Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: One Sweet Summer (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Love by the Numbers Book 1) by J.A. Coffey Page B
Authors: J.A. Coffey
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family had grown up on chrome and diesel fuel. His world was all caviar and champagne. It could never work. Would never work.
No matter how much she might want it.
Anna dragged her hair off her face and tucked the back of her T-shirt into her shorts. When the kid with the missing lunchbox arrived, she helped him find it and sent him on his way. She thought about ducking out before Kane got back, but that would be the coward’s way out.
He returned from the restroom before she had a chance anyway. They finished packing up the classroom in silence—kind of an intense, knowing silence where they were both thinking about the kiss.
“Let me walk to your car,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows at him as she shouldered her bag. “It’s right beside your truck.”
“Still.” He smiled, that easy, charming smile, and took her hand in front of the receptionist and everyone as they exited the community center.
Butterflies danced in her stomach. What car part would she use to depict those? She broke the silence first. “You know, Kane, I’m pretty sure your parents wouldn’t approve of us seeing each other.” She stared at the tufts of grass growing between the concrete pavers, afraid to see his expression.
He laughed. “Probably not.”
She stopped short on the sidewalk. “Is that why?”
“Why I want to date you?” They continued toward the cars until they stood between them. They could drive off their respective homes, right now.
Or they could do something else.
Kane took a deep breath. “No, Anna. That’s not why.”
***
“Then why?” she asked, her grey gaze seeking his. “Help me understand.”
He couldn’t say what it was, exactly, that drew him to her. Being with her was completely natural, like breathing. Like sunshine. Like happiness. It had been so long since he’d felt content, he almost didn’t recognize it.
Her expression contained a mute appeal for more of an answer; stubborn woman that she was, she wouldn’t just come out and ask him how he felt about her.
To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure. Her questions probed into the secret places of his heart. They stung a little. But all of that faded beneath the gaze of those incredible, indescribable eyes. He’d felt more of a man these past weeks than he’d ever felt on his show, in school, even hauling timbers.
“It’s this.” Protected a little from the eyes of onlookers by his large truck, he drew her toward him, wrapping his arms around the deep curve of her waist. “You see right through me, Anna. But more than that, you see me. The real me.”
The one he wanted the rest of the world to see as well.
He slipped a hand free and trailed his index finger down the side of her cheek. She shut her eyes for a moment, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings on her cheeks. She shivered in his arms and her breathing stuttered as he cupped her stubborn little chin.
He swiped a thumb over her bottom lip. “You make me want to be better, Anna.”
And he would be better, for her…and for himself.
He lowered his face until they were a breath apart, until he could hear the sound of her ragged breathing in his ears.
Energy sizzled between them as she rose up on her tiptoes and placed her mouth on his. He lost himself in the feel of her skin beneath his hands. How easy would it be to end every day with her kisses? How great would it be to start every morning in the same way?
Cradling her face in his hands, he placed his mouth over hers, thrilling at the jolt of awareness that sizzled through him. Kissing her was like touching a live electrical wire. If he wasn’t careful, he could get hurt.
Usually, that made him want to withdraw. To call it quits, whenever anyone came too close. But there was something about her that stirred his blood in ways his ex-lovers never had. Her special combination of fire and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. She was genuine. She was real. The opposite of every woman in his experience
No matter how much she might want it.
Anna dragged her hair off her face and tucked the back of her T-shirt into her shorts. When the kid with the missing lunchbox arrived, she helped him find it and sent him on his way. She thought about ducking out before Kane got back, but that would be the coward’s way out.
He returned from the restroom before she had a chance anyway. They finished packing up the classroom in silence—kind of an intense, knowing silence where they were both thinking about the kiss.
“Let me walk to your car,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows at him as she shouldered her bag. “It’s right beside your truck.”
“Still.” He smiled, that easy, charming smile, and took her hand in front of the receptionist and everyone as they exited the community center.
Butterflies danced in her stomach. What car part would she use to depict those? She broke the silence first. “You know, Kane, I’m pretty sure your parents wouldn’t approve of us seeing each other.” She stared at the tufts of grass growing between the concrete pavers, afraid to see his expression.
He laughed. “Probably not.”
She stopped short on the sidewalk. “Is that why?”
“Why I want to date you?” They continued toward the cars until they stood between them. They could drive off their respective homes, right now.
Or they could do something else.
Kane took a deep breath. “No, Anna. That’s not why.”
***
“Then why?” she asked, her grey gaze seeking his. “Help me understand.”
He couldn’t say what it was, exactly, that drew him to her. Being with her was completely natural, like breathing. Like sunshine. Like happiness. It had been so long since he’d felt content, he almost didn’t recognize it.
Her expression contained a mute appeal for more of an answer; stubborn woman that she was, she wouldn’t just come out and ask him how he felt about her.
To be honest, he wasn’t quite sure. Her questions probed into the secret places of his heart. They stung a little. But all of that faded beneath the gaze of those incredible, indescribable eyes. He’d felt more of a man these past weeks than he’d ever felt on his show, in school, even hauling timbers.
“It’s this.” Protected a little from the eyes of onlookers by his large truck, he drew her toward him, wrapping his arms around the deep curve of her waist. “You see right through me, Anna. But more than that, you see me. The real me.”
The one he wanted the rest of the world to see as well.
He slipped a hand free and trailed his index finger down the side of her cheek. She shut her eyes for a moment, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings on her cheeks. She shivered in his arms and her breathing stuttered as he cupped her stubborn little chin.
He swiped a thumb over her bottom lip. “You make me want to be better, Anna.”
And he would be better, for her…and for himself.
He lowered his face until they were a breath apart, until he could hear the sound of her ragged breathing in his ears.
Energy sizzled between them as she rose up on her tiptoes and placed her mouth on his. He lost himself in the feel of her skin beneath his hands. How easy would it be to end every day with her kisses? How great would it be to start every morning in the same way?
Cradling her face in his hands, he placed his mouth over hers, thrilling at the jolt of awareness that sizzled through him. Kissing her was like touching a live electrical wire. If he wasn’t careful, he could get hurt.
Usually, that made him want to withdraw. To call it quits, whenever anyone came too close. But there was something about her that stirred his blood in ways his ex-lovers never had. Her special combination of fire and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. She was genuine. She was real. The opposite of every woman in his experience
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