couldn’t manage casual. Not when her heart and head pounded with a united thought.
He’s the one .
After months of sadness and unrest, in the midst of multiple personal trials, something good was happening. Unexpected and magical and charmingly improbable.
Savage dragged his hands over his face, through his hair. He looked sinfully handsome, dark and dangerous, and absolutely miserable.
Probably because her heart was in her eyes.
“I’ll taint your world,” he said.
“I’ll take my chances.”
Chapter Nine
Joe could pinpoint the moment of no return. The moment he’d succumbed to Bella Mooney’s spell. It wasn’t the kiss—although that had sealed the deal. No, it was the sight of her pedaling toward Funland on a banana yellow bicycle. The bike looked vintage—nothing fancy—and Bella had also harkened to days gone by, wearing faded overalls and those screaming red gym shoes, her golden curls blowing wild in the wind. He’d felt the sun on her face and the joy in her heart as she raced along the open road.
Warmth had spread through his ice cold being but then she’d made that fateful turn, taken that ugly spill. Time stilled, along with his pulse. Once he’d determined she wasn’t dead or seriously injured he wanted to shake her for being so reckless. Relief turned to anger then to frustration then to an overwhelming desire to kiss away her pain. To hold her close. To protect and cherish. That’s when he’d acknowledged the fall. His fall.
The fiery possessiveness that surged and raged while they’d kissed only verified the depth of his irrational all-consuming attraction. Dangerous for Bella, a lamb in a lion’s den who didn’t have the sense to run.
He’d warned her and she’d egged him on.
I’ll take my chances .
One kiss. She was ready to explore their chemistry after one freaking kiss. The hell of it was, so was Joe. He didn’t bother lying to himself. The attraction wasn’t based purely on sex. Complicated for him. Risky for her. He was scarred, cynical, and volatile. He was wrong for her, bad for her, but he wouldn’t refuse what he’d tasted in that kiss, what he’d seen in her eyes.
A chance to vanquish the darkness that had seeped into his soul.
A slice of his impossible dream.
Not that he believed the bull that company shoveled, but he was desperate enough to embrace the notion of old-fashioned good luck.
Now that they’d acknowledged the attraction, Bella turned skittish. “This is awkward,” she said.
“I would have pegged you for the type who believes in love at first sight.”
“Not that. Not us. I mean…” She flushed a charming shade of pink. “You think this is love?”
“I think it’s lust. With variables. So what’s awkward?”
“What? Oh.” She tore her gaze from his mouth.
Joe muted his roaring urges.
“The circumstances,” she said. “Our deal. I came here tonight to help with renovations.” She studied her bandaged hands. “I’m not sure I can manage a hammer or sander.”
“It’s not an issue.”
“But I owe you—”
“You don’t owe me anything. Archie mowed my yard, trimmed hedges, tended flowerbeds. We’re square.” Joe folded his arms, angled his head. “Don’t you two talk?”
Bella frowned. “We tend to skirt uncomfortable issues.” She chanced his gaze. “What about the date part of our deal?”
“That holds.”
“Should I be nervous?”
“Depends. How do you feel about formal affairs? Dining and dancing?”
She blinked. “You dance?”
“Not if I can help it. But I promised a friend I’d attend.”
“A chance to shop for a special dress?” Bella grinned. “Fun.”
“If you say so.” He gestured toward the stack of boxes before she could ask for more specifics. “I could still use your help,” he said. “If you have time.”
She sidestepped Joe, limping toward the hoarded collection of photos that made him see red.
“What’s with your leg?” Swooping her up before she could
He’s the one .
After months of sadness and unrest, in the midst of multiple personal trials, something good was happening. Unexpected and magical and charmingly improbable.
Savage dragged his hands over his face, through his hair. He looked sinfully handsome, dark and dangerous, and absolutely miserable.
Probably because her heart was in her eyes.
“I’ll taint your world,” he said.
“I’ll take my chances.”
Chapter Nine
Joe could pinpoint the moment of no return. The moment he’d succumbed to Bella Mooney’s spell. It wasn’t the kiss—although that had sealed the deal. No, it was the sight of her pedaling toward Funland on a banana yellow bicycle. The bike looked vintage—nothing fancy—and Bella had also harkened to days gone by, wearing faded overalls and those screaming red gym shoes, her golden curls blowing wild in the wind. He’d felt the sun on her face and the joy in her heart as she raced along the open road.
Warmth had spread through his ice cold being but then she’d made that fateful turn, taken that ugly spill. Time stilled, along with his pulse. Once he’d determined she wasn’t dead or seriously injured he wanted to shake her for being so reckless. Relief turned to anger then to frustration then to an overwhelming desire to kiss away her pain. To hold her close. To protect and cherish. That’s when he’d acknowledged the fall. His fall.
The fiery possessiveness that surged and raged while they’d kissed only verified the depth of his irrational all-consuming attraction. Dangerous for Bella, a lamb in a lion’s den who didn’t have the sense to run.
He’d warned her and she’d egged him on.
I’ll take my chances .
One kiss. She was ready to explore their chemistry after one freaking kiss. The hell of it was, so was Joe. He didn’t bother lying to himself. The attraction wasn’t based purely on sex. Complicated for him. Risky for her. He was scarred, cynical, and volatile. He was wrong for her, bad for her, but he wouldn’t refuse what he’d tasted in that kiss, what he’d seen in her eyes.
A chance to vanquish the darkness that had seeped into his soul.
A slice of his impossible dream.
Not that he believed the bull that company shoveled, but he was desperate enough to embrace the notion of old-fashioned good luck.
Now that they’d acknowledged the attraction, Bella turned skittish. “This is awkward,” she said.
“I would have pegged you for the type who believes in love at first sight.”
“Not that. Not us. I mean…” She flushed a charming shade of pink. “You think this is love?”
“I think it’s lust. With variables. So what’s awkward?”
“What? Oh.” She tore her gaze from his mouth.
Joe muted his roaring urges.
“The circumstances,” she said. “Our deal. I came here tonight to help with renovations.” She studied her bandaged hands. “I’m not sure I can manage a hammer or sander.”
“It’s not an issue.”
“But I owe you—”
“You don’t owe me anything. Archie mowed my yard, trimmed hedges, tended flowerbeds. We’re square.” Joe folded his arms, angled his head. “Don’t you two talk?”
Bella frowned. “We tend to skirt uncomfortable issues.” She chanced his gaze. “What about the date part of our deal?”
“That holds.”
“Should I be nervous?”
“Depends. How do you feel about formal affairs? Dining and dancing?”
She blinked. “You dance?”
“Not if I can help it. But I promised a friend I’d attend.”
“A chance to shop for a special dress?” Bella grinned. “Fun.”
“If you say so.” He gestured toward the stack of boxes before she could ask for more specifics. “I could still use your help,” he said. “If you have time.”
She sidestepped Joe, limping toward the hoarded collection of photos that made him see red.
“What’s with your leg?” Swooping her up before she could
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