Page 46 of Magnolia Summer

“Then hold still.”

Her heart jumped into her throat as he slowly raised his hand to her face. With his palm, he brushed back some curls that were clinging to her sweat-dampened cheek and pulled a beat-up daisy from her hair.

“You want it?” he asked with a playful smile.

She shook her head and he dropped the limp flower to the ground.

She stood on her tip-toes and pulled a dead leaf out of his hair, her fingertips brushing his forehead.

Truett’s eyelids fell to half-mast.

Oh no.Her heart hammered against her chest. She quickly pulled her hand away, rocking back on her heels. She looked down at her feet. “I have to go in now.” Her voice sounded breathless.

She turned toward the steps, which were just beyond Truett’s right shoulder. She waited for him to step aside, but he didn’t. She was so close to him she could feel the heat emanating from his body and smell the dirt they had just fallen into and were probably still covered with.

“Celia?”

She lifted her head but found herself closer than she’d expected. In fact, his face was barely two inches from hers. Her gaze slipped from his eyes to his lips . . . the gap closed . . .

And then they were kissing.

His lips were warm and soft and firm at the same time. Her heart seemed to melt all the way into her toes. Truett Beverly was kissing her. And she was letting him!

His hands were on her back, pulling her closer.

Her first kiss. She never imagined it could feel this way, gentle and eager at the same time, making her knees weak. She shouldn’t like it, should she? A lady shouldn’t allow a man to kiss her this way. She should push him away, run up the steps, and slam the door on him.

She dismissed the thought as the most disagreeable one she’d ever had.

* * *

Truett pouredhis whole heart into the kiss, afraid that at any moment she would tear herself away from him.

Her hands pressed against his chest, and then they slipped up and around his neck.

The back of her head fit perfectly in his hand. Her lips were warm and yielding, but she wasn’t responding.

The thought made him pull away and look down at her. Her eyes remained closed and her lips parted. She didn’t move as she exhaled a fluttery sigh.

His pulse leapt. He bent and covered her mouth with his again. This time, she kissed him back.

Celia did like him. She did want him to court her. She could hardly deny it after letting him kiss her like this. This moment was perfect. She was everything he wanted—determined, but with a soft, tender side hiding just behind the independent façade she showed the world. And he could save her and her family from their poverty-stricken circumstances, at least in a modest way.

If only she would let him.

Truett pulled back. Her eyelids fluttered open, her lips plump and red and more tempting than ever. He murmured, “You’re so beautiful.” He so wanted to kiss her again. The way she was staring at him, with that sweet, dazed look on her face, he didn’t think she would mind.

He drew her closer, but her eyes opened wide and she pushed against his chest.

* * *

Celia’s mindcame back to her when she realized he was going to kiss her again. For the third time. What was she doing? Behaving like a wanton trollop!

She pushed herself out of his arms, and he let her. He was so sweet and kind . . . generous . . . handsome . . . his blue eyes, his tousled hair, his perfect lips . . . No.

“I’m going in the house now.” She focused her eyes past him, on the front door. She mustn’t look at him.

“Celia, wait—” He reached out and touched her arm.