Page 10 of Curves and Cradles

I pull up my sleeve. I hate this tat and keep meaning to do something over it, but I haven’t yet. “It’s barbed wire. My first.”

“You have more?” she asks, her voice breathless.

“Yeah. But none I can show you here.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. They sound like an invitation.

She clutches her purse.

“Listen, Candy. You’re a beautiful woman, and ordinarily, I’d be a complete jackass and invite you back to my hotel room, but I’m not going to do that.” The thought of touching anyone other than Jane turns my stomach. And I’m done waiting. I need to get my ass over to her school to see her and the smile that lights up the world.

Candy’s smile falters. “That wouldn’t make you an asshole. It’s a flattering proposition, and I get it.” She stands. “It was great meeting you, Kevin.” She slides a business card across the table. “Call me if you change your mind or need any veterinarian services.”

“I will.” I watch her go, noting how her rounded ass sways perfectly. What the hell is wrong with me? I pull out my wallet, drop some bills on the table, and head to my truck. I’ve only had one beer, so I’m fine to drive to Jane’s school.

Will she remember me? God, I hope so. If not, I’m about to make a complete ass of myself.

When I left her in my hotel room bed more than two years ago, I thought I’d see her sooner. I started to write or call her so many times. But I knew those little teases would’ve only made being so far away much harder. So, I waited until I could get here and see her in the flesh, touch her, hold her.

God, I’m a fucking sap.

chapterseven

Jane

“Hey, Janie.”

My heart stops. There’s only one person in the world who calls me that. I look up from my desk to find him standing in my classroom doorway wearing worn jeans slung low on his narrow hips and a tight blue T-shirt that does little to hide his sculpted chest.

I forget how to breathe. And blink. And possibly swallow. I quickly touch my mouth to ensure I’m not drooling.

“Kevin?” He walks toward me, looking so damn good that he hardly seems real. I push to my feet. “What...what’re you doing here?”

I probably look like shit. What am I even wearing? I glance down—knee-length dress with my favorite sandals.

“I’m in town,” he says.

“Yeah, I got that much, but why?”

“Would you believe it’s because I missed you?”

I snort. “Nope.” I step around the desk.

He chuckles and closes the distance between us so he stands directly in front of me. So close I can smell his shaving cream and aftershave.

His jaw tightens. His eyes travel the length of me, and he swallows. “You look good, Janie.”

You look good enough to eat.

His face splits in a shit-eating grin.

I wince. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, baby, you did.” He pulls me to him and embraces me, wrapping me in his big arms and pressing me against his hard body.

I close my eyes and inhale slowly. We only spent a weekend together—less than a full weekend—and the majority of that time, we were naked in bed. Still, I felt a connection with him unlike any I’d felt with any other man. And the minute he took me in his arms, it flared to life again. As if my body recognizes something in him that I don’t understand.

“I thought about you a lot over there,” he murmurs into my hair.

“Yeah? I thought about you, too.” More than he’ll ever know. Like every time I look into my daughter’s eyes.Hisdaughter’s eyes.

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