Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

She rubbed herself against him, even as he pulled up her shirt, removed her bra and settled his mouth on her breast.

The soft, wet contact made her gasp. He licked her nipple before closing his lips around her and sucking gently. She slipped her hands through his hair and strained toward him, wanting all he had to offer.

He moved to her other breast and repeated his action. When he drew back, his eyes were dark, his pupils dilated, and they were both breathing hard.

“We should—”

Go upstairs. Do it now. Get naked. Patience wasn’t sure what she was going to say next, although she had an idea of the context. But instead of finishing her sentence, she heard a familiar laugh from outside.

Lillie.

“Crap,” she shrieked, scrambling off Justice’s lap and reaching for her bra. “We’re in my living room in the middle of the afternoon. We can’t do this here.”

He glanced toward the door, then stood and walked over to the wing chair by the couch. It took her a second to realize he was positioning himself behind it so his condition wouldn’t be obvious.

“You’re right,” he said. “This isn’t the place.” His mouth twitched. “I can apologize if you’d like, although technically I’m not sorry.”

She hooked her bra back together and pulled down her shirt. After making sure everything was in place, she glanced at him and smiled.

“I’m not sorry, either. But the last time I made out on the sofa, I was still in high school.”

His gaze locked with hers. He didn’t speak, but she would swear she heard the words. It should have been me.

In that second, she agreed. It should have been him. Her first kiss, her first time. Because whatever she’d felt for Justice before had stayed with her all this time. It wasn’t love and it probably wasn’t smart, but it was still there. A sense of connection. Which meant walking away was impossible to imagine.

* * *

JUSTICE HADN’T BEEN sure what to expect from the work party at Brew-haha. Even so the crush of forty or so volunteers was still a surprise. Over the past two weeks Patience had put together a list of what needed to be done and collected supplies. He’d seen her a few times, but never alone or in a setting where he could take advantage of them being alone.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent so much time wanting what he couldn’t have. Even as a teenager, he’d been more focused on dealing with the situation with his father than getting the girl. He’d had feelings for Patience, but she’d been so young and he’d known he didn’t have the right.

Over the years, he’d learned to lose himself in his work. When he wanted or needed a woman, there were always plenty to be found. But wanting and not having was new to him.

On this bright, warm, spring morning, he stood on the fringes of the crowd and listened to Patience explain her plan.

“There’s a master list posted by the door,” she said, pointing to the brightly colored paper with a long list of projects. “Supplies are in the center of the room, on the tarp. Once a project is finished, please cross it out so everyone else will know it’s finished.”

She’d pulled her long, wavy hair back into a ponytail. Her T-shirt was red with a cartoon cat on the front. She looked about seventeen. All fresh-scrubbed and pretty.

He knew that Lillie was spending the day with friends and that Ava had been having trouble lately. She would be using a wheelchair. He knew the color of paint in the cans and what was on the list, but he was still separate from what was going on. Watching rather than participating.

It was how he preferred things. Only with Patience he was in deeper than was comfortable for him. Still, pulling back didn’t seem to be an option.

“Ethan and Nevada have brought tools,” Patience continued. “She’s in charge of construction. If you’re feeling the need to pound a hammer, go see her.”

A man groaned. Justice would guess he was Ethan. A tall blond guy punched him in the arm.

“Your sister is in charge, dude. Talk about humiliating.”

Ethan turned to his friend. “You notice she didn’t mention you having tools, Josh. You want to think about what that means?”

Josh laughed.

“Thank you again for coming,” Patience said. “I really appreciate it.”

“We’re all here for you,” someone called.

There were murmurs of agreement; then the crowd broke up and people started to go to work.

A tall, lithe blonde walked over to Justice and stared at him.

“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I give up. I can’t remember your name. I’m Evie Stryker. I moved here last year and I’m still figuring out who is who.” She held out her hand. “I teach dance, if you have any daughters.”

They shook hands.