found himself mesmerized by more than the physical attraction pinging between them. He liked the familiarity of their conversation, the shared memories, and the sense of belonging that he’d never experienced while growing up.
A guy could get used to this kind of feeling. Maybe too much. But he didn’t want to deny himself, or Hannah, the possibilities it held. Not tonight.
After dessert, Caleb paid their bill and they exited the beautiful restaurant. He held the bike steady as she climbed aboard his V-rod, then he swung onto the leather seat in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back. Her legs bracketed his as he gunned the bike to life.
The V-rod’s powerful engine vibrated between his legs, and his skin thrummed with anticipation as she tightened her hold. He drove onto the road leading back to Sweetbriar Springs. She leaned with him as he banked a curve and his blood rushed hot to his groin. Focusing on the road took the will power of a sniper waiting for his target to come into view. Good thing he had plenty of practice overseas.
Caleb gripped his handlebar, zoomed down the resort’s road. On either side, trees wrapped in shadows and reflections of moonlight blurred into a mysterious waves. He rounded a bend, and long streaks of pewter cut across the milky moonlit valley below. The Blue Ridge Mountain ranges veiled in jet blank ink and silver tones.
The air smelled of sweet rhododendrons and spring leaves waking up from a long, cold winter. And of Hannah’s uniquely feminine scent of violets melding with the earthy, natural aromas.
Caleb exited onto the road leading to The Barley Stop. His family had an interest in the microbrew pub and the new owner hadn’t disappointed. Revenue remained solid and the customers raved about the venue.
They drove in silence, only the rumble of the bike sounding in his ears as they approached
But it felt right. And Hannah felt right with him.
Chapter Nine
“Looks like you got hustled, Caleb.” Zach pulled the eight ball out of the pool table’s pocket and rolled it toward Hannah. “Good shot.”
“Thanks,” Hannah said unable to hide the smile in her voice and glad to see him relaxing for a change. They’d run into him when they first entered the brew pub, and he’d told them Kennedy had booted him out of the house. She had enough of his hovering, and that she’d survive one night without him. He’d concurred only after Kennedy had called her mother to come by to keep her company.
The sound of people talking over the music blaring through the tavern’s loud speakers and the aromas of burgers, fries and the best onion rings in town permeated the tavern’s air. The energy in the room was electric.
As was the steady buzzing in Hannah’s ears of the thrumming of her heartbeat. Throughout the last round of pool, her senses had been assaulted and broken down one by one by every accidental brush of Caleb’s body against hers, especially when he leaned over her to help her improve her pool stance. A small giggle bubbled inside her, making her giddy.
Caleb shot her a confused look. “Since when did you become an Ace at playing pool?” he asked.
Oh, he had looked adorable when he’d gainfully tried to muster interest in her favorite foods earlier, but now? Now he was beyond handsome with his eyes, blue as the midnight sky, assessing her with renewed admiration and something more deliciously dangerous.
This was the bad boy; the rogue she’d had a crush on for the better part of her youth. This was the man she had turned to after overcoming her darkest hours and sought solace in the strength of his arms. And this was the man who had reawakened every female hormone she possessed the moment he had stormed back into her life.
This was the man she had loved, still did love if she was honest with herself.
But she played down the thoughts, schooled her features into a calm facade. Right now using her pool shark
A guy could get used to this kind of feeling. Maybe too much. But he didn’t want to deny himself, or Hannah, the possibilities it held. Not tonight.
After dessert, Caleb paid their bill and they exited the beautiful restaurant. He held the bike steady as she climbed aboard his V-rod, then he swung onto the leather seat in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back. Her legs bracketed his as he gunned the bike to life.
The V-rod’s powerful engine vibrated between his legs, and his skin thrummed with anticipation as she tightened her hold. He drove onto the road leading back to Sweetbriar Springs. She leaned with him as he banked a curve and his blood rushed hot to his groin. Focusing on the road took the will power of a sniper waiting for his target to come into view. Good thing he had plenty of practice overseas.
Caleb gripped his handlebar, zoomed down the resort’s road. On either side, trees wrapped in shadows and reflections of moonlight blurred into a mysterious waves. He rounded a bend, and long streaks of pewter cut across the milky moonlit valley below. The Blue Ridge Mountain ranges veiled in jet blank ink and silver tones.
The air smelled of sweet rhododendrons and spring leaves waking up from a long, cold winter. And of Hannah’s uniquely feminine scent of violets melding with the earthy, natural aromas.
Caleb exited onto the road leading to The Barley Stop. His family had an interest in the microbrew pub and the new owner hadn’t disappointed. Revenue remained solid and the customers raved about the venue.
They drove in silence, only the rumble of the bike sounding in his ears as they approached
But it felt right. And Hannah felt right with him.
Chapter Nine
“Looks like you got hustled, Caleb.” Zach pulled the eight ball out of the pool table’s pocket and rolled it toward Hannah. “Good shot.”
“Thanks,” Hannah said unable to hide the smile in her voice and glad to see him relaxing for a change. They’d run into him when they first entered the brew pub, and he’d told them Kennedy had booted him out of the house. She had enough of his hovering, and that she’d survive one night without him. He’d concurred only after Kennedy had called her mother to come by to keep her company.
The sound of people talking over the music blaring through the tavern’s loud speakers and the aromas of burgers, fries and the best onion rings in town permeated the tavern’s air. The energy in the room was electric.
As was the steady buzzing in Hannah’s ears of the thrumming of her heartbeat. Throughout the last round of pool, her senses had been assaulted and broken down one by one by every accidental brush of Caleb’s body against hers, especially when he leaned over her to help her improve her pool stance. A small giggle bubbled inside her, making her giddy.
Caleb shot her a confused look. “Since when did you become an Ace at playing pool?” he asked.
Oh, he had looked adorable when he’d gainfully tried to muster interest in her favorite foods earlier, but now? Now he was beyond handsome with his eyes, blue as the midnight sky, assessing her with renewed admiration and something more deliciously dangerous.
This was the bad boy; the rogue she’d had a crush on for the better part of her youth. This was the man she had turned to after overcoming her darkest hours and sought solace in the strength of his arms. And this was the man who had reawakened every female hormone she possessed the moment he had stormed back into her life.
This was the man she had loved, still did love if she was honest with herself.
But she played down the thoughts, schooled her features into a calm facade. Right now using her pool shark
Similar Books
