sorts of levels with his morning stubble, the eyes narrowed against the sun, the lips half curved in a smile.
“I can’t believe you had Chloe make you coffee. I didn’t even know we had coffee.”
He let her lower her hand but retained it, that sweet gesture she found she was beginning to anticipate and appreciate, particularly when he idly ran his thumb across her palm.
“She finds me irresistible.”
“She’s young and hormonal. And she doesn’t know what an arrogant pain in the
ass you are.”
He grinned. “You find me irresistible, even knowing that about me.”
She bit back a smile. “Why the front porch? We have chairs in the back.”
“So I can see you when I drive away.”
33
Joey W. Hill
She cocked her head as they followed the side pathway past her car and the
blooming azalea bushes to the side steps to the front porch. “I think you just want my neighbors to see me sitting in my robe on the front porch with a man and destroy my reputation.”
“There’s that. And it makes the men realize you’re not available.”
She came to a stop. “You couldn’t possibly be indulging in something so
Neanderthal.”
She was a step above him. He put his hands to her waist, hooking the robe’s sash and turning her so her back was against the rail. Before she could stop him, he opened the front of the robe, worked his hands inside over the soft skin of waist and hip. One hand threaded up behind to cruise up her back and press her into him for a kiss. His lips were not physically demanding but their seductive persuasion was relentless. Her knees went weak, the now almost expected but still amazing sensation of desire curling warmly in her belly, like the question mark of steam over a fragrant cup of tea.
If she had turned a hundred and eighty degrees, she would have faced the street.
But in her current position, she was covered, modest. Only the most imaginative neighbor would realize that her fully naked body was pressed against his clothed but quite obviously aroused one. The movement of his hands along her back and over her hips under the robe would be disguised by the fluttering shadows of her magnolia tree on the side of the house.
“You’re going to cripple me,” he said against her lips, his voice urgent with desire.
“You’re a drug, Marguerite. I want to keep you near me every moment.”
She pulled back, more than a little breathless. “You won’t keep my attention that long. I’ll get bored of you any day now.”
“Ah. You’re considering the future. An improvement. You’ll find I have a
fascinating mind. I’m an exceptional conversationalist. And listener. You haven’t gotten bored of me yet, right?”
“Does tedious and irritating count?”
“Keep it up and I’ll kiss you again. I’ll rely solely on sex appeal to keep your interest.”
Hastily, she pulled her robe closed and retreated toward the front porch. She
jumped when he caught her hand, settling down when she realized he wanted to do only that.
Her tiger was still there, curled around the base of the pedestal table where Chloe had put the large bouquet. The door was open, the familiar sounds of preparations for the day’s first customers drifting out through the screen with the aromas of tea, mixing with the scent of Tyler’s flowers. It was an unexpected extension of the peace she’d felt in their yoga session. It wasn’t a hardship to be sitting shoulder to shoulder with Tyler on the front steps watching the early morning work traffic go by. As neighbors she knew headed to work, they raised a hand in greeting, eyes alive with curiosity at Tyler’s 34
Mirror of My Soul
presence. Marguerite turned so her knee was pressed at an angle to his, accepted his coffee cup and took a sip. “So you prefer coffee to my tea?”
“A question with a decidedly female word choice. In the category of ‘does this dress make me look fat’.” He leaned back, stretching his arm along the top step, which put
“I can’t believe you had Chloe make you coffee. I didn’t even know we had coffee.”
He let her lower her hand but retained it, that sweet gesture she found she was beginning to anticipate and appreciate, particularly when he idly ran his thumb across her palm.
“She finds me irresistible.”
“She’s young and hormonal. And she doesn’t know what an arrogant pain in the
ass you are.”
He grinned. “You find me irresistible, even knowing that about me.”
She bit back a smile. “Why the front porch? We have chairs in the back.”
“So I can see you when I drive away.”
33
Joey W. Hill
She cocked her head as they followed the side pathway past her car and the
blooming azalea bushes to the side steps to the front porch. “I think you just want my neighbors to see me sitting in my robe on the front porch with a man and destroy my reputation.”
“There’s that. And it makes the men realize you’re not available.”
She came to a stop. “You couldn’t possibly be indulging in something so
Neanderthal.”
She was a step above him. He put his hands to her waist, hooking the robe’s sash and turning her so her back was against the rail. Before she could stop him, he opened the front of the robe, worked his hands inside over the soft skin of waist and hip. One hand threaded up behind to cruise up her back and press her into him for a kiss. His lips were not physically demanding but their seductive persuasion was relentless. Her knees went weak, the now almost expected but still amazing sensation of desire curling warmly in her belly, like the question mark of steam over a fragrant cup of tea.
If she had turned a hundred and eighty degrees, she would have faced the street.
But in her current position, she was covered, modest. Only the most imaginative neighbor would realize that her fully naked body was pressed against his clothed but quite obviously aroused one. The movement of his hands along her back and over her hips under the robe would be disguised by the fluttering shadows of her magnolia tree on the side of the house.
“You’re going to cripple me,” he said against her lips, his voice urgent with desire.
“You’re a drug, Marguerite. I want to keep you near me every moment.”
She pulled back, more than a little breathless. “You won’t keep my attention that long. I’ll get bored of you any day now.”
“Ah. You’re considering the future. An improvement. You’ll find I have a
fascinating mind. I’m an exceptional conversationalist. And listener. You haven’t gotten bored of me yet, right?”
“Does tedious and irritating count?”
“Keep it up and I’ll kiss you again. I’ll rely solely on sex appeal to keep your interest.”
Hastily, she pulled her robe closed and retreated toward the front porch. She
jumped when he caught her hand, settling down when she realized he wanted to do only that.
Her tiger was still there, curled around the base of the pedestal table where Chloe had put the large bouquet. The door was open, the familiar sounds of preparations for the day’s first customers drifting out through the screen with the aromas of tea, mixing with the scent of Tyler’s flowers. It was an unexpected extension of the peace she’d felt in their yoga session. It wasn’t a hardship to be sitting shoulder to shoulder with Tyler on the front steps watching the early morning work traffic go by. As neighbors she knew headed to work, they raised a hand in greeting, eyes alive with curiosity at Tyler’s 34
Mirror of My Soul
presence. Marguerite turned so her knee was pressed at an angle to his, accepted his coffee cup and took a sip. “So you prefer coffee to my tea?”
“A question with a decidedly female word choice. In the category of ‘does this dress make me look fat’.” He leaned back, stretching his arm along the top step, which put
Similar Books
