Page 86 of Lime Tree Hill

Tayla turned in his arms. He cradled her face with gentle hands and kissed her, his erection stiffening between them.

“About Sydney,” he said, his voice soft and his tone sincere. “You don’t have to ask my permission to live your life. I’m not your keeper.”

“I know that, but I didn’t want to make plans without telling you.”

He kissed her again and pulled her closer. As usual, her response was swift and strong. That flutter in the pit of her stomach, the tightening of her breasts, and the way her hands reached for the silky warmth of him without thought or control.

It had started to rain—soft patters on the iron roof and a light trickle down the windowpane. And in the distance, a muffled clap of thunder announced the onset of the forecasted storm. They kissed. Touched. Smiled. Mitch’s hand slipped between her legs, holding her hostage, her release at his control.

A security light flicked on with a gust of wind, casting a shadow across his face. Closing his eyes, he murmured her name under his breath.

Mitch reached for a condom and watched her roll it on, a half-smile playing on his lips. Tayla tightened her grip around hiserection as his breathing quickened, thoughts of Sydney pushed aside as she fell under his spell.

“You don’t know what you do to me.” He rolled her onto her front and lifted her butt into the air. “I need to be inside you.”

It was her new favorite position, and as she braced herself against him, Tayla closed her eyes tight and let him take her hard and fast until she could no longer think straight. She called his name as she came, and moments later, he collapsed on top of her, his face in her neck as he too let go.

38

WHISPERED HESITATION

The Fig Leaf,a vegan eatery on the waterfront, was fast becoming a favorite haunt. The following day, as Tayla walked into the café for a slice of their famous tahini caramel brownie, she thought of Oliver. He loved brownie. Incredibly fit and fastidious about his diet, it was the one treat he’d allowed himself whenever she and Hayden met him for coffee.

Just as Tayla was about to leave with the tiny treat box in hand, she spied Mitch on the other side of the room, dressed in the shirt she’d bought him for his birthday. As she watched, a tall, elegant woman with a slick blonde bob and full lips walked from the restroom and joined him at his table. Wearing wide-leg pants, the color of pumpkin spice, and a black blouse unbuttoned to show a delicate amount of cleavage, his companion was so poised and stylish that Tayla couldn’t take her eyes off her.

Any other day, Tayla would have gone over to say hello. However, a whisper of hesitation stopped her. She observed their interaction for a moment. Running her fingers through her hair, the woman laughed at something he’d said. She then leaned forward, and when the server approached their table, she barely looked away from Mitch.

Tayla took a deep breath and walked out the door. If he wanted her to know he’d had lunch with another woman, he’d tell her. If not…well, it was none of her business. And yet, as she crossed the street to her car, her stomach tied in a tight knot, she couldn’t get the image of the other woman out of her mind.

With thoughts of Mitch crowding her head for much of the afternoon, Tayla left work early and stopped at City Beach to unwind before going home. As she walked barefoot along the shore, she questioned her reaction to the sight of her husband having lunch with his friend.

When she’d found out about Hayden and Anna, the emotions that overwhelmed her hadn’t so much included jealousy. Hurt and anger and denial—that’s what had consumed her. But seeing Mitch with the stylishly dressed woman that afternoon had certainly had an effect.

When she arrived home around six, Mitch was working in the packing shed office. She poked her head around the door. “Hi. How was your day?”

Still dressed in the same shirt from earlier, he looked up, preoccupation dulling his expression. “Not bad, yours?”

“Great. What time will you be finished?”

“Actually, don’t worry about dinner for me. I have to shoot into town. I’ll grab something later.” He glanced at his computer screen then back to her, his hand still on the mouse. “Did you book a flight?”

“Not yet. I’ll look after dinner.”

She stayed in the doorway, trying to gauge his reaction, but it wasn’t immediately evident.

“Okay.”

“Also, full disclosure, Hayden called yesterday.”

Mitch gave a small nod and continued to study her. “So that’s what going to Sydney’s about? Hayden?”

And there it was. The reaction. Maybe Mitch was the possessive type after all.

She paused, determined not to rise to his annoyance. “One of his close friends was killed in an accident. He called to let me know.”

“So he reached out to you. Isn’t that what his wife’s for?”

“I knew Oliver too.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I had a right to know.”

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