Page 26 of Ignite

Her panting breath became quicker and louder and I knew we were seconds away from doing something we wouldn’t be able to undo. With a painful moan, I slowed our kisses and released her face. My hands fell to her waist, not holding her in place or pushing her away.

Gradually, she relaxed and released me. Except, when she opened her eyes I saw swirls of confusion and regret. No. I refused to let her think we did anything wrong. It was just a kiss.

No. Not just a kiss. The best first kiss of my life.

I didn’t hide the bulge in my trousers but adjusted it for my comfort and caught a quick grin before Rylee looked away.

Deciding that humor was the best cure for any lingering embarrassment or regret, I quickly bantered, “So, are you ready for me to beat you at darts?”

Chapter 9

He’s Infuriating

“Nowisnotthetime to put things off. Get your taxes sorted, get your Christmas shopping started and plan for the bushfire season. Our brave boys from the Meringa RFS recently traveled to Gosford to help out with an early blaze which threatened to burn out of control. If it can happen in Gosford at this time or the year, it can happen anywhere. In other news …”

Rylee

I left Ethan to get us a table and menus while I ducked into the bathroom and splashed water on my face.

“Hey, Rylee, thought we saw you come in here.” Felicity gave me a quick hug as she and Sonia walked in. While Sonia used one of the stalls, Felicity fought me for room at the small mirror to check her hair and makeup.

“Seriously?” I hip-bumped her out of the way. “Eric would love you even if your makeup was smeared and hair mussed.” I paused and added cheekily, “Actually, he’d take full credit for your post-sex styling.”

“My sexy man decided that after a day of herding teens, I deserved a night out. He’s grabbing a table—want to join us?”

“Please do,” Sonia said, emerging from the stall. “Then I won’t feel like a third wheel when I invite myself.”

“Can’t, sorry.” I waited a beat before adding, “I’m here with someone.”

Of course, my friends were giddy with excitement, wanting the details.

“Oh, it’s just the guy I hit with my car,” I finally said, nonchalantly, adding one last coat of lip gloss. At least my eyes didn’t show the signs of tears and my face had returned to color. It scared me how a single photo had put me in such a state, but Ethan had been wonderful.

And the kiss … I’d never had any better, I blushed.

“Ethan.” Felicity didn’t pose it as a question.

“Football coach, Ethan?” Sonia wanted confirmation. “The sexy man who everyone is talking about, Ethan?”

I nodded, trying not to let my smile encourage them to ask more questions. “He dropped by the workshop. We talked about getting new photos printed and framed for the shop.”

“Oh, honey.” Felicity wrapped me in a bear hug, followed by Sonia. “That must have been hard.”

“Hope he wasn’t being a dick,” Sonia said, looking at my face through the mirror with concern. “He never met your dad. He doesn’t know now much those cars mean to you.”

“Well, he does now,” I said, laughing and my eyes which still had tinges of red. “I might have been a bit of a mess, but he was a good friend. We’re grabbing a bite to eat and then I’m going to beat him at darts.”

“I’d offer to watch, but the last time you played, you couldn’t even hit the target.” Sonia waggled her eyebrows. “But perhaps if Ethan stands behind you, presses that gorgeous chest into your back, holds you around the waist, and guides your hand, you’ll figure out what to do.”

“Would you stop it!” I cried. “It’s just dinner in a pub. It’s not a date.”

“He is doing such a great job with the kids.” Felicity interrupted. “All I have to do is threaten to tell Coach they skipped class, and I have rows of church mice.”

“Fine. He is a patron saint of all wayward teens. He is the patron saint of Meringa Hawks Rugby League team. He is perfect—“

“Perfectly good-looking,” Sonia sighed. “You two get all the luck.”

“Darin cheating on me wasn’t luck.”

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