Rockies Retreat: Destination: Desire, Book 5 by Crystal Jordan Read Free Book Online Page A

Me, neither.” She eased out of his arms and forked her fingers through her teal-streaked hair. “I always love a nice surprise. Don’t you?”
    “I can’t complain.” Only a moron would. A kiss that good? Damn. Then again, that hadn’t been just a kiss, had it? He’d been a half-second away from fucking her. Just thinking about it made his still-hard dick pulse.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but Violet’s voice cut through their conversation.
    “Hey, Dad! I just met the chef’s granddaughter. She’s here all summer too.” Violet mounted the stairs, the same girl who’d slammed into Laurel right on Vi’s heels. “This is Ruth.”
    “We bumped into each other,” Laurel replied drily.
    “I really am sorry.” The younger girl gave a bashful shrug. “I go everywhere at a run. My dad says I need to, like, join the track and field team when I start middle school next year.”
    “That’s awesome.” Vi shrugged. “I’m so not sporty at all.”
    “You don’t have to run with me.” Ruth’s pale green eyes twinkled good-naturedly. “Want me to show you the lake? Did you bring your bathing suit?”
    “Yes and yes.” Violet brightened. “I love swimming.”
    “Sweet. Go change and I’ll meet you back here. Ten minutes?”
    She turned to Neil. “Is that cool, Dad?”
    “Sure.” It had been a long time since his daughter had done anything spontaneous. Even this residency had been researched to death. Ruth might be a wrecking ball on two legs, but she seemed to tempt Vi into throwing caution aside. He resisted the urge to ask questions about lifeguards or insist on promises to be careful. It was Violet—she’d be far more careful than he would have at her age. “Be in the dining room at noon for lunch.”
    “KK!”
    He waved them off, and the girls headed in different directions. And that left him alone with Laurel. Should he bring up the kiss again? Let it go and chalk it up to momentary insanity? He knew the second option was the best one, but he didn’t like it. Still, he was an adult and he had responsibilities. Making out with a pretty woman wasn’t on his to-do list. Though he really wished it was. It sounded a hell of a lot more fun than editing a manuscript.
    He swallowed. “I…uh…left some paperwork in the business center.”
    After a moment of silence, she shook herself. “Oh. Okay.”
    There was a hint of disappointment to her words, but her expression was difficult to read. A stab of guilt hit him. He was being an ass, acting as if that crazy kiss hadn’t happened. It wasn’t her fault he couldn’t figure out if he was coming or going any time she was near. He opened his mouth to say something, but she quickly descended the porch stairs.
    “I’ll see you around, Graves.” She paused to glance back at him. “If you decide you want to spend the next few hours necking while the kids are occupied, I’ll be sitting under the tree behind my cabin, sketching the scenery. I wouldn’t mind the right kind of interruption.”
    And the erection that had begun to subside went from semi to full-blown at the mere mention of getting his hands on her again. A shudder ran through him. “I’m not sure a few hours would be enough for what I have in mind.”
    A flush highlighted her cheekbones. “Tease.”
    “Not teasing, just honesty.” He blew out a breath. “More honesty…I need to use every free second I have on finishing my writing projects. I have a book that’s overdue to my editor.”
    Eyes narrowing, she looked him over. “Am I wrong in assuming you stayed up late last night working? And then got up early this morning?”
    “Do I look a little rough around the edges?” He scrubbed a hand over his unshaven chin. He’d bathed, but hadn’t taken the time to shave. He could see the evidence of it along her chin and jaw, a bit of redness. He liked seeing his mark on her way more than he should.
    “No, but I don’t mind a little roughness in a man.” Her tone was innocent,