Page 87 of Sterling Heat

“Well, thank you for the lemonade . . .” I lift my lemonade in salute and pause, not knowing his name.

He winks at me again without offering it. “See you around, Enya.” He’s quick to walk away before I can question how he knows my name. Then again, it’s a small town like Sebastian said. As the new person around here, I guess I’m a bit of a novelty, especially since Sebastian isn’t dispelling any rumors.

Taking a sip of the sweet lemonade, I head back to our picnic blanket where the man pretending to be my baby’s daddy is glaring at me.

He stands as I approach. “Who the hell was that?” He snaps a little too gruffly.

“I don’t actually know.” I sip my lemonade again and gaze at Sebastian with the straw between my lips. If this situation had been with Lance, there would be accusations. I was flirting. I was leading someone on. I was doing something wrong. In hindsight, the behavior was a coverup for his own wandering eye. And Sebastian’s upset is a little more . . . complimentary.

“Are you jealous?” I tip my head, with my teeth nibbling the tip of the straw, poking at him.

With hands on his hips, he isn’t falling for my ploy to forget the man. “What did he want?”

“He asked me to join him for a drink later and when I said I wouldn’t, he insisted on buying me a lemonade instead.” I lift the plastic cup.

“Fucking hell. Yes, I’m jealous.” With his hands still on his hips, his stance is imposing. Like a toy wound tight and ready to spring. His eyes narrow. “Why did you turn him down?”

I laugh. “Come on. You know why.” My smile emphasizes how tickled I am by his display of confusion. Stepping closer to him, I place my hand on his chest, where his heart races beneath his T-shirt warmed by the sun. “I’ll pick you every time, Sebastian.”

His eyes widen. He glances to the side and then back at me. He groans, “Sugar.”

“You, Sebastian.” I tap a finger to his chest while I take a sip of my lemonade, again attempting to flirt with him and distract him from thoughts of anyone else in my life.

How does he not see how wrapped up in him I am? He’s the only man I want which is dangerous for my heart. For Adara’s heart, too. Because we’re both a little in love with this man who might be strongly infatuated with us but doesn’t want a long-term future.

The thought should make me sad, but I don’t have a second to think before Sebastian has his fingers in my hair, cupping the back of my neck, and tugging me to him. He kisses me deep and hard as we stand in the middle of a crowded picnic.

Just as swiftly as the kiss starts, Sebastian pulls back. “You taste lemony sweet.” He hums, the sound sending new shivers down my spine. “Let’s get out of here for a while.”

Stunned by the rapid shift in his mood and the heat in his eyes, I nod to agree.

I’ll go wherever he leads.

Chapter 26

[Sebastian]

In the coolness of the bakery apartment, Enya feeds Adara who falls into another nap, allowing Enya and me to doze on the couch. With a late-afternoon baseball game on the television, the volume is low. Enya and I lie on our sides with her back pressed to my chest. My arm drapes over her waist and I drift into a foggy sleep. In my daze, I’m punching the man talking to Enya, who’d offered to buy her a drink and then purchased her lemonade.

Lemons are my thing with her.

I’m not certain how long we’re quiet, letting the air conditioning cool us from the heat of July, but eventually, Enya turns to face me. Her lush body lines up against mine.

I brush my fingers through her hair. She nuzzles into my chest.

I swipe my hand down her back. She hitches a leg over my hip.

The position opens her up and I rock forward, pressing at her center. Enya loops her leg tighter across my ass, tugging me to her, and I nudge the stiffness in my jeans at the heat of her seam. She’s wearing white shorts today with a blue shirt speckled with silver stars. She’s a real all-American woman. And she’s so much more than I ever expected to have in my life.

I’ll pick you every time.

Jesus. She undid me right in the middle of town.

With thoughts of the kiss I’d given her then, and her body squirming against mine now, I roll my hips again. Our mouths meet and I savor the tart taste of lemonade on her tongue. The firmness behind my zipper catches at the soft spot between her thighs and Enya hums. The vibration ripples down my throat like a refreshing drink. Her fingers grip the back of my T-shirt, holding me to her.

Rolling her onto her back, her legs cradle my hips. I curve into her center once more, hissing as my dick weeps to be closer to her. Skin-to-skin. Hard to soft. Stiff to wet. My imagination takes over, knowing how pliable Enya’s body would be. How easily I’d slip inside her. How warm she’d feel surrounding me.

I rock harder and Enya’s legs wrap around my lower back. My hips move, simulating how it would be if we were naked and bare to each other.