Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,257

don’t know exactly,” she finally said. “I’m still figuring that out.”

“Fair enough.”

“I know I want to get married and have a family. Actually, I sort of thought I’d have one by now, but…” Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. “But I was wrong.”

“Life’s full of surprises.” I tried not to sound bitter.

She glanced at me. “What about you? Think you’ll get married again?”

“No,” I said, and I meant it. “I know what I had. And it doesn’t happen twice.”

“Fair enough.”

We chatted a little more about the farm, about my family and hers, about places we’d traveled. She liked visiting big cities, and I preferred small towns, but we both agreed Mackinac Island was beautiful, perfect for a summer getaway. The more we talked, the easier I found it. Margot had definitely grown up in a different world, but she wasn’t a snob. And she was so damn pretty. Even the way she ate and drank was graceful. I found myself mesmerized by little things—the curve of her wrist, the straightness in her back, the arch of her foot. She had the kind of beauty that resides in the bones. The creamy skin, perfect lips, and big blue eyes were just a bonus. Then there was the body—the endless legs, the narrow waist, the small round breasts that sat high on her chest.

What did they look like? I hadn’t even gotten to see them last night. Were they even more pale than her face? And what about her nipples? Pale pink like cotton candy? Dark pink like a raspberry? Or maybe even deeper, like a cherry. As she chattered on about Mackinac Island fudge, my cock started to rise as I imagined licking my way up her vanilla skin to the cherries on top. I can practically feel them under my tongue. I can taste her.

God, why hadn’t I done it last night? Why had I raced to the finish like a fucking teenager afraid of being caught? Why hadn’t I taken my time with her? For fuck’s sake, I’d barely touched her anywhere. I dropped my eyes to the napkin on her lap.

“Jack?”

“What?” I looked up sharply to see her slightly amused face.

“Do you want another beer?” She nodded toward the bartender, who was standing there waiting.

“Oh, sorry.” I was completely torn. On one hand, I was having a nice time, and when was the last time I’d done something like this and enjoyed it? On the other, the longer I sat here with Margot, the more attracted I felt to her. “I shouldn’t.”

“Oh, come on. I will if you will. And then we can go our separate ways and you’ll be rid of me forever.”

I shook my head. “You really don’t like to be told no, do you?”

She grinned devilishly, her blue eyes lighting up.

Sometimes I wonder if it was that smile that did me in.

Margot

I’d thought it would be awkward, pretending it had never happened. I’d thought it might be difficult, making conversation with him. I’d thought it would be safe, talking about his wife—I’d thought hearing about her would help me remember that he was off-limits.

But it was fun. And easy.

And deliciously, drastically dangerous.

When I’d first walked in, it had been slightly uncomfortable, not knowing exactly how it would go pretending we hadn’t done what we did. But then he’d invited me to sit, and made a joke, and eventually, he’d smiled. And laughed—God, his laughter made me so happy. I wanted to roll around in it, get it all over me, like a pig in the mud.

He looked so good. I could hardly take my eyes off him. I loved the wayward curl of his hair, which I noticed for the first time had a little bit of gray. I loved the shape of his full mouth and had a hard time looking away every time he brought his beer bottle to his lips. I loved the way the cuffed-up sleeves of his blue shirt showed off those tanned, muscular forearms. He even wore a wrist watch tonight, with a large round navy blue face and a brown leather band with white stitching.

He also wore his wedding ring. And when he brought up Steph, I’d taken it as an invitation to ask about her, although I was surprised at how forthcoming he was. I got the feeling he was surprised, too, by how much he was revealing about himself, but it made me happy to think he felt comfortable confiding in me.

But instead