Truth and Consequences by Linda Winfree

one —had ever said that. While he tried to digest the idea that the girl who’d always been out of his reach thought him worthy of more than he had, she stepped forward, a hand gentle on his arm. “You have to get out now. Before it goes any further.”
    I can’t. The words refused to leave his lips, his brain short-circuiting since all he could focus on was the warmth of her hand against his bare skin. He stared at her, her eyes dark and luminous. The muggy air pressed in on them, enveloping them in the silence of the deserted parking lot. Heat radiated from her skin on his, desire invading his blood stream, traveling through his body.
    Don’t do this, man. Step away. Get in the truck and leave her alone before one of you gets hurt. Or dead.
    I can’t.
    “Jason?” Her lips parted on his name and the desire hit him hard, even weakening his knees for a split second. God, he wanted to taste his name lingering on her full bottom lip.
    With a hand on the truck to steady himself, he bent his head and covered those parted lips with his own. Her soft mouth moved against his and her hold tightened on his arm. Making a small noise in the back of her throat, she swayed closer and he drank in her unique taste—mint mingled with something sweet and wild.
    His tongue danced across her lips, seeking permission to invade. Her palm moved up his arm, then her arms were around his neck, mouth open under his, her body aligned with his. The tip of her tongue tangled with his, tasting, teasing.
    With a groan, he backed her against the truck door, not sure his legs would support him. Wanting pulsed in his abdomen, below his belt, through his entire body. He wanted her naked, stretched out beneath him on the purity of her white sheets, making those same breathy little sounds as he made love to her. The image exploded in his brain and a moment passed before he realized her hands had slid to his chest and she was attempting to lever him away.
    He pulled his mouth from hers, his breathing coming in unsteady gasps. She curled her fingers into the oft-washed cotton of his T-shirt. He nuzzled his nose against the curve of her ear. “Go home. Forget this happened.”
    She slipped closer, heavy breaths pushing her breasts against his chest. Her cheek brushed his and her knuckles moved, an inadvertent caress. Her clean scent filled his head. “Say you’ll quit. Get out before it’s too late.”
    “I can’t.” Forcing his hands from her body, he wrenched the door open, rusty hinges squawking. Feeling her gaze like a continued touch, he climbed into the cab and started the engine. He pulled onto the street, aware of her watching him leave.
    * * *
    At her parents’ home, the lights shown brightly in the kitchen. Kathleen parked behind her mother’s ancient BMW and grabbed the bag containing her refrigerated items. The scent of roses and gardenias flowed over her on the walk to the back door. She entered without knocking. The glass sunroom off the kitchen was empty.
    “Mama?”
    “Kathleen?” Her mother’s surprised voice drifted from the large kitchen and Kathleen followed it. Her mother sat in the window seat at the other end of the room, a cup of coffee and a novel at hand.
    Kathleen put her bag of cheeses in the refrigerator. “Where’s Daddy?”
    Her mother smiled and stood to envelope her in a hug. “He’s at Virgil’s, talking politics. What are you doing here, sweetheart?”
    “I just left the grocery store and thought I’d see if you were still up.” She swiped at a strand of hair falling in her eyes and tried to avoid Mama’s all-too-seeing gaze, sure from the heat in her cheeks she was still flushed from Jason’s kiss.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” Kathleen shook her head and forced a laugh, moving to the coffee maker and pouring a cup. “I can’t just stop by because I want to see you?”
    “If that was truly your reason for coming, of course.” Her mama patted her arm. “And even if it wasn’t your