Page 47 of Pretend You Love Me

“A bit like I was hit by a bus.”

“To be expected.”

I pause a moment and then add, “You really shouldn’t be working yet.”

“I’m not on the schedule again for two days.”

“Good.”

“How often do you go in?”she asks.

“A few evenings a week. They don’t really need me. I’ve got a great crew.”

“You really do.”

Once the truck is parked out front of the cabin, we get out, and I walk her to the door. I know there’s no reason for me to do this other than I want to be close to her.

She opens the door but doesn’t enter. Instead she turns to face me. All I can think about is kissing her. My body is aching to pull her close to me - to taste her again, to feel her tongue on mine, her chest pressed against me. I want to slide my hand up that tiny skirt.

Her big blue eyes are just staring up at me.

“Well, I should be going,” she whispers but doesn’t move. Her body floats just a smidge in my direction - just close enough for me to feel the heat coming off her.

Fuck me. I couldn’t stop this if I wanted to.

I don’t know who moves first, but her arms are around my neck, our lips pressed against each other’s. My hands are splayed over her lower back, pulling her into my body. She jumps up and wraps her legs around my waist, and I grab her ass to hold her. Her skirt is pushed all the way up, and I’m gripping her bare skin with my hands.

I carry her inside. She’s moaning softly and every little noise is driving me wild. I bump into a chair and a table before I make it to the kitchen island where I place her ass on the counter. Her legs are still firmly around my waist. Her arms around my neck. I’m about to rip her shirt off when there’s a crash outside, and Blue starts barking violently. She pulls back, and I jerk my head up to look out the window.

“Stay here,” I say, walking toward the back patio. I hear her jump down from the counter and follow me. I turn around.

“What fucking part ofstay heredidn’t you understand?” I growl. Her skirt is still up around her waist, and I can see the tiniest hint of her pink underwear. I wish I was dragging them off her body with my teeth right now, but Blue’s still losing his mind, so the pink panties will have to wait. As soon as she realizes I’m staring at her underwear, she wiggles her skirt back down.

“Are you going out there?” she whispers.

“I am. You aren’t.” I say, pointing at her. “I mean it, Ginger.”

She’s back to biting her lip, and I’m really regretting that I’m not the one biting her lip right now.

“Stay,” I whisper yell. I open the flashlight on my phone and step out onto the patio. Blue runs up to me.

“What is it, Blue?” I say. I look over, and the trash can is on its side. Trash everywhere.

I walk over and pick it up and clean up the mess. Blue sniffs everything and eats a few things.

“Did you scare it away?” I say, petting his head as we walk back toward the house. His tongue is hanging from his mouth, and he looks quite proud of himself.

I step inside the house to see Ginger with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She looks worried.

“It’s fine. Something got into the trash. Probably just a bear.”

She nods. Relief spreads across her face.

I step toward her, and she says quickly, “I should probably go to bed. It’s been a long day.”

My brain knows that this is right. She’s right to walk away. The rest of me, however, is not on board with this decision.

“Right.” I say.