The Patriot A Small Town Romance - Jennifer Millikin Page 0,83

toe-curling intensity and overwhelming desire makes me wonder if there was a live wire connecting us these past five years.

His tongue urges my mouth open, and he swipes inside. A low, guttural moan fills the crisp morning air and I’m not sure if it was me or him who made the sound. His hands leave my back and my head, finding my thighs, dipping under the fabric of my shorts and pushing the soft fabric up as high as it will go. I rip my mouth away to breathe, tipping my chin to the porch ceiling, and Wes leans in, taking the opportunity to drag the tip of his tongue up my neck, and nip along my jawbone.

“What are you doing to me, woman?” he murmurs against my skin.

“The same thing you’re doing to me.”

His teeth graze my earlobe and he sighs, pulling back to look down at me. There’s a new look in his eyes. Something tender and vulnerable.

I lean in, my lips tracing a design over his chest. His breath hisses through my hair. “Someone once said it’s not a good idea to mix business with pleasure.” My low voice tumbles against him, and my actions make it clear to both of us what I think of my words.

“That someone can go fuck themselves.” He moves quickly, lifting me off my feet and throwing me over his shoulder.

“Please tell me you’re taking me to the bedroom,” I moan my plea against his back.

“Right now, Dakota, there is no other place for us.”

My heart melts at the word us.

I think I might be royally screwed. Literally and figuratively.

Beau is standing in the dining room, reaching into a bowl of berries, when we come through the back door. I get the feeling there isn’t a ton that could surprise the man, but I’m pretty sure we’ve managed to.

Wes and I are holding hands. We’re late. And I’m almost positive our cheeks are still pink from exertion. Convincing his family we’re passionate about one another won’t be difficult. What just happened in Wes’s cabin was as hot and heavy as it gets.

Beau tosses a blackberry in his mouth and meets us halfway. “Dakota, it’s nice to see you again.” He looks questioningly into Wes’s eyes. Wes grins back at him, and based on the widening of Beau’s eyes, I think Wes has just managed to surprise him again.

“It’s nice to see you too, Beau.” I glance from Beau to Wes. “I’m going to find Jessie.” I dart away and leave the two to talk.

Jessie is in the living room, sitting on the couch with her knees pulled into her chest. She’s chewing on her thumbnail, her signature long braid settled on her shoulder.

“Hi, Jessie.”

She startles and looks up. When she sees it’s me, a big smile breaks onto her face. Popping up from the couch, she hurries over and throws her arms around me.

“Dakota, it’s so, so, so good to see you!”

Her exuberance makes me laugh. “You too, Jessie. How are you? You looked like you were knee-deep in thought when I walked in.”

She pulls me to the couch, waving around her free hand as we walk. Her nails are painted turquoise. “Oh, you know. Boy trouble.”

I cluck my tongue and shake my head, as if I know just what she’s talking about. And I do. In the past and in the present. What’s more troublesome than what’s happening between me and Wes at the moment?

Jessie pounces. “What’s going on? Is Wes too much to handle? Please, please, just be patient. I know sometimes he can be dickish, but—”

“Dickish?” Wes stands at the entrance, arms folded in front of his chest.

Jessie frowns. “This is an A and B conversation, Wes, so—”

“So I should C my way out?”

I stifle a laugh. Jessie sticks out her tongue.

Juliette walks in. Suddenly the room feels colder.

“Hi, Juliette.” I smile brightly at her. Chilly reception or not, she’s still Wes’s mom.

“Dakota, what a surprise. I didn’t realize you were joining us today.”

“We just walked over from my cabin,” Wes says, walking over and giving his mom a one-armed hug.

She smiles tightly. “Well, great. I’ll set the table for one more. I was just coming in here to tell you everything is ready.”

Jessie follows her mom. Wes and I walk far enough behind that Jessie and Juliette can’t hear us.

“She hates me,” I hiss.

“She doesn’t hate you. This is just new for her, and sudden. She loved Warner’s wife, Anna, and what she did hurt my mom.