Easy Kisses (The Boudreaux Series Book 4) - Kristen Proby Page 0,64
to say.
“But what I said earlier was rude and inexcusable, and if you want me to go, I understand.”
I bite my lip and watch his handsome face as emotions I can’t put a name to cross his face.
“Why did you assume that I was deliberately withholding information?”
He closes his eyes and shakes his head.
“Because betrayal is more common in my life than I like to admit. Because the man my ex-wife fucked around with was my business partner, who happened to hide a lot of money from me. The business struggled needlessly for a long time because he wasn’t honest about his financial situation, and frankly, I’m not accustomed to honesty.
“I’m used to having to figure out the puzzle, and it pisses me off.”
“It pisses me off too,” I reply, still not touching him back. His shoulders slump in defeat.
“I know that you are not any of the people from my past, and it’s ridiculous that I would compare you to them, or allow those experiences to trigger my reactions to you.”
“Yes, but that’s called being a human being,” I reply, the mad gone from me now. “At least now you know I’m not a gold digger.”
His lips twitch.
“But, I wonder if it would make you more comfortable if I was?”
He tips his head to the side and he pushes his fingers in my dripping hair.
“No. I wouldn’t be more comfortable. I’m quite taken with you, just as you are. I’m deeply sorry for what I said earlier, Charlotte. I can’t promise that my baggage won’t make me screw up in the future, but I can promise that I’m learning from it. I won’t jump to conclusions again.”
“Good,” I reply and wrap my arms around his waist now. “Just talk to me, Simon.”
“I can do that.”
***
It’s been four days since my fight with Simon. He’s been true to his word, asking me questions when he has a concern, and he’s been even more open with me about his family. The fight sucked alligator balls, but I think it brought us to a closer place with each other.
I’ve never felt so comfortable, or more connected to, another human being the way I do Simon Danbury.
Who would have thought?
And, just like every single day since he’s been here, I close my shop on time. Just as I’m flipping the sign over to closed, Simon walks through the door, with his sexy smile all over his face.
“Hi there, handsome.”
“Well, hello, love.”
“You know,” I say as I lock the door behind him, then walk to my counter to close out the till and get ready to leave. “I’ve discovered that since you’ve been here, you’re very bad for my productivity.”
“How is that?” He leans on the counter and braces his chin on his fist, watching me.
“I’m closing the shop early, for one.”
“I do believe the sign in the window says you close at six.” He checks his watch. “And look at that, it’s six.”
“I haven’t actually closed at six since…well, I don’t remember. I usually chat with customers, redesign displays, shop for new stock. But most of that has been set aside because I seem to be spending most of my time with a certain sexy Brit. It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
He raises a brow and stands to full height, taking my breath away. His ink is on display again in a simple black T-shirt, stretched over wide, muscular shoulders.
Where did my knees go again?
“Cute, am I?”
His accent gets even thicker when he’s turned on, and it’s on full blast now.
“Adorable.”
He slowly circles around the counter and leans into me, pinning my hips against it. His lips are inches from mine.
“I don’t think a man is supposed to be cute.”
“No?” Oh, God, I can’t breathe right when he’s this close to me. His hands are on my hips now, his fingers under the hem of my blouse, and then gliding up my skin and over my bra to cup my breasts.
“We shouldn’t do this here.” Is that my voice? I sound breathy and turned on, which is pretty accurate.
“No one is here,” he says and brushes feather-soft kisses over my cheek to my ear. My body is one giant shiver. Thank God for the giant display I built today that blocks us from outside traffic.
As if by their own volition, my hands make their way down the back of his jeans to cup his very fine ass just as he nips my neck, making me gasp.