The Calling by Ashley Willis Read Free Book Online Page B

inside of his cheek. It was supposed to be a fun, lighthearted afternoon. He had to improve the ambiance fast, or she’d never hang out with him again. He scooted closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She smelled like a cool breeze dancing over the ocean, and the warmth of her skin made his heart hammer a love song.
    Damn, he was a sap, but he didn’t want to be her friend any more now than he had back then. He’d taken on the role because the situation necessitated it, except finally they were both free of Ty, she was healthy, and the reason they couldn’t be together no longer existed. Unless she just wasn’t interested.
    He stared toward the surf and mashed his lips together. The desire to tell her how much he wanted her almost overwhelmed him, but it was too soon.
    She leaned into him and rested her head against his shoulder. “If I’d known you and Ty weren’t friends, I swear I would have returned your calls.”
    “No, you wouldn’t have. I reminded you of Ty, and you needed to get over him first.”
    She swiped at her tears. “Okay, maybe not right away, but after a couple of months I would have.”
    “I can believe that.” He squeezed her shoulders, trying to think of something to cheer her. “Let’s finish eating and go hunt for shells. It’s almost low tide.”
    “I don’t want to do anything right now, not even eat.”
    “I brought white chocolate, macadamia nut cookies.”
    She took a deep breath, seeming to compose herself, and looked at him with wide eyes. “Really?”
    He nodded. “Aren’t they your favorite?” If that didn’t cheer her up, he was going to have to find a basket of puppies.
    Her gaze focused on the cooler with the intensity of a hungry lion watching a gazelle. “How have I lived a year without you?” On all fours, she hurried to the cooler and dug around in the ice.
    He smiled. If it had been up to him, they never would have gone a day without seeing each other. While he watched her unwrap a cookie the size of her hand, he formulated a plan. Somehow, he was going to convince her to stay the night with him. His grin widened from coming up with the perfect scheme. “Don’t you like s’mores?”
    “Mmm hmm,” she mumbled while chewing a mouthful of cookies. “I wuv em.”
    “At dusk, I’ll start a fire, and we can make some.”
    Her brow furrowed as she swallowed. “Won’t that be kinda late?”
    Exactly. And if he tuckered her out with more surfing, she’d be too tired to drive home. “It won’t be too late.”
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    Bingo. One obstacle down and one more to go before the night was up–a kiss. Well, damn, there went his plan to get into her head before making a move.
    He gazed at her long legs tucked under her body and her trim stomach that tapered into a small waist. His blood stirred. Nope, not gonna wait . It was her fault he couldn’t hold off. She was too irresistible–especially with cookie crumbs on her lips.

Chapter 4
     
     
    Mandy finished towel drying her hair in the tent after taking a shower at the park facilities. Justin had somehow talked her into staying after she’d gorged on s’mores. She wasn’t a hard sell, since, if she went home, she’d have just stayed up all night thinking about her mammogram results. Tomorrow, the nurse would call with the findings, so it was better to spend an innocent evening listening to the waves with Justin by her side than a restless one at home.
    The sun had set thirty minutes ago, and only a small camping lantern lit the tent interior as Justin unzipped the door, dusted the sand off his feet, and climbed inside. The clean scent of his soap and shampoo wafted toward her. The smell filled her nose, and something down low tightened. Mandy straightened. Though the tent was roomy, it suddenly felt as cramped as an airplane bathroom. She scooted closer to her sleeping bag, which lay a few feet to the side of Justin’s.
    Of all the men to find enticing, she had to choose the one