Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) by Aliyah Burke Read Free Book Online Page B

discover it for himself. He shook his
head when it dawned on him Kassidy had asked him a
question.
    “ I’m sorry, what did you
say?”
    Her musical and lilting laughter
tinkled through the night. “I asked what I can bring for food on
Saturday.”
    He leaned back in the chair and closed
his eyes. “Beautiful, the way you cook, I’ll take anything you feel
like bringing.”
    “ Thank you.”
    Facing where he imagined her face to
be, he opened his eyes just as some gentle blue-hued wall sconces
came on. The light exposed her serene expression. A slight smile
turned up the side of her mouth he could see.
    “ Will Libby be alright?”
he asked, well aware how much the poodle meant to her.
    “ I’ll take her to mom and
dad’s for the day. She’ll be fine.”
    With an easy push, he got to his feet
and helped her up as well. Gathering her close, he nuzzled the wild
mass of curls she had. The strands smelled like vanilla.
    “ Thank you for a wonderful
afternoon and meal, Kassidy.”
    “ I’m glad you stopped by,
I missed you.”
    “ Missed you, too,
beautiful. I missed you, too.”
    He wanted to stay. Longed to spend the
night with her, in her arms, her bed. But he didn’t push it. There
was still this way she held herself that told him she wasn’t quite
ready for that step yet. While he was anxious, he could, and would,
wait. He knew this woman equated his future.
    “ I should get
going.”
    Her slight body stiffened briefly. “Do
you work tomorrow?”
    “ Yes. I have a few things
to take care of in the morning. Then I’ll be all ready for
Saturday.”
    She drew back and stared at him. “Time
and place?”
    Here and now. “My boat’s on Pier 8, Slip 6A. What do you say
about eleven?”
    Her smile grew as she repeated the
information back to him. Leading her down the steps and to the
gate, he wrapped his arms tight around her, wound one hand in her
hair and tugged her head back.
    The kiss was intense and proprietary.
He thrust his tongue deep into the recess of her welcoming mouth.
Mint and ice tea combined with a taste purely Kassidy and he
hardened in seconds. A primitive growl escaped as the kiss
intensified.
    Her lush figure pressed invitingly
into him and wore down the thin remaining control he had to be a
gentleman. His free hand gripped her derriere, his fingers digging
into the flesh through her jeans.
    Somehow he ripped his mouth from hers.
Chest heaving with each labored and consumed breath, he set her
away from him, his mind nearly overrun by the intoxicating taste
and smell of her.
    “ Good night, Kassidy. I’ll
see you Saturday.”
    One more hard, fast kiss and he
slipped out the gate and headed for his car at a jog. His shaft
pressed painfully against his jeans and no amount of readjusting
relieved it. He cast one more look at Kassidy’s house. The warm
inviting glow almost tempted him out of his vehicle. Jaw clenched,
he shifted into reverse and backed out of her drive then headed
home.
    Kassidy on his mind the entire
way.
     

Chapter Five
    Friday morning, Kassidy sat across
from Lucy at their old hangout for breakfast. She watched her
friend as she stirred her orange juice with a straw.
    “ He just left?” Lucy asked
again, disbelief in her tone.
    “ Yes. Like the hounds of
hell were after him. I don’t know, Luce, maybe he’s not attracted
to me in that way.” She forced the words out even though it hurt
like heck to say them.
    “ You just hush with stupid
talk. Did you ever think maybe he didn’t want to push you into
sleeping together?”
    “ I was ready.” Man was I. She recalled
how aroused she’d been. Each time they kissed she got that
way. Heck, I’m just thinking about him and
I’m getting that way.
    “ Well, I like him so I’m
going with the he-didn’t-want-to-rush-anything explanation,” Lucy
continued as if she hadn’t commented at all.
    She shifted on the booth seat and
watched Lucy’s face. Her expression showed perfect sincerity.
“Okay, I’ll trust you