Go Away, Darling - Alexis Anne Page 0,21

to Chris. “Oh good, you brought bait and your own pole. We should get started.”

“I agree. Grab your pole.”

While Linc ran up to the porch, Chris picked up the book I was reading. “Relax and enjoy. Linc and I are taking things from here.”

Then, and I still haven’t recovered from it, he winked at me. But it wasn’t silly or cheesy. It was damn sexy. My knees went weak and thankfully I was already sitting.

“Well let me know if you need anything.”

He shot me a damn sexy smirk as he retrieved his stuff and sauntered down the dock just ahead of Linc. I watched them for a long time. Linc never once looked my way. He had complete faith in his new friend and, I suspected, a strong desire to do something so grown up (even if making dinner would one day seem like a miserable chore.)

And Chris devoted his attention to Linc, only glancing my way when their lines were in the water. It took them an hour and a half to catch dinner and another hour to clean the fish and ready them for cooking.

I was not allowed in the kitchen, but I enjoyed the show from the comfort of the couch with a glass of wine I didn’t even have to pour myself. Chris moved around the kitchen naturally and was surprisingly good at giving simple instructions.

After dinner we took Chris on a walk along the beach. The whole time my hand itched to grab his. To have that easy comfort and familiarity again (with a man.) I hadn’t realized how something so simple could make me feel like I was missing such a key component to my life. Hand holding was just that: hands pressed together. And yet it was so much more than that. It was connection. An unspoken I want to be with you and only you. You are precious to me.

By the time we returned home the sun was set and Linc was exhausted, so I let him turn on a television show while I helped Chris restore the kitchen to order.

“Thank you for this.”

“You shouldn’t be cleaning up my mess.” He tried to shoulder me out of the way.

“It’s hardly a mess. You cleaned almost everything as you were cooking.” Aside from the pan soaking in the sink during our walk, everything was neat and tidy. The dishwasher was nearly done running.

“Stop it! Do not touch that pan.” He turned and put his entire muscular body between me and the sink.

I was not complaining about his tactics. Not one bit. “Or you’ll what?”

His gaze flickered past me to the couch then back again. His eyebrow waggled and his eyes darkened. His voice came out low and rough. “Or I’ll kiss you.”

I should lunge for this sink. But no, not in front of Linc. “Dirty move.”

He shrugged. “Is it though?”

I turned and found Linc asleep. Mouth open, maybe a little drool, arms lifelessly dangling toward the floor. Chris moved behind me, hands on my hips, lips at my ear. “What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.” Then he kissed me once lightly below my ear.

I gasped. A shockwave went roaring through my body and I instinctively arched into him, sending my breasts up and my butt back.

Chris groaned.

Oh yes, this physical attraction was very, very real. Age and athlete be damned. Sure I didn’t know much about Chris except he was an excellent baseball player who was nice and friendly, but my body wanted me to get to know the rest of him. Immediately.

This was both exciting and disconcerting.

“I think I better say my good nights,” he whispered, clearly fighting back his own desires.

It warmed me inside and out to know his reaction was as fierce as my own. “Yes. Okay.”

“Do you need help putting him to bed?”

I’m ashamed to admit that instead of thinking of my son, my brain went right to putting Chris in my bed. “Uh, no. I might let him stay right where he is, actually.”

“Yeah. Okay. Well then. I guess I’ll be going.”

I followed him to the door, walking a half step behind and staring at the hand I wanted to hold. I bet it was rough and strong and big. It certainly looked rough and strong and big.

He stood on my front porch and turned back with a smile. “We’ve got three home games this week, so I’ll be back and forth. Would you be available for lunch one day?”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. Yes I could be.”

“Okay