Gage, Ronna - Send Her To Me (Siren Publishing Classic) by Ronna Gage Page B

shoulder, and his insides unraveled like a tight spring. She gracefully kicked her shoes off and set them beside the sofa. He looked down at her feet. Her tiny toes and small feet were dainty. As a woman’s feet should be. She rested her hand on his knee and eased down to sit on the floor in front of him. She reached over his leg and picked around the tray of snacks.
    “Since you’re in a dress, wouldn’t you rather be on the sofa? I’ll sit on the floor.”
    “What, and have you look up my dress? Perish the thought.”
    Carter laughed at her upturned nose. S he has such a cute little nose . He covered his heart with his hand, pretending to be chivalrous and hurt. “You know me so well.” He took a piece of sausage from the tray and popped it in the creamy dip. He looked at the nice arrangement of pepperoni, smoked sausage, and yellow and white cheeses. This isn’t enough for me. Even with the crackers, I won’t be satisfied. What a statement of words and facts . He wondered if she made alternate plans. “Are we still going out?”
    “If you want to.”
    “Good. This chick food isn’t going to fill me up.”
    Kelli reached for a small piece of cheese and stopped. “Chick food?”
    There was something about her response that alerted him. She acted as if he insulted her. He had to do some quick talking to get him out of trouble. But words failed him. No matter what he said, he would find himself deeper in a hole he would dig himself into. “You know what I mean.”
    She laughed, and then licked some dip off the small disc of sausage. “I thought we could get to know one another better. If that’s all right.”
    “Sure.” He took a sip of beer. His eyes rested on hers for a quick minute, and then turned away.
    “So, how is the world of business?”
    Carter smiled, happy that she remembered he was involved in the business world. “Still no recession to report.”
    “Good.”
    A few minutes later, the idle chitchat turned empty—so had the snack tray before them. The issues at hand were still unsettled. Carter silently watched her as she stacked their used napkins and empty bottles on the disposable tray. She straightened from the task, and he stood up with her. She took a step toward the kitchen, but he caught her arm and brought her around to him.
    “Kelli, I think we need to talk.” She looked deeply into his eyes. He noted how her they shifted side to side. She only did that when she looked at him with purpose. He smiled as he felt his heart swell against his ribcage with her irresistible charms. There was nothing about her that he didn’t like.
    “Okay.” She set the trash back on the table and stood before him. The lustful spark in her eyes earlier was gone, replaced by a guarded look. Her arms crossed over her chest proved it.
    It bothered him to see this side of her. Maybe Dex was right. She thought the worst of his intentions. She took a step away from him, but he wasn’t going to let her think that of him. He pulled her into his arms. “Kelli?” He kissed her softly, and then his passion ruled his actions. He kissed her with a hunger so strong he tasted the passion on her tongue. It tasted like a mixture of hot desire mixed with a decadent sweetness.
    Kelli’s hands grasped his shoulders, taking fistfuls of his shirt. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “What was that for?” She took a step back and tenderly touched her lips.
    “I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you even after the intense romp last night.”
    Kelli blushed at his comment. “I hope you mean that.”
    He softly touched her cheek with the back of his fingers. “I do. I don’t want you to regret or freak out about anything that went on or goes on between us,” he said gently.
    Kelli gnawed on her bottom lip, her eyes narrowed, and looked at him, mulling something over in her head. Maybe something I said. He held his breath .
    “Who have you been talking to?”
    I knew I fucked up before I finished the