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I wrap my leg around him and push him towards the wall. There’s a thump as he collides with it, but we never disconnect. I’m wet and ready. I want him so badly. I can feel his erection pressed against me, and I know how badly he wants me. I start to grind against him, seeking completion, seeking the satisfying ending that I know is coming.

He suddenly pulls back. I moan at the loss of contact. “We should stop. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret, Noelle.” He strokes my cheek and I moan again. I start to rub against him again like a cat in heat, but he pulls back further. “We can’t. I’m trying like hell here to be the good guy. I want you, honey. I want you so much it hurts, but we were talking about grief and you’re vulnerable right now. Too much so for me to take advantage of you, sweetheart.”

I finally tune into what’s going on here. I’m being rejected. I’m being turned down by the hot Irishman whom I’m currently trying to hump. Move away from him, you idiot. Move away.

I cross my arms and take a step back, feeling the heat rise on my cheeks. Why am I always embarrassing myself in front of this man?

“I…I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. I apologize. That should never have happened.” The words come out stiffly. “You should go. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Luca’s sexy mouth twists into a frown. “No, that’s not what I meant, lass. I meant it’s not the right time. We should…”

“You should go.” My voice is shaking now, and I know that once he leaves, I’ll burst into tears. “Please.”

“Noelle.” He reaches out a hand and I step further away.

“No, just go. Go!” I finally shout the last word and he seems to get the picture.

He starts moving towards the door. His blue eyes flash with something that looks like regret as he pauses at the door. “This isn’t over, Noelle. Not by a long shot.”

I manage to hold myself together for a moment when he leaves. Then I walk over to the picture on the mantel. “What would you do, Granny? How would you handle this?” The tears are coming like rain now.

She would know. She would know how to make Luca regret turning me down. She would know how to make him beg.

Chapter six

Chapter Six

Luca

I’m not jealous…I’m just a little annoyed at how flagrant her flirting is. Yeah, right. -Luca

The annual Maple Lane Falls fest is in full swing. Everyone is here from the mayor to the recluses that only step out of their houses for the hard cider and pumpkin pie. The first time I came to the festival I couldn’t stop gawking in amazement. This town goes a little crazy for fall. There’s food trucks and hot cocoa stands. Hell, there’s even a corn maze. I’ve never seen a town so in love with a season. All I could do was shake my head that first year. Since then, I’ve come to see the festival as a business opportunity.

I’m manning my glassblowing booth as usual while trying not to stare over at the booth beside me. Of course, Noelle’s booth would be next to mine.

Noelle is different today. She’s refused to talk to me since our kiss a week ago. Hell, I’ve tried every way I know to make her angry and she has done no more than send me an icy glare. I even taunted her with the idea of putting myself up for sale at the bachelor auction tonight. I would never do it. There’s only one woman for me. Unfortunately, right now she’s mad as hell at me. She merely grunted at me when I mentioned the auction as if there wasn’t a jealous bone in her body. Fuck, I’m losing her.

Today, she’s all smiles, greeting everyone as they walk by. She seems like she’s being especially nice to all the men that stop by the booth. I grit my teeth and swear under my breath.

Not to mention what she’s wearing. Noelle’s dress is a perfectly fine sundress, but the top of it is too damn low for my liking.

I growl under my breath as another man stops by her booth and she leans over to pour him a cup of tea.

“Boss, pretty soon, steam is going to come out of those ears of yours. Maybe you should go talk to Noelle instead of growling every time a man goes over to her booth.” Reggie’s sarcastic voice interrupts the glower of jealousy I’m currently throwing the mayor’s son. If he looks down at Noelle’s breasts one more time…

“I’m fuckin’ fine,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Yep, you’re fine all right, but you’re about to crush our product, boss.” Reggie nods his head towards the glass unicorn I’m currently clenching in my hand.

“Shit.” I gently put down the unicorn and try to get my bearings.

“You really should go talk to her, Luca. She keeps looking over here when you’re looking away. Whatever is going on between you two isn’t just going to go away. And based on how the men in this town are looking at her I suspect you might want to stake your claim sooner than later.”

I glare at my employee. Reggie is too damn young to be so wise. He’s only nineteen. He first approached me last year about being my apprentice. He was a foster kid, barely out of government care, when I took him under my wing. He stays in an apartment upstairs from the shop. He’s a good kid, but too damn insightful.

“She’s angry at me, kid. She probably won’t listen to a damn thing I have to say.” I should have ended our last conversation differently. I should have said more. I should have…hell, maybe I should have just made love to her and let my conscience be damned.

Reggie pushes a strand of his long blonde hair behind his ear. “The way I see it, she’s been mad at you most of the time you’ve known each other. Why don’t you try romancing her instead of trying to make her mad as hell? Maybe try getting on her good side?”