Stone Romance (Stone Passion #2) by A.C. Warneke Read Free Book Online Page B

shaken her to the core and caused her to wake up out of the stupor she had fallen in. Automatically, her gaze went to Melanie, who was hugging Vaughn as if it had been days since she had seen him instead of moments. Lenni’s smile was dazzling and full of love and Jenna wanted that with Rhys.
    She was moving too fast, maybe….
    “Shall we?” With one arm holding a brilliantly smiling Ferris, Rhys held out his elbow out for her to take, jolting her out of her ruminations. She looked up into his warm laughing eyes and felt as if she could drown; seeing him with Ferris made her sink a little further. Not wanting to think about it too much, she offered him a smile and looped her arm through his.
    “You’re a natural, Rhys,” she murmured, reaching up and brushing a strand of Ferris’s hair from her cheek. She was about to ask him if he wanted lots of children but bit her tongue; that was way too personal, way too soon. Besides, it was nice just walking next to him, breathing in the scent of leather and Rhys and the cold winter air.
    A short while later, the small group was standing next to Jenna’s running car and saying their goodbyes, the ambient lights of the city allowing them to see clearly. Ferris’s eyes were heavy and her head was resting on Rhys’s shoulder as she mumbled sleepily, “Can I stay with Aunt Mellie and the gargoyles, mama?”
    “No, sweetie,” Jenna grinned, gently stroking her daughter’s smooth cheek. “I promised your grandparents that we would have brunch with them tomorrow and then we need to get some laundry done so you’ll have clean clothes next week.”
    She made a little grumbly sound but didn’t protest when Rhys strapped her into the back seat. Rubbing her eyes, she drowsily smiled up at the auburn haired man, “Good night, Mr. Rhys.”
    “Goodnight, sweetie,” he murmured, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. Jenna had to press her hand against her chest to keep her stupid heart from galloping towards Rhys.
    After Melanie and Vaughn said their goodnights, it was just Jenna and Rhys beneath the clear winter night and s trangely she was incredibly nervous. Leaning against the driver’s side door, she looked up at him as he boxed her in, his heat touching the coldest parts of her soul, “I had a really good time tonight.”
    “So did I ,” he murmured. His eyes darted past her to the interior and he smiled slightly, “She’s passed out.”
    “She’ll sleep through the night.” Jenna smiled fondly as she thought about Ferris and how the little girl always gave one hundred and fifty percent, right up until the moment she crashed. “Thankfully I can still carry her from the car to her bedroom. I’m not sure what I’ll do when she gets bigger.”
    “That’s when you get a wheelbarrow,” he said. “It’s a much easier way to move a body.”
    The wry comment made her grin and suddenly she didn’t want the night to end, she didn’t want to leave Rhys. Going up on her tip toes, she pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his lips . T he stubble of his beard rasp ed against her tender flesh and the heated musk of Rhys filled her senses. Her desire for him was a pleasant ache deep in her belly and she didn’t want to leave even though she knew she had to go. Keeping her mouth against his, she whispered, “Thank you, Rhys, for everything.”
    The corners of his lips curved upwards in a wicked smile, “Throw caution to the wind, Jenna; let go and I’ll be there to catch you.”
    “You make me want things I shouldn’t even be thinking about, Rhys, not when I am a mother and I have so many people relying on me to be sensible.” Stepping away from him, she swallowed thickly. He was so tempting and in this moment she was too tempted; she had no defenses in place to protect her tender heart against such warmth . Beneath the dark night sky, it didn’t matter but in the morning she’d wake up and remember who she was. And who she w as no longer.
    With a shaky smile, she