Page 12 of Such a Sweet Girl

Francesca let out a bubble of laughter, mesmerising me entirely. A piece of hair traced her cheek. The urge to reach over and tuck it behind her ear pulled at me.

‘Have you had a busy morning?’ She fiddled with the hem of her pretty summer dress, making it tickle over the tanned expanse of thigh. Each distracted movement was torture.

‘Went into the town to do the grocery shopping.’

‘Do you have anything tasty planned?’ Her tongue darted out over her lower lip, wetting it. The temptation to reach forward and lick the trail grabbed me. Pressing my fingernails into my palm, I resisted.

She’s still with Nick.

‘Mostly frozen stuff I can bung in the oven. Whatever is easiest.’

‘Are you hungry now?’

Fucking starving.Not for food, mind you... With every breath, her chest pillowed around the fitted top of her dress, so delicate and soft. Tiny beads of sweat gathered along her collarbone in the baking morning sun, growing higher by the minute.

Clearing her throat, she dragged my eyes back to hers. I waited for the inevitable rush of embarrassment and guilt for being caught ogling, but it didn't come. Her pupils dilated and we hung there with the unsaid between us. An undeniable electricity. Her lips called to me with all the voracity of a starved wolf. The need to devour her pulled at my soul. I’d felt lust. So many times. But this was greater, a feeling that told me Francesca belonged to me.

‘So are you?’

Her voice pulled me from the reverie. ‘Am I?’

‘Hungry...’ She tilted her head a touch before sitting up straighter and reaching beside her. ‘I made cherry tartlets.’

Damn. Tiny pastry parcels filled with a darkly oozing cherry sauce, whole cherries gathered in the centre and with a dusting of powdered sugar, which looked somewhat worse for wear in the growing heat.

‘I’d love one.’

She pulled back the plastic wrap and sat the plate between us. The first bite made me groan, flavour exploding in my mouth. A shiver of absolute delight passed through her at my reaction. I’d eat every single thing she made just to watch the joy that filled her.

‘So good,’ I sighed, licking my fingers as I finished the treat.

‘Do you know my parents won’t even try anything I make? And Nick eats them without so much as a mention. I love baking, but half of the joy is in sharing it with others. In getting feedback.’

‘Why won’t they try them?’

Francesca tipped her face to the sun, closing her eyes and letting the heat wash over her. ‘They claim it’s because they don’t like sugar, that being dentists, they can’t support the gluttonous over consumption of sugary treats. But it’s baloney. I’m at dentistry school and everybody eats sugar. I’ve even tried with stevia and savoury treats, but there’s always a reason. Truly, I think they just want me to fit their avatar, and anything outside of that isn’t worth attention.’

Consuming a second tartlet, I let her talk. Her parents must be mad, because it’s like eating a literal dream.

‘Are you like that with Nick? Do you want him to be a carbon copy of you? Or do you support him no matter what he wants to do?’

Ooft. Like a kick to the groin.

‘I don’t really care what Nick does for work, but I hate that he’s doing nothing. He told me today that he’s dropped out of college, and wants to take his college fund to go travelling.’

Turning her face to me, she popped open one eye, squinting in the harsh light. ‘Travelling can be good.’

‘I know. I don’t believe he’d see anything other than a screen, no matter which country he travels to.’

Letting out a giggle, she shrugged. ‘I can’t argue with that. He’s pretty focused on his games and his guy pals.’

I swallowed. Time to bring up the elephant in the room.

‘Can I ask you a question?’

‘If you like,’ she answered, dipping her finger into a tart before licking the red syrup from the tip in a way that made my stomach flip.

‘Why is a girl like you with a guy like Nick? I know he’s my son, and I love him, but seriously, he’s a bit of a waste of space at the moment.’

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