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Her eyes came to his, and she interrupted sharply, “Don’t.” She shook her head. “Don’t say how sorry you are. Okay? Anyway, it’s over now. I’m eighteen. And now that the Fullers won’t be getting anymore government checks for my support, I guess I should count myself lucky that they didn’t kick me out the door the day I turned eighteen.”
“They can do that?”
She nodded. “They told me I had till the end of the summer to find a place.”
“Christ, you’ve had a tough road. Amazes me how sweet and shy you seem to me.” Hearing her story and everything she’d been through touched something inside of him, something he’d never felt before.
“Starting over a bunch of times will do that, I guess.” She smiled, her eyes connecting with his. “But don’t let it fool you, I can be tough when I’m backed into a corner.”
He grinned and picked up her hand. Bringing it to his mouth, he brushed her fingers with a kiss. “The kitten turns into a tigress, huh?”
“Exactly.”
“So, when the summer’s up, you got a plan, tiger-girl?” he asked softly and watched her bite her lip.
“Not yet. But I’ll get one.”
“Can’t you stay with your friend, Letty?”
She looked away, tugging her hand free. “I don’t really want to talk about this, okay?”
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “Okay, sweetheart. You tired?”
She nodded. “You?”
He smiled at her, admitting wearily, “I’m beat.” Then he pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, “Go to sleep, darlin’.” He dropped to his back and within minutes they were both asleep.
The next morning he dropped her off down the street from her house.
Skylar stepped off the bike. Shades stayed seated, his booted feet holding up the bike, the motor still rumbling. He watched as she pulled off the helmet he’d lent her and handed it back to him.
“Thanks for the ride and for last night.”
Taking the helmet, he set it between his legs and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“Will I see you again?”
“Club keeps me pretty busy.” They stared at each other for a moment, and then he added, “You comin’ to the BBQ next weekend?”
She smiled. “Maybe.”
He nodded. “Then maybe I’ll see you then.”
“Well, thanks again.” She started to back away, but he reached out, his finger hooking in one of her belt loops, stopping her. Her eyes came to his and got big as he pulled her towards him. Her hands landed on his chest, and he leaned in for a kiss, his mouth coming down on hers. Softly at first, and then she opened to him, and he deepened the kiss, delving in for a taste. When he lifted his head, her eyes were on his mouth, a look of wonder on her face, and he couldn’t stop the grin that pulled at the corner of his mouth. What she said next surprised him.
“Your beard is soft,” she murmured as if she hadn’t expected that.
His grin deepened. “I see you’ve been wonderin’.”
She smiled back, admitting, “Yeah, I guess I have.”
He took her hand and brought it to his face, sliding her palm to his jaw, letting her touch him and feel the soft close-cut beard that ran along it. Shades’ hand slid to cup her nape and his eyes sank into the blue depths of hers as she followed the movement of her hand as it stroked his face.
Goddamn, he could get lost in those eyes.
And then all thought slid from his head as her thumb moved to brush gently over his mouth. Without conscious thought, he found his mouth parting and his teeth capturing the pad of her thumb in a soft nip.
Her eyes lifted to his, and he heard the quick intake of her breath. In that mom
