His Southern Temptation - By Robin Covington Page 0,39
him take the lead.
“You didn’t like what I said.”
“No.”
“Well, I’m not sorry I said it.” He paused, fingers now tapping lightly against her waist. He always did that when he was thinking. “I want you to stay in Elliott. With me.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.” She wiggled out of his arms, sitting up cross-legged on the bed, near him but without the befuddling addition of his hands on her body. His touch had the power to make her forget what she needed to do. “You’re asking me to move back here and give up my life, my business. For what? Diamond rings and empty promises?”
“I didn’t hear anyone proposing.”
“So, what? Shacking up? Dating?”
“I’d love to wake up with you every day, but we can live however you want. I’m just asking for a chance.”
“A chance?”
“To figure this out.” He gestured between them, his large, warm palm landing on her knee with a gentle squeeze. “To see what we can be if we have the time.”
“Damn it. And you just thought this up?”
“No. It first popped into my mind two years ago in Hawaii.” He reached up, caressing her bottom lip with his thumb. His half smile was sexy and indulgent. “It scared me so bad, I hopped the first plane out of there. You remember.”
She did remember. It had scared her too.
“And now?”
“Now, I’m looking for more and I want it with you.”
His words thrilled her, the icy, hot rush coursing through her veins. She wanted to run and wanted to stay. She wanted to scream and she wanted to kiss him senseless. Emotions morphed together into a huge ball of frustration that sat heavy in her gut. The urge to lash out in frustration was one she barely contained.
“So I’m supposed to give up all my plans to come back here and play happy farmer’s wife?”
“You can have your business here.”
“With your mom?”
“Yes. Or with a spa in Roanoke, or you can open your own business and be independent.”
“Lucky, I have an amazing deal on the table that I have to sign within the next couple of weeks or it’s gone forever. I don’t have enough in savings to get a loan to do it on my own and these guys are covering a good part of what is normally my investment cost. I cannot just throw away years of hard work to see if we’d work out.”
“You know how good we are together.”
“Only for a few days at a time. In bed. Most couples never last past the honeymoon stage, and that’s all we’ve ever had.”
“What made you such a cynic?”
“Oh, Bobby wasn’t my only poor choice. Just the first.” She brought up another option. “Why can’t you come to Hawaii? It’s beautiful, modern, so much more to offer than here.”
“The farm is here.”
“So your dad is going to sell it to you?”
“He will.” Lucky’s jaw was set, eyes hard with determination.
He scooted forward, large hands hooking under her body to pull her into his lap. She pushed against him, resenting his manhandling but also finding his touch comforting. In his arms she could pretend they weren’t really at odds.
“I’m not asking you to decide right now. Just promise me you’ll keep an open mind.” His words were a soft caress against her skin, in perfect complement to the way his calloused hands petted her back in long, soothing strokes. “Think about giving us a chance.”
She groaned against his shoulder, the urge to flat-out deny his request not as powerful as she expected. The fact that she was even considering his suggestion told her that she should hitch the first flight back to the islands. “Why couldn’t you just let this go? Why couldn’t we go along as we always have?”
He nudged her face up with his hand, forcing her to look at him. He was smiling, his eyes bright blue and smile boyish. It was the expression of a man who knew what he wanted. Damn.
“Because I want you.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” He leaned down, brushing a soft kiss across her mouth, dipping in to taste and making her squirm with the shot of desire it produced. He nudged back, the beginnings of an erection nestled against her thigh. “Beck told me I needed to use our time here to convince you to stay. I realized he was right.”
“Well, hell, if you’re taking relationship advice from Beck, then this is already a disaster.”
He chuckled against her hair, shaking them both. “True. His relationships usually only last the time it takes