which those lips could make a woman lose her inhibitions and beg for more.
“I had a good time with you today,” he said. “Thanks for introducing me to Indian food. Enjoy your afternoon.”
Before he released her, he rubbed his thumb along the inside of her wrist. She imagined the same calloused skin rasping across her nipples, and her pulse went berserk.
He released her as suddenly as he’d grabbed her, and then he walked away, crossing the street to the other side. His broad back disappeared between the ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic. Meanwhile, she couldn’t move. Her heart beat quickly from the alarming thought that had raced through her mind when he held onto her. She turned in the direction of her office building, confused by the turn of events.
She’d wanted more than his hand on her wrist. She’d wanted him to kiss her.
Chapter Eight
Memorial Day weekend. Backyard barbeque. Salsa music blasting from wireless speakers. Nothing like good food, music, and friends to remind a person of the important things in life.
Tomas carted a tub filled with ice, sodas, and beer out to the back yard and set it against the side of the house. Dozens of people occupied the wooded property. Some sat around tables playing dominoes and cards. Children chased each other and played hide-and-seek, using the scarlet oak and dogwood trees dotting the yard as hiding places.
He’d bought this place on a whim. At the time, the house had been in a shabby state and the grounds overrun with weeds. From what he understood, no one had made an offer on it in over a year. By the time he and the real estate agent completed the as-is sale, he’d purchased the property at fifty-percent below market value. The bank had practically thrown it at him.
A few friends thought he was a sucker for buying it, but with the house fixed up, no one could deny its beauty. Working off and on while commuting from his apartment, it had taken a long time to get the property to its current state. He’d gutted the entire inside and renovated the sprawling ranch into a four-bedroom with an eat-in kitchen. Even better, he could proudly say he’d done most of the work himself.
Coming home after a long day of work was like finding peace in a storm, and problems lost their importance once he drove up the dirt road to the front door. He would sit on the porch with his feet propped up, sipping a beer or an iced tea—depending on his mood—and stare out at the still waters of his very own lake.
He couldn’t believe how far he’d come since Santa Clara, Cuba.
“Oh good, more drinks!” someone squealed. Three scantily clad women bum-rushed him and each grabbed a can from the tub. They wore almost identical cut off shorts and tube tops. He wasn’t sure who they were or who they’d arrived with, but they were a welcome addition to the festivities.
“ Gracias , Tomas,” one of them said, batting her lashes at him.
“You can thank me properly later,” he quipped. She giggled and walked away. He’d had his eye on her friend, but if she wanted to show her gratitude, he wasn’t opposed to it.
He rejoined his buddy Ryan at one of the outside tables and sat where he’d left his plate of food. Ryan was eating a hamburger and keeping an eye on a group of kids on the tire swing near the lake.
“When does Shawna get here?” Tomas asked. Ryan had come over early to help him set up and get started on the grilling so there’d be food ready when the first guests arrived.
“In a few. She should be here any minute now.”
Tomas pointed. “There she is.”
He paused, pleasantly surprised when he saw Talia followed behind Shawna, who had her hands full with Madison and the diaper bag slung over her shoulder. Ryker ran ahead of them to join other kids playing with a puppy someone had brought. What had prompted Talia to show up? Although he’d pushed for her to come, he never had the impression she actually would.
A pair of designer sunglasses with
“I had a good time with you today,” he said. “Thanks for introducing me to Indian food. Enjoy your afternoon.”
Before he released her, he rubbed his thumb along the inside of her wrist. She imagined the same calloused skin rasping across her nipples, and her pulse went berserk.
He released her as suddenly as he’d grabbed her, and then he walked away, crossing the street to the other side. His broad back disappeared between the ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic. Meanwhile, she couldn’t move. Her heart beat quickly from the alarming thought that had raced through her mind when he held onto her. She turned in the direction of her office building, confused by the turn of events.
She’d wanted more than his hand on her wrist. She’d wanted him to kiss her.
Chapter Eight
Memorial Day weekend. Backyard barbeque. Salsa music blasting from wireless speakers. Nothing like good food, music, and friends to remind a person of the important things in life.
Tomas carted a tub filled with ice, sodas, and beer out to the back yard and set it against the side of the house. Dozens of people occupied the wooded property. Some sat around tables playing dominoes and cards. Children chased each other and played hide-and-seek, using the scarlet oak and dogwood trees dotting the yard as hiding places.
He’d bought this place on a whim. At the time, the house had been in a shabby state and the grounds overrun with weeds. From what he understood, no one had made an offer on it in over a year. By the time he and the real estate agent completed the as-is sale, he’d purchased the property at fifty-percent below market value. The bank had practically thrown it at him.
A few friends thought he was a sucker for buying it, but with the house fixed up, no one could deny its beauty. Working off and on while commuting from his apartment, it had taken a long time to get the property to its current state. He’d gutted the entire inside and renovated the sprawling ranch into a four-bedroom with an eat-in kitchen. Even better, he could proudly say he’d done most of the work himself.
Coming home after a long day of work was like finding peace in a storm, and problems lost their importance once he drove up the dirt road to the front door. He would sit on the porch with his feet propped up, sipping a beer or an iced tea—depending on his mood—and stare out at the still waters of his very own lake.
He couldn’t believe how far he’d come since Santa Clara, Cuba.
“Oh good, more drinks!” someone squealed. Three scantily clad women bum-rushed him and each grabbed a can from the tub. They wore almost identical cut off shorts and tube tops. He wasn’t sure who they were or who they’d arrived with, but they were a welcome addition to the festivities.
“ Gracias , Tomas,” one of them said, batting her lashes at him.
“You can thank me properly later,” he quipped. She giggled and walked away. He’d had his eye on her friend, but if she wanted to show her gratitude, he wasn’t opposed to it.
He rejoined his buddy Ryan at one of the outside tables and sat where he’d left his plate of food. Ryan was eating a hamburger and keeping an eye on a group of kids on the tire swing near the lake.
“When does Shawna get here?” Tomas asked. Ryan had come over early to help him set up and get started on the grilling so there’d be food ready when the first guests arrived.
“In a few. She should be here any minute now.”
Tomas pointed. “There she is.”
He paused, pleasantly surprised when he saw Talia followed behind Shawna, who had her hands full with Madison and the diaper bag slung over her shoulder. Ryker ran ahead of them to join other kids playing with a puppy someone had brought. What had prompted Talia to show up? Although he’d pushed for her to come, he never had the impression she actually would.
A pair of designer sunglasses with
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