we got roped in to come and help him. How’s your week going?” he asks.

“Honestly, it could be better. Poppy’s gone again, so I’m lonely.”

“I’m sorry. Did she watchSingle By The Seawith you this week?”

“She did.”

He moves his hand through his hair. My thoughts drift to Sunday. We haven’t been able to talk and while I’ve gotten myself off from thinking about the kiss, I still don’t know why he didn’t stay. Why didn’t he try to take it further? I know I need to ask him the question that’s been weighing on my mind, but seeing him on the other end of my phone has my mind scrambling.Why does he do this to me? Be an adult and ask him why.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Oh, yeah.”Just spit it out for fuck’s sake.I take a deep breath. “Why did you leave so quickly after our kiss?”

His face flushes with heat and he runs his hand over the back of his head.

“You really want to know?”

“More than anything because I’m so confused. I know it wasn’t a bad kiss.”

“The kiss was incredible. It’s all I’ve been able to think about,” he admits.

“Then why leave?”

“Do you know how much you turn me on?”

“Well no.” I shake my head. “You literally kissed me on the forehead and then ran out of there.”

“Kissing you made me come in my pants like a fucking teenager.” His head drops into his free hand and he rubs his forehead. “That’s what you do to me, Lacey. I shouldn’t have left, but I was embarrassed.”

My breath hitches at his admission and I bite my lower lip.Why do I think the idea of him coming in his pants is so hot?

“I turn you on?”

“Are you kidding me? Look at you. You’re beautiful, pixie. The kiss was hot as fuck and I tried to slow it down, but apparently I can’t help myself around you.”

His words are doing more to me than he knows.So much for not being horny tonight.I move a little so that the robe I’m wearing falls from my shoulder, revealing my skin. “Does this turn you on?” I trail my hand over my skin slowly.

He swallows hard and adjusts in his chair. “Archie is going to be back any minute.”

“That’s not what I asked,” I say, stripping the robe completely and revealing my bra. “Does this turn you on?” I run my fingers over the lace.

“Yes.” His voice is low and gravely.

I pause and play with one of my nipples through the fabric. “Do you like what you see?” He watches my every move, and I wish there was a way I could pull him through the phone.

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