Page 29 of Salvation (Clover-Hills #1)
Wesley
A fter dinner, Blake and I are alone in the kitchen. Our moms are on the porch drinking wine, and Wyatt rushed out of here to help with a problem on the ranch. So, that left us two to deal with the clean up.
“I wash. You dry.”
I nod and take up position beside her. A comfortable silence fills the space between us.
I go to break it, but she beats me to it.
“Thanks for that. With your mom.” She doesn’t need to elaborate.
I know exactly what she’s talking about.
I adore my mother, but she tends to pry more than she should.
I could see how quickly Blake became uncomfortable and changed the topic for not just her sake but for us all.
“Does your mom not know about your ex?” I ask.
“His name is Marshall. And no,” she shakes her head, “She doesn’t.”
The way she says it tells me she wants to keep it that way too, so I don’t prod any further. Instead, I let out a scoff and raise my eyebrows. “Marshall? What a shit name.”
A laugh bubbles from her chest in return, and damn me if that smile doesn’t make my pulse skip a beat.
I feel like I’m sixteen again, begging for her attention when I know it’s not fair to do so with so much already on her plate.
She gasps, letting her laugh turn into a giggle, “It really is, isn’t it? ”
I nod, and we’re quiet again for a few minutes, nothing but the sounds of glass clanking and running water floating in the air. Thinking about my mother’s earlier questioning again has me opening my loudmouth and shoving it into a completely different direction. “I heard you met Haden.”
“Haden?” she asks, confusion wrinkling her pretty features.
“Tall, dark hair, tattoos.” I elaborate.
“Oh!” Surprise coats her tone. “You know him?”
I shrug. “He’s a buddy of mine.”
“Huh,” She shakes her head. “That’s so weird. Never would have guessed. He was so nice.”
The way she says it grates against my nerves. I roll my eyes as I pass back one of the plates she gave me. “You missed a spot.” She didn’t. But it’ll drive her crazy that she can't see it.
She squints her eyes at the plate but shrugs and pushes it back under the water. It hits at just the right angle and causes water to shoot straight onto my clothes. She gasps and covers her mouth to hide the amusement lighting up her eyes. “That was an accident. I swear.”
“Hey, it’s okay. It happens,” I wave my hand in a forget-about-it motion. But when she turns around to grab some paper towels, I reach forward, cranking it all the way to cold, pull out the sink hose, and spray her from head to toe.
"Wesley!” She squeals, turning as the cold water hits her. She throws her hands up like she can stop it.
I gasp dramatically and bring my hand up to cover my mouth. “It was an accident,” I say innocently.
“You little shit!” She lunges forward and snatches the hose from my hand in an attempt to turn it on me.
We both wrestle for control until I gain the upper hand and back her against the counter.
I let go of the hose, letting it find its way back to the sink.
I don’t care where it goes, don’t watch the mess it makes as our bodies press together.
Her hips, now trapped beneath mine. I can see and feel her every breath.
We both stop dead as we realize just how close we are.
Her eyes bounce between my eyes and my lips, and her chest rises faster and faster.
“Missed a spot.” She whispers as she brings the towel she’s been holding up to wipe at the corner of my mouth. She pauses, towel in the air between us. She licks her lips, and I groan at the sight.
“Don’t do that.” I whisper.
“Why not?” Her hot breath fans against my lips, and I instinctively lean closer –
“Hey, kids! Bring us more wine!” My mom’s voice is like a bucket of ice pulling me back to reality, both of us back to reality.
We jump apart, her cheeks vibrant and red.
She avoids meeting my eyes as she scrambles away from me.
I sigh as I watch her leave the room, soaking wet.
I lean against the cool marble and try not to think about the fact that I almost just fucking kissed Blake Warner.