Loose Ends (Magnolia Series Book 1) by Taylor Dawn Read Free Book Online Page A

would happen between them; she was even looking forward to it. But it couldn’t go any further than purely physical. It was for his own good. Getting emotionally attached wasn’t an option. He would be the one plowed over when it all went south. And she had no doubts that it would go south. It was only a matter of time before she was located and had to skip town again. Luke would be left wondering what the hell had happened when it all went down. She couldn’t do that to him. She wouldn’t crush him and break his heart like that. She’d experienced enough broken hearts to fill up the Gulf of Mexico. Adding his to it wasn’t on her short list of fun things to do with her life.
    Just as Ava swept up the hair from her last client of the day, Luke strolled through the door looking more than sexy in a solid black t-shirt. His jeans were worn on the front of the thighs but not in a dingy sort of way. They looked soft to the touch and she had to stop herself from thinking about slipping to her knees, popping the button open and reaching in to see what he’d feel like in her hands.
    “Need any help?” He once again caught her eye-fucking him. His smile told her as much.
    “You’re early.” She emptied the handled dustpan into the trash can and reached around to untie her stylist apron.
    “Here, let me help you. You’ve managed to get a knot in this thing.” He grabbed the ties of the apron and began to work methodically behind her back. She could feel his warm breath moving her hair ever-so-slightly as he tried to undo the mess she’d created.
    “Thank you,” her voice came out in a lustful whisper.
    “No problem,” his was equally as breathy.
    It was torture having his hands so close and not touching what she really wanted them on. Each time he’d try to maneuver the knot from its binding, he’d unintentionally brush a knuckle across the small of her back. She sucked in a sharp breath when it felt like at one point his actions were deliberate.  “Sorry,” he said.
    “Don’t be.” He did it again just to hear her intake a breath once more.
    He leaned closer to her ear. “Am I hurting you?”
    “Not at all. It feels…nice.”
    “When I do this?” He began to run a finger from the middle of her spine to the indent right above the waist band of her jeans.
    “Yes.”
    “What about this?” His hands dropped the ties to her apron and slid to her hips, the heat of his palms seeping through her clothing and causing sensations that she’d never dared to feel before.
    “That, too.” She tilted her head to the side and closed her eyes.
    “Can I ask you something, Ava?” His voice was now rough and gravelly. Clearly he was feeling the same things that were coursing through her bone marrow.
    “Uh huh.” She nodded slightly and waited for his question.
    “What would you do if I kissed you right now?” His lips—just centimeters from her ear—felt warm and ready.
    “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. Being kissed never really got her engine running. It was just something that led the good part—sex. She could take it or leave it.
    “I’m willing to bet if I put my lips on yours, you’ll go soft all over and your panties will be soaked.” His fingers bit into her hips a fraction more.
    “And what if that doesn’t happen?” She knew better than to challenge him, but she couldn’t help it. Luke wanted to play and she wanted to see how far she could push him.
    “I guess we won’t know unless I kiss you, now will we?”
    Kissing was the ultimate intimate act. Sure, sex was pretty damn personal, but for someone to bestow a kiss on you meant they were willing to go further than anyone else. Did she want that?
    Logic was tossed out the window when she heard herself say, “Then fucking kiss me.”
    “Fuck, yeah.” Luke didn’t even bother to turn her around. His hands left her hips and found their way to her neck. He grabbed her jaw with a little more force than she’d expected but it