Room for You (Cranberry Inn, #1)

“Listen, what can I do to make things go back to the way they were this morning?”


“Nothing, really. It’s fine. I’m gonna head to bed, I’m beat. Maybe I’ll see you in the morning?” She gave me a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and turned down the hall toward her apartment. I knew with that smile she wasn’t done. She didn’t want me to leave like this either. My mind reeled with what I could say or do in that ten feet she had left to walk to make her stay out here and get things back to normal.

Light bulb moment!

“Kacie!” I called out in a loud whisper. By the time she turned around, I had pulled my t-shirt off and dropped my jeans down around my ankles, standing there in nothing but my boxer briefs.

“Oh my God! What are you doing?” She giggled and covered her eyes the way I had earlier.

“I thought it was only fair. I’ve seen you, now you’ve seen me and we can go back to normal.”

She peeked through her fingers at me, closing them quickly when she realized I was in no rush to get dressed again. She continued chuckling and said in a muffled tone, “Put your clothes back on, you lunatic.”

What the hell was I doing? This might be the dumbest thing I’d ever done and I’d done a lot of stupid things. I was standing in front of this girl I was unusually attracted to in nothing but my boxer briefs, talking myself out of getting hard right there in front of her. Every time she grinned at me or looked south, I had to think of non-sexual things in my head.



Remote control. Pepper spray. Winter jackets. Golf clubs.



“I will … if you promise to hang out here with me for a little while. If you continue down that hall, I’m going to follow you, just like this.”

“Even you are not bold enough to do that.” She was challenging me.

I never back down from a challenge.

“Actually, it’s pretty hot in this house, don’t ya think? Maybe I’d be more comfortable with these off?” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and started playing with the elastic band of my boxers.”

Her eyes followed my hands as her mouth fell open. She threw her hands up over her face again and turned around, facing the hallway but not moving forward.

“Okay, okay. I’ll stay, just pull your pants up.”





I lost all control of my body and let my head fall back on Brody’s shoulder as he softly kissed his way down the side of my neck. His fingers lightly raked up and down my arms, covering them in goose bumps as I let out a soft moan.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for two days,” he murmured against the base of my neck. “And now that I’ve finally touched you, I’m not going to be able to stop.”

His words were intoxicating and my body was already drunk with lust. My breasts felt heavy, my nipples poking against the constricting cotton fabric of my bra. He continued kissing my neck as he slipped one hand inside my bra, teasing and kneading my swollen, needy breast. When his fingers clamped gently around my nipple, I let out a hiss and reached around behind me, feeling his excitement through his jeans.

“You keep making noises like that, this isn’t going to last very long.” He growled as he spun me around to face him. I grabbed at his jean button and fumbled to get it open.

His eyes were on fire, egging me on with their blaze. “Slow down, Kacie.”



“Kacie! Kacie!” I heard my mom calling. Lifting my head off my pillow, I cracked one eye open and looked over at my mom standing in my bedroom doorway.

“It’s past ten o’clock. You never sleep this late. Are you sick?”

I glanced over at the clock on my nightstand, and sure enough, it read 10:07.

“No, Mom, I’m not sick, just tired. Are the girls still asleep?” I asked.

“No, I got them up and dressed and fed them so you could sleep a little longer. This isn’t like you.”

“I’m okay, Mom. I’ll be out in a minute, okay?” I said in a groggy haze, desperate for her to leave quickly so I could fall back asleep and pick up where Brody and I left off.

“Sure, honey, take your time. I just wanted to check and make sure you weren’t sick.” She smiled and closed the door gently behind her.

I buried my face in my pillow the way it had been when she woke me and pinched my eyes shut tight, determined to get back to sleep fast and have Brody’s hands exploring my body again.

I lay there for about ten minutes then gave up, flopping over onto my back in frustration and staring up at the ceiling. That was the most action I had seen in years and I wasn’t even conscious for it.

I looked over at the clock again … 10:19. Coffee was going to be my best friend today, but I guess that’s what happens when you stay awake until 3:00 in the morning, talking. How could I not want to stay up late and chat with him after seeing him standing there with that charming, boyish grin on his face and his jeans around his ankles? His broad shoulders and chiseled body made it next to impossible not to stare. He was irresistible and he knew it.

I wasn’t sorry though. We had a great night with even better conversation.

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