Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) by Lauren Dane Read Free Book Online Page B

desire to follow up on what Caroline had said and wanting to push it away so they could enjoy their time together. Anne had never looked even mildly miffed when he’d gone out with other women. She’d moved on, dating around, and he most assuredly had. There’d been no post-break-up sex, as there had been all the times before. Their last break had been final and for real. Their shift into a very close friendship had been for the best, and it worked for them both.
    Why she’d be snippy now he didn’t know.
    He pushed it aside as they settled in at the Sands for two big slices of apple pie with ice cream and large mugs of milky coffee. There was an ease with Caroline he’d shared with very few people. Added to the chemistry building between them, and he was filled with all sorts of feel good by the time they wound up on the sidewalk again.
    He wasn’t ready for the date to end, but it was nearly eleven and he’d been up since four thirty and she had probably been up nearly as long.
    “What are you doing tomorrow night?” he asked.
    “I have plans.”
    Oh. Well that was unexpected. He did not approve of any other men who thought they could get in his way with this woman. “Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” He failed at sounding casual by about five miles.
    Her brows flew up as she got his meeting. “Oh! No. It’s not a date. I mean, you’re the only person I’m seeing. I’m going over to my friend Melissa’s tomorrow. I’m meeting her at her place, and then we’re off to Atlanta for lunch, shopping and a movie.” She smiled brightly, and he spun her neatly and pulled her in close.
    She looked up at him as he backed her to the steps leading to her apartment. When she’d gone up a few, they were eye to eye and that’s when he kissed her.
    He’d wanted to kiss her since he’d caught sight of those beautiful breasts of hers in the cereal aisle at the market the weekend before. Had thought about this very moment over and over. Had wondered how her body would feel against his, what she’d taste like.
    None of it was anything close to the reality of those tits pressed against his chest as her mouth opened on a sigh, her taste, a little coffee and cream, the sweetness of vanilla from the ice cream, filling him until there was nothing but the way she felt, soft and real and her lips against his.
     
    She pushed closer, winding her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair, tugging at the curl at his nape.
    Royal Watson knew his way around a kiss, and boy was that Anne Murphy a total idiot for letting this go.
    His tongue didn’t slide into her mouth, it seemed to flow, a sensuous dance with hers, stroking, teasing, tasting until she was spineless, offering herself up to whatever he had to offer.
    She sucked that very talented tongue, and he groaned, pulling her impossibly closer, and she knew he was as into that moment as she was. Oh yes he was. When they tumbled into bed, it was going to be hot, hot, hot.
    He nipped her bottom lip just right. Not gently at all. Barely shy of pain, and then he licked the sting away, making her the one who groaned this time.
    It went on like that for long minutes, making out on her back steps, the cold air not even bothering her because her skin was on fire for him.
    He’d reached up to undo her ponytail at some point, wrapping her hair around his fist to guide her exactly where he wanted, and damn if that didn’t make fireworks explode all points south of her belly button.
    At the end of the block, a car door slammed and an alarm double honk sounded, and he breathed out, breaking the kiss.
    “You and me. A week from tonight?”
    She nodded.
    “Good. I’ll pick you up at seven and make you dinner. Then we’ll head to the Tonk. I’m gonna hold on to you all night long on the dance floor.”
    “How could I refuse? I can drive to your house, though. You don’t need to pick me up.”
    “I know you can. I’ll see you at seven next Friday.” He caught up