Pining For You: Jasper Falls Read online

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, you’re just very observant.”

  He retrieved the milk, anticipating her every move. “You have a routine.”

  She flushed. “I like structure.”

  Returning to the stove where the kettle heated, his gaze held hers. “I noticed.”

  They were only standing a few inches apart, and if she moved, he would notice and possibly take it as rude. But maybe she should step back anyway.

  Her breasts felt heavy and every shallow breath seemed to lift them. It was as if her body was instinctively reaching for him. She needed something to drink.

  Mirroring her stance, they stood between the island and the stove, each with a hand resting on the counter. His palm glided over the granite and his fingers brushed against hers.

  Intentional. Very intentional.

  Her breath caught and her gaze turned questioning.

  A thousand logical responses pranced through her head. They had a professional relationship. This was inappropriate. They were playing with fire. Addison could get hurt if they went there…

  They all made sense but she didn’t want to acknowledge a single one. She wanted him, plain and simple.

  “Tell me no.”

  She couldn’t. Her body felt heavy and hungry. She’d never had such a response to a man. She hardly knew him. Her heart wanted her to be reckless anyway.

  “Skylar…”

  No, she wouldn’t tell him no. She said nothing, refused to blink, making it perfectly clear the answer was yes.

  “Tell me a secret,” she challenged. “Something people don’t know about you.”

  Shock registered in his eyes and she expected him to shut down whatever this was, but instead, he shifted closer and whispered, “The prettiest place I’ve ever slept was under the North Carolina sky. The stars are so big and bright there, they make the shadows glow.”

  “Is that where you grew up.”

  His eyes turned guarded. “I lived there for a time. I lived in a lot of different places. Until finding Jasper Falls, North Carolina was my favorite.”

  “Why Jasper Falls?”

  “You said a secret. I gave you one.”

  But he didn’t necessarily share anything personal and now he watched her as if silently asking what she would give him in return. Her heart fluttered into a canter as she tried to translate his body language.

  His socked feet shifted closer and his fingers once again brushed hers. “Why are you so fascinating to me?”

  “I’m boring.”

  “I can think of a hundred ways to describe you, but boring isn’t one of them.”

  “What would you choose?” She wanted to know what he thought of her, how he saw her.

  “Stunning. Patient. Sweet. Warm.”

  Her lips pulled into a smile and her face heated. “Thank you.”

  “How do you see me?”

  Her brow creased. “You’re…my boss.” She couldn’t confess all the things he made her feel, especially when she didn’t know how he managed to stir such emotions in such a short time.

  He blinked, and something close to disappointment flashed in his eyes. “Is that all?”

  He was testing her. Pushing her. It might have been the most adult conversation she’d ever had, but her body was quaking with uncertainty and her heart was terrified she might say the wrong thing out loud and be mortified the next morning.

  She dropped her gaze, erring on the side of caution. “You’re a good father to Addison.”

  Hooking a long finger under her chin, he raised her face, forcing her to hold his stare. He grinned with genuine pride. “Thank you.”

  His touch lingered, and he stepped another inch closer.

  “Rhett…”

  “I just have to see something…”

  Her lungs filled with a deep breath as he closed the distance and brushed his lips against hers. Such simple contact, but her body caught fire. Chills raced down her spine and her nipples pulled tight.

  Maybe it was because they were doing something wrong. Maybe it was their age difference that made the press of his lips to her feel a little taboo, a little too tempting. But the truth was, they weren’t breaking any laws, and she had every right to stand there in his kitchen and let him kiss her if she wanted him to.

  And oh…she wanted…

  A wave of dizziness swept over her, knocking her slightly off balance in a true to God swoon. The next breath she took hitched past her lips in a delicate gasp.

  He eyed her closely, catching every blink and breath and pulsing ache she couldn’t seem to hide. His hand slipped beneath the curtain of her hair, softly cupping the back of her neck, and everything inside of her clenched with anticipation.

  She expected a kiss, but nothing could have prepared her for the one he delivered. He didn’t just press his mouth to hers. He pressed his entire body to her body. Hard, hungry muscle against soft, needy curves.

  His height and breadth crowded her as he took complete control, turning her back to the island and angling his body over hers as his tongue broke the seal of their lips and stole into her mouth. She let him lead, wanting to see how far he would take things.

  Deep, masculine groans met her delicate mews, and he challenged her to meet his passion. Her pulse fluttered wildly as his hands sifted through her hair and over her curves. Soft lips ran delicately over her jaw, teasing and coaxing, licking and nipping. The heat of his body surrounded her.

  Her breasts smashed against the hard wall of his chest, and she reveled in the sturdy feel of him, wanting—no, needing—more. His desires dominated her senses. His height dwarfed her small form. He filled her with a riotous sense of wildness, yet made her increasingly aware of her fragility.

  He was big, she was small. He was strong, she was delicate. He was fire and desire, she was cherished and revered. He was experienced, she was not. But, oh, she wanted to learn from him.

  His thigh wedged between her legs, pressing exactly where she needed pressure. His mouth returned to hers and he deepened the kiss, her body burned from the inside out, heating her skin in a fiery flush.

  No matter how aggressively he kissed her, his touch remained sensual and inviting. He didn’t kiss like the other guys she’d made out with. He touched her like a man, with skill and familiarity and dark intentions. He didn’t just kiss and caress her, he consumed her.

  His skill should have scared her or intimidated her but, instead, it made her feel delicate yet safe. Arching her body closer to the island, she wanted to wrap her legs around his hips and pull him down to the floor. At the very least, she wanted him to lift her to the counter and spread her body out beneath him and have his way with her.

  She wanted more. Needed him to hold nothing back. Wanted all of his strength and power and—

  The sharp whistle of the tea kettle was like a bucket of ice water spilling over the moment, and they broke apart. Rhett blinked and frowned at her as if he’d forgotten who he had been mauling a second ago.

  Not the look she wanted from her employer.

  Shit. He was her boss.

  Logic sank in hard and fast, like a bolder breaking through a placid bond. She moved to the stove and removed the screaming kettle from the heat, clicking off the burner and waiting for the ripple effect to come and mess everything up.

  “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  She winced, glad she hadn’t turned to face him. Anger bubbled inside of her. “Then why did you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Well, it happened and now they had to live with it.

  Why hadn’t she listened to her more rational instincts? Now what? Would they pretend nothing happened? Act like everything was normal?

  “Are you mad?”

  She was irritated that he seemed to be ashamed of his actions and didn’t like the way his regret made her feel like a dirty thing he shouldn’t touch. “I thought it was…nice.”

  “It was inappropriate.”

 
Ouch. She pivoted and found him scowling so she scowled, too. “It was your idea!”

  He jerked back at the unhidden censure in her voice. “I’m aware. I wasn’t thinking.”

  She scoffed and narrowed her eyes as he tried to shrug off any accountability. “You were thinking.”

  Both of them had been thinking about this for some time, thinking of all the reasons why they shouldn’t act on desire, thinking how good it would feel to be reckless, consequences be damned.

  “It was a spontaneous impulse.”

  Unbelievable. “How about a little self-awareness and accountability, next time.”

  Affronted that she’d call him out on his bullshit, his jaw hardened. “There won’t be a next time.”

  “Good!” she snapped, slinking past him and marching out of the kitchen.

  “What about your tea?” he yelled after her.

  “You drink it! Or was that also a spontaneous impulse you had no intention of seeing through?”

  He said nothing else and she didn’t stop scowling until she reached the third floor. Once safely inside the privacy of her room, she dropped her face into her hand and groaned. The mortification she’d predicted arrived with a gut swilling nausea that made it hard to breathe.

  11

  Rhett was furious with himself. Of all the foolish things he could have done, this one took the cake. Skylar was perfect for Addison, and they were finally finding their groove, finally accomplishing all those normal homelife activities he had missed growing up. Then screwed everything up by kissing her.

  Not just kissed her. That was no ordinary kiss. He took her. Held her. Consumed and savored her. If not for that damn tea kettle, he would have fucked her right on the kitchen floor.

  His body hardened at the mere thought. Would she have let him?

  No! No more thinking of the nanny that way!

  He should have never gone so long without female company. As the mayor, he avoided the women of Jasper Falls, preferring to see to his needs in the next town over. But it had been some time since he’d taken a night to himself.

  After Addison was born, any thoughts of long term relationships fizzled. His daughter was too special and he didn’t want to complicate their situation by bringing random women around. Nor did he want to get involved with the wrong woman.

  Skylar was his daughter’s nanny, therefore she was the wrong woman. But he couldn’t stop seeing her as perfect.

  And when he kissed her…

  His cock hardened and he groaned, locking his jaw and shoving the vision away. She was for his daughter, not for him!

  He avoided his home for most of the week and worked late, even on nights he had no excuse to stay after six. Every night, he walked through the door to find a wrapped plate of food on the counter beside a picture Addison had drawn. She was getting better at writing her letters and printing her name.

  Skylar was nowhere to be found in the evenings after Addison went to bed, but he sensed her presence everywhere. It was in the carefully positioned pillows on the couch that now smelled like her. The flowers on the kitchen island he assumed were her doing. Her wool hat and coat hanging in the foyer beside Addison’s made their entryway look homier than it had ever been. She was everywhere.

  She was in the air, in his house, in his mind, and now she seemed to be burning in his blood. The light from the third floor seeped under the narrow door. What was she doing up there?

  If the lights were on, she wouldn’t be sleeping. He didn’t think she had a television up there. Was she reading? On her phone? Morbidly curious about her search history, he wanted to know every secret she kept.

  She hadn’t been guarded until he put up some guards of his own. He wanted to know more about her, but feared she might discover too much in return.

  No one honestly knew him in Jasper Falls and he preferred it that way. His past was ugly, like a patch of broken sidewalk that people shouldn’t step on. It didn’t fit with the picturesque image of Jasper Falls. Being the mayor of such a town, meant grooming his reputation to fit with the brand he was trying to sell.

  No, he wasn’t ready to let others in. His privacy was just that—private.

  Yet, no matter how much he knew better, he still wanted to get to know her. Why was she so alluring? He had to find out, had to—

  Once again his train of thought had gone off track in the wrong direction.

  Not going to happen. He shouldn’t even be looking in her direction. She was an employee, a member of his staff. His curiosity and interest blatantly disrespected her personal space. He needed to back off.

  Why was he so obsessed with her anyway? Sure, she was beautiful and sweet and there was a playfulness about her he hadn’t found in many grown women. But there was something else.

  She impressed him. She did things differently, always adding extra care and a personal touch to any task. She was old-fashioned, despite being young.

  And when he kissed her… The heat of her touch stunned him. Sweet little Skylar had a fire in her. The moment he laid his hands on her, pressed his body against hers, arched her back over the counter, and groped those tight curves he was lost like a moth to a flame, and he’d been burning for her ever since.

  Avoidance seemed the only answer. For days, he kept himself occupied with work, but his thoughts always returned to her. Skylar was not an easy woman to forget.

  Addison had been eager to decorate the tree they bought, but he’d been making excuses all week. Kissing Skylar had been a mistake—and one he’d love to repeat. But for the sake of his daughter, he had to cool things off with the nanny.

  Addison needed her. He needed her—and not in the way he truly wanted her. He needed her for his daughter. He couldn’t afford to mess that up.

  After a few days of avoiding the house, he hoped they could leave the kiss in the past and move on. She seemed to be avoiding him as well, so the decision to overlook his misstep seemed to be a mutual one. But once the weekend started, he’d have to face the music.

  When he came home Thursday night, he found the house quiet, per their new normal. He heated up his plate and ate alone at the counter.

  The kitchen door pushed open and Skylar stilled. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  She had her hair pulled up in another one of those messy buns. A loose sweatshirt hung off her frame and her legs were covered in red and white candy cane striped leggings. Her feet wore the bulkiest socks, the casual vision sending him over the edge.

  His throat dried. “I just got home.”

  She looked away and pulled a mug from the cabinet, but rather than make her usual bedtime tea, she set the coffee pot to brew. Seeing her stand where they kissed did things to his body, things he had a hard time hiding.

  He positioned himself behind the granite island. “No tea?”

  “Not tonight.” She fidgeted with the mug, adding a scoop of sugar and a dash of cream. “I have to study.”

  He frowned. “For?”

  “I have an exam tomorrow.”

  Had he missed something? “You’re still in class?” He’d assumed the semester had ended. “I thought…”

  “That I finished? That was at the community college where I got my associate’s. I’m starting on my bachelor’s, now, but it will take years to finish—especially since I can’t afford to go full time.” When she looked up at him, her eyes appeared huge. “I’m only taking one class online through Shippensburg at the moment.”

  “What class?”

  “Behavioral Management.”

  Another layer peeled back, revealing more intimate details about who she was and what she might be doing up in that room after eight each evening. The thought of her studying triggered a slew of librarian fantasies, reminding him that she was an intellectual as well as playful.

  Smart, beautiful, silly, and an incredible kisser… He was doomed.

  He needed to know more. “Is the class difficult?”

  She shrugged and her shoulder peeked a little further
out of the collar of her sweatshirt. “It’s not easy, but I’ll pass. I just have to study if I want to keep my GPA up.”

  She wasn’t wearing a bra. That bare shoulder tormented him, and if he dropped his gaze, he bet he’d see her pert little nipples pressing against the fabric, loose and hungry to be held.

  Do not drop your gaze!

  He looked.

  It was like a punch in the gut. He wanted to slide his hand under the sweatshirt, up her warm skin and cup those sweet curves. She’d let him, too, because she was a good girl who liked being kissed. She liked being naughty.

  His cock hardened and his mouth watered as he imagined pulling her sweet, pink nipples into his mouth and sucking them until they were wet and cherry red. He’d lick them over and over, pulling the tips and making her beg—

  “You didn’t like it?”

  His fantasy screeched to a stop and he followed her gaze to his plate. “I haven’t tasted it yet.” He’d been too distracted and hungry for something else.

  Her brow pinched and her lips formed a soft pout. “You don’t have to lie.”

  He wasn’t lying. “I’m not.”

  “It’s fine. I’m not great with roasts and I think I overcooked it anyway. I can make you something else.” She grabbed the plate as if she intended to dump it in the trash, and he caught her wrist.

  “Skylar, leave it.” Touching her was a mistake.

  The air snapped with hot energy, and his skin prickled at her nearness. He could so easily bend his head and kiss that exposed shoulder. Her collar bone called to his mouth, begging to be licked.

  She looked at his fingers wrapped around her wrist and didn’t tell him to let go. On the contrary, she relaxed her arm, subtly giving in to his hold. He tugged her wrist to his chest and she gasped, staggering into him.

  Her eyes looked up, questioning and unsure.

  He remembered studying. It was on the tip of his tongue to offer to help her, just so he could work an invitation into her room. He wanted to ask her questions on little flashcards and see her handwriting and watch her think. He wanted her on her knees looking up at him with those big blue eyes.