A Beautiful Star (Beautiful Series, Book 5) by Lilliana Anderson
Authors: Lilliana Anderson
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my eyes, I force myself to stay calm. I can’t let myself feel anything else in this moment. If I do, the man sitting next to me could possibly destroy me. And then I’d never find happiness again.
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“Give me a chance, Red. Let me prove to you that I can be that guy for you. The guy.”
“I can only be your friend, Jonathan. That’s as far as this can go.”
I open my eyes to look at him, hoping that he understands where I stand. But his eyes are bright and his jaw is set and then before I know it, his hand shoots out and grips the back of my neck, his lips pressing against mine as all of those feelings I’ve been trying to ignore jump to life and swirl around my body excitedly. My mouth responds to his, my lips parting to allow his tongue entry, and a whimper escapes my lips as it slides against mine. My body seems to merge with his, as his arms wrap around me, then slowly, all of my control is gone and he lowers me to the grass, his lips working with mine, transporting us both to a world where common sense doesn’t matter anymore. Just pure, unbridled emotion, forcing me to feel things for this man I didn’t want to feel, forcing me to face things I’m not ready to face, but I can’t seem to stop myself from loving every moment, every touch, every taste.
Finally, he pulls away, and we’re both breathless as he looks down at me. “Is that what friendship feels like?” he murmurs.
My breath hitches and my eyes burn as I’m suddenly catapulted back to reality. Letting out a small whimper, I roll from beneath him and scramble to my feet.
“Why did you have to do that?” I demand, stepping away from him as he stands and reaches out for me.
“Red,” he implores.
“No!” I yell. “Just…stay away from me. ” Then, walking as fast as I can away from him I make my way home, feeling confused and annoyed and a whole bunch of other things that cause my head to ache whenever I try to think through how I feel about that kiss. I have no idea if he followed me or if he stayed standing in the spot be the river. Because I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.
Chapter 15
“So tell me more about your trip to Paris,” I ask, as I lie on the blanket that Brad brought to the open-air cinema with us. I have to say that this man is nothing, if not prepared. He brought the rug, the food, the wine and he’s amazing company. I’m just struggling to keep my focus after what happened with Jonathan earlier. I still can’t believe he kissed me like that. And even worse, I can’t believe I responded the way I did. I should have pushed him away immediately and slapped him for being so forward, but I didn’t. I lost myself in it, and I still feel like I’m trying to claw my way back…
“And they use a technique that–am I boring you?” he asks, his voice sounding slightly amused.
“No. Not at all. I really do find the whole process fascinating, and I’m really interested in hearing about your trip. I think it may just be the wine going to my head a little,” I assure him, feeling that telling him that I was confused because my friend kissed me so passionately earlier that I can still feel his lips and on mine, might be a little inappropriate.
“Are you sure? Because we can talk about something else. You could tell me what story you’re working on, for example.”
Sitting up, I shake my head, and fully turn my attention towards him as I reach out and take a hold of his hand. “I want to learn about you. Tell me how you came to be a chef. When did you decide that food was your calling?”
He smiles, a glint in his eye that can only be seen by those people who are truly in love with their chosen vocation. “When I was fifteen, I applied to do work experience at a hotel not far from where we lived. I’d eaten in the restaurant with my family and the food, and the presentation of it just amazed me. And once I got in there, I worked so hard that they
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“Give me a chance, Red. Let me prove to you that I can be that guy for you. The guy.”
“I can only be your friend, Jonathan. That’s as far as this can go.”
I open my eyes to look at him, hoping that he understands where I stand. But his eyes are bright and his jaw is set and then before I know it, his hand shoots out and grips the back of my neck, his lips pressing against mine as all of those feelings I’ve been trying to ignore jump to life and swirl around my body excitedly. My mouth responds to his, my lips parting to allow his tongue entry, and a whimper escapes my lips as it slides against mine. My body seems to merge with his, as his arms wrap around me, then slowly, all of my control is gone and he lowers me to the grass, his lips working with mine, transporting us both to a world where common sense doesn’t matter anymore. Just pure, unbridled emotion, forcing me to feel things for this man I didn’t want to feel, forcing me to face things I’m not ready to face, but I can’t seem to stop myself from loving every moment, every touch, every taste.
Finally, he pulls away, and we’re both breathless as he looks down at me. “Is that what friendship feels like?” he murmurs.
My breath hitches and my eyes burn as I’m suddenly catapulted back to reality. Letting out a small whimper, I roll from beneath him and scramble to my feet.
“Why did you have to do that?” I demand, stepping away from him as he stands and reaches out for me.
“Red,” he implores.
“No!” I yell. “Just…stay away from me. ” Then, walking as fast as I can away from him I make my way home, feeling confused and annoyed and a whole bunch of other things that cause my head to ache whenever I try to think through how I feel about that kiss. I have no idea if he followed me or if he stayed standing in the spot be the river. Because I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.
Chapter 15
“So tell me more about your trip to Paris,” I ask, as I lie on the blanket that Brad brought to the open-air cinema with us. I have to say that this man is nothing, if not prepared. He brought the rug, the food, the wine and he’s amazing company. I’m just struggling to keep my focus after what happened with Jonathan earlier. I still can’t believe he kissed me like that. And even worse, I can’t believe I responded the way I did. I should have pushed him away immediately and slapped him for being so forward, but I didn’t. I lost myself in it, and I still feel like I’m trying to claw my way back…
“And they use a technique that–am I boring you?” he asks, his voice sounding slightly amused.
“No. Not at all. I really do find the whole process fascinating, and I’m really interested in hearing about your trip. I think it may just be the wine going to my head a little,” I assure him, feeling that telling him that I was confused because my friend kissed me so passionately earlier that I can still feel his lips and on mine, might be a little inappropriate.
“Are you sure? Because we can talk about something else. You could tell me what story you’re working on, for example.”
Sitting up, I shake my head, and fully turn my attention towards him as I reach out and take a hold of his hand. “I want to learn about you. Tell me how you came to be a chef. When did you decide that food was your calling?”
He smiles, a glint in his eye that can only be seen by those people who are truly in love with their chosen vocation. “When I was fifteen, I applied to do work experience at a hotel not far from where we lived. I’d eaten in the restaurant with my family and the food, and the presentation of it just amazed me. And once I got in there, I worked so hard that they
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