Page 83 of Booked for Summer

‘The Jeremy part?’ Her expression softened. ‘Or the fact you now have friends?’

‘A friend,’ he corrected.

Her fingers interlaced with his. ‘You have more than one, remember.’

His heart squeezed, emotion ploughing into him. Was there a way he could do this and avoid the mangled mess? If they stuck at platonic friends, would it take the momentum out of their relationship and steer it towards somewhere safer? ‘Thanks.’

She rested her head against his shoulder and for a moment he felt a pulse of contentment. But then he accidentally looked down, caught sight of the valley of her breasts and that pulse turned hotter, needier. It was not going to be enough to spend time with her, talk to her. Not if he couldn’t wrap his arms around her, smooth his hands over her skin. Slide into her heat.

The crash was inevitable. The only question was whether he would make it out of the twisted mess alive.

ChapterTwenty-Nine

Jade rechecked her appearance in the mirror. Was the outfit she’d chosen too much? Not enough? Was it too clingy, too low cut? She sucked in a breath and smoothed her hands down the bright yellow sundress. Why was she doubting herself? Looking attractive was something she was good at. The one thing she’d always had.

She stared back at her reflection. Not the one thing. She had a list of things she was good at now; networking, building relationships, growing a book business… she was afucking great manager.

Her reflection smiled back at her.

Had there ever been a longer, sweeter kiss than the one Liam had given her after he’d walked her back to the bookstore from their day on the water? Instinctively, her fingers brushed across her lips, still feeling the imprint of his. The gentle press of his sensual mouth, the tease of his tongue. Drugging kisses that had gone on for so long her lips had become swollen. Yet his hands had stayed on her hips, keeping them a tantalising distance from each other. Oh, she’d known he was hard, could see the magnificent outline of his erection, but that was all she’d been able to do, look.

If this was his way of torturing her until she gave in, then mission frigging accomplished. She was ready to wave the white flag, would even wear a T-shirt sayingI want sex tonight, if it pushed him over the edge. The fear of falling for him, getting hurt… it was a worry for another day. She was only interested in now.

The rap on the door made her jump.

She grabbed her handbag and a lightweight shawl before racing down the stairs to open it.

‘Hi.’

His gaze skimmed over her face, eyes darkening as they focused on her lips, then turning even stormier as they travelled down her body. ‘Fuck.’

‘You don’t like it? I can change?—’

‘No chance.’ He heaved out a sigh. ‘The dress shows off the dynamite curve of your ass, the swell of your spectacular tits. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.’

‘Oh.’ Confidence fully back in place, she eyed him curiously. ‘Then what’s the problem?’

‘The problem is I’m going to spend all night with a hard-on.’ He dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Bad enough, but where we’re going…’

He trailed off, muttering something under his breath as he took her hand and began to march them back down the wooden pontoon towards his boat.

‘So wherearewe going?’ He’d not said yesterday, just asked her out to dinner.

‘Martha’s Vineyard.’

‘Oh, wow, okay.’ She pushed down the niggle that he didn’t want to be seen with her in Nantucket. ‘I’ve not managed to visit there yet. This will be fun.’

‘Fun?’ He exhaled a long breath. ‘It’s going to be torture.’

‘Um, is that torture because of your, er… predicament?’

He snorted, jumping onto the boat before helping her. ‘My permanent state of arousal when I’m around you?’ His eyes flicked to her dress. ‘Especially when you wear something like that. Christ.’ He drew a hand down his face. ‘Maybe I should wrap you in a blanket or something.’

‘Well I have my shawl. The restaurant might not like it if I sit there surrounded by bedding?—’

‘We’re not going to a restaurant.’

‘You’re taking me all the way to Martha’s Vineyard to eat, but not at a restaurant? Oh, is that why I need the blanket? Is it a picnic on the beach? Because that’s great. I love a picnic, though I should warn you, me and sand don’t always get on. It gets everywhere, and I meaneverywhere. Not just in my food, but, you know…’

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