Maybe never. The feelings churning inside me are too strong to call them just friendship.
“Unbelievable. If he’s helping you, then I’ll take my jack.” He shrugs into his jacket, then points at the little folding contraption that doesn’t look adequate to hold her SUV.
If that’s what he needs to get the fuck lost… I stomp over to her car, crouch, and release the jack. “Here.” I grab his hand and push the tool into it. “Go.”
Anger flashes across his face. Then he smooths his features and smiles at Lisette. “Call me so we can talk about the house.” He starts toward his fancy sports car, then stops to add, “But don’t bring your guard dog.”
He slides behind the wheel and peels out in a spray of gravel.
The tiny rocks ping against her SUV and even off her boots. My vision turns red. Next time I see that motherfucker, I’ll start the conversation with my fist.
Lisette crosses her arms over her chest, a slight tremble wracking her body. Jesus, she’s not even dressed warm enough to be out here. Her slouchy sweater is pretty, sliding off to revealthe creamy skin of her shoulder, but it’s not right for these mountains and the lingering snow on the ground.
I take off my coat and wrap it around her. “Where’s your jacket?”
“Home. I mean, Grandmama’s. I thought it was supposed to be milder weather, and I wasn’t planning to be outside much.”
My coat swamps her, hanging down to her knees like a damn dress. I can’t suppress the feeling I get seeing her in my clothes. Never really understood why men liked that until now. I’m protecting her from the cold. She’s wearing my scent. It’s caveman as hell. Don’t care.
“Did he hurt you?” She’s not shaking now, and there’s no fear in her eyes. But he might have left bruises...
“No. I’m glad you came though. He was making me uncomfortable.”
Lisette wraps her arms around my waist and lays her head on my chest. It’s the second time today she’s been in my arms. Each time, I’m more reluctant to let her go. I thought her remembering me was too much to hope for. This? This shifts something inside me. Settling into place like the turn of a lock. A perfect fit.
Somehow my hands are already on her, holding her close. I rub her back, warming her up, and let her take whatever she needs from me.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, pulling back an inch. “I’m not trying to make it weird. I know we haven’t seen each other in decades. It’s just… you.”
Pink stains her cheeks as she looks at me from beneath her long, dark lashes.
Her skin is like satin when I cup her cheek and raise her chin. Those honey eyes meet mine, and I swear my heart skips a beat. “Not weird. New. For both of us.”
“You don’t mind your old best friend throwing herself in your arms?” She laughs lightly to hide her embarrassment.
I tug her closer. “You should do it more.”
She licks her lips.
I barely hold back a groan watching the way her tongue slides across them. The need to kiss her rides me hard. It has been since she flew into my arms the first time. But not here on the side of the road where anyone could pass by and see.
The first time I taste her pretty mouth, I want plenty of time to memorize the touch and feel of her.
“Maybe I will,” she says.
“Good girl.”
Her breath catches and she leans subtly into me. I’m not even sure she realizes it happened. She liked being called my good girl. I file that away in case I am ever granted the pleasure of spreading her out under me.
The thought makes my cock pulse, but I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to fix her tire and get her off the road and back to her warm house.
I brush her tempting lower lip with my thumb, then force myself to release her. There’s a jack in my truck that will work better than the flimsy thing Weeks had.
“I didn’t even hear you drive up,” Lisette says, trailing after me.
I’m not surprised. She was focused on the guy who was supposed to be helping her.
I grab the jack from behind the seat of my truck, guide her back to the SUV, and crouch to check the tire.
