Too Much to Lose by Samantha Holt Read Free Book Online

deli bag and
thrust it toward her. “I wasn’t sure what you like,” I lie.
    Jess takes the bag, pulls out
the sandwiches and unwraps them before putting them on plates. “This is great,
thank you. Is this mine?” She holds up the chorizo.
    “Yeah. Good guess.” I nod
toward the flowers. “You should get those in water.”
    “Oh I forgot those. They came
this morning while I was still sleeping.”
    “Do I need to worry about a
jealous boyfriend?” I ask casually, digging for more information.
    “Oh no, not at all. I thought…
well, no there’s no one. I’m not even sure who they’re from.”
    I grab them and feign looking
for a label. “Here.” I hand her the card.
    The colour drains from her face
and her hands tremble marginally. It means something to her. But what?
    Jess smiles weakly and flings
the card aside. “Weird.” She motions to the couch and grimaces. “I don’t have
anywhere to eat but feel free to sit down. Sorry, I know it’s a dump. I don’t
really have guests.”
    Watching me as I sit, she waits
until I begin eating and sits gingerly next to me. The couch sags so much that
her weight brings our legs together and lightning streaks through me. I’m galvanized
by her touch. Pink slashes of colour sit high in her cheeks and I know she felt
it too.
    “So, um, thanks for coming,
Hunter. I know I was rude last night and—”
    “It’s okay, you don’t need to
say anything.” I take a mouthful of sandwich and resist groaning. “God, this is
good.”
    Jess laughs. “Marco’s is the
best. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you… you really didn’t need to—”
    “It’s fine, honestly. I’m glad
I could help. I was a dick last night. I can’t say I wouldn’t do it again but I
understand why you were pissed.”
    A relieved smile lights her
face and makes me want to kiss those curving lips into submission. “Good.” She
nods. “Thanks.”
    “Thank me properly later.”
    “What?”
    I can tell there’s a few dirty
thoughts running through her mind. There’s a slight flicker of a pulse at the
base of her neck and she draws in a heavy breath.
    “I mean you can thank me by
going out with me.”
    “Oh.”
    Is that disappointment I see?
‘Cause God knows I’d happily have her thank me in many other ways. She could
thank me on top, or on her knees or—shit.
    “You don’t want to go out with
me?”
    “It’s not that, it’s just… it’s
not a good idea, okay?”
    “Princess, I rarely have good
ideas but trust me, a date is an awesome idea.” I place the plate on the arm of
the couch and grab her hand. She doesn’t protest when I loop my fingers through
hers but nor does she sink into me like I want. “You, me, maybe somewhere
secluded.” I lower my voice unintentionally. “That would be a very, very good
idea.”
    I watch her throat move and
bring her hand up to mine so I can kiss her fingers. I’m acting purely on
instinct now. I’m not even playing a game. I should be, but I’m not. One finger
at a time, I lay my lips on them. Her barely audible gasps are music to my
ears. My damned jeans are trying to kill me again but it’s worth it. I didn’t
even know just kissing someone’s fingers could be a turn-on but I think it’s affecting
her just as much as it is me.
     Something changes. She catches
sight of something behind me—the flowers perhaps—and her expression shutters.
Tugging her hand from mine, she stares at her sandwich. “You don’t want to get
involved with me. I really appreciate your help but I’m just not looking to
date.”
    Damn it. I lost my focus and
now I’m losing my chance with her again. I’ve got to stop acting so rashly. Kissing
someone’s hand? Fuck, that’s not me at all. Always in control. That’s how I
like to be. I’ve seen how being out of control can fuck up your life. My dad
did that. And took the rest of us down with him. No way in hell am I going down
that road.
    I flick on a grin. “Jessie,
give me one chance.