A Time for Us - By Amy Knupp Page 0,30

but I did love her spontaneity and playfulness.”

“Yeah,” Rachel said, trying not to think about how much she herself didn’t even begin to embody those traits. Instead, she let herself recall the Houston shopping trip in more detail, which had turned out to be one of the best weekends the two sisters had ever spent together. They’d gotten makeovers at one of the department-store makeup counters, had gone to dinner at a fancy, high-priced restaurant as they’d tried to act older than they were. Once they had found a hotel—a four-star one because Noelle had insisted they deserved to splurge—the fun had continued. Noelle, being daring, flirty Noelle, had introduced herself to a couple of brothers they’d run into in the lobby, and the four of them had gone swimming and then sat in the hot tub for the rest of the evening. It had led to Rachel’s first kiss, something that never would have happened without her sister’s spirit of adventure. “God, I miss her.”

Cale squeezed her hand and put his other arm around her, pulling her closer to his side. The movement jolted her from her reverie, in a good way. She normally didn’t let herself think back on specific memories of Noelle very often. It was too damn painful.

She looked up at him with a vague smile of gratitude. His gaze met hers, so close she could see the lighter flecks in his eyes, and she was suddenly unable to drag her eyes away. Instead, she was drawn in deeper, lured into glancing at his lips, and that was all it took for her to forget who she was and who he was. She lifted her head and pressed her lips to his.

CHAPTER TEN

CALE SHOULD HAVE been shocked at Rachel’s bold move. Maybe he was, for an instant, but that was quickly swept aside by a wave of heat that rushed through him at the feel of Rachel’s soft, sweet-tasting lips on his.

Holy shit, the girl was more assertive than he ever would have imagined. There was nothing tentative about her kiss—she slid her hand around to the back of his neck and pulled him closer, not that he was trying to get away. He was taken by her way of going after what she wanted full-throttle.

The sexy little sound she made struck him deep and low, got his blood pumping to parts that hadn’t had any action in a damn long time. Her tropical, coconut scent surrounded him as he ran his fingers through her hair. At the touch of her tongue to his, his need ratcheted higher, and he wished her body was closer to his, wanted to press his into hers and fit their bodies together. As soon as he had the thought, he felt her leg sliding over his lap, her torso turning toward his, breasts pressing into his chest, arms winding around his neck. He ran his hands over her greedily, learning her curves, exploring the softness of her skin by sliding his fingers beneath her shirt.

Rachel’s fervor was a turn-on in itself and, again, surprising, given the lack of self-confidence he knew she harbored in situations outside of her job. Once again, so opposite of her sister. Noelle had been plenty passionate in bed, but she’d always been a shy, hesitant kisser and rarely one to make the first move.

Abruptly, he pulled away, turned his head, closing his eyes and swearing to himself. Rachel nipped the corner of his lips lightly then eased back enough to peg him with a questioning look.

Cale shook his head minutely. “This is too weird.”

When he opened his eyes, he caught the look on Rachel’s face—embarrassment, just for a moment, and then regret. She swallowed as her lids lowered, and then she quickly climbed off him and stood, leaving him sitting on the ground alone. “Yeah.” She glanced around at the waves, then up the beach and down it at the various groups of people in the distance, as she took a step back from him. “I...I’m gonna go.” She dared a look down at him, where he still sat, stunned at himself.

He knew he should say something. Tell her...what? Something. At the very least, he should walk her back to her car, not that there was any safety concern, but just to be a gentleman. Before he could force something out or make himself move, though, she nodded once and walked back the way they’d come from.

Cale let her go, too caught up in the