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“I’m not sure that we should be having this conversation, Jo,” he insisted. She was positive that they shouldn’t be having this conversation, but she wasn’t going to let him hide from what he started.
“You were the one who said it, Stone,” she reminded. “What bad things do you want to do to me?”
“I know that you can feel it too, Jolene,” he insisted.
“Feel what?” she asked, playing dumb. She knew what he was talking about. There seemed to be a sort of electricity that hummed between the two of them that turned her completely inside out with need. Jo knew that it was wrong to feel anything for her client, but she also knew that fighting the sexual tension humming between them would only end with them both wanting each other even more.
“Jo,” he growled, “don’t play with me.” She wanted to play with him, but he didn’t look like he was in any mood to put up with her crap. Instead, she stood and carefully cleaned up her mess.
“I think that this is a bad idea,” she mumbled, not able to look at him. Stone stood and blocked her path to leave the kitchen. He was a big guy and towered over her. She nearly ran into him as she tried to get around him. “Stone,” she shouted, “let me get by.”
“No,” he said, “I won’t let you run out of here. I’m not sure that you know this about me, but I’m stubborn and will chase you down, even on crutches. It won’t end well for either of us if I have to chase you up the steps to our rooms.”
Jo stopped struggling, knowing that he meant every word of his threat. “You really shouldn’t run up the stairs on crutches,” she whispered.
“Noted, so don’t run, Jo,” he said. “Just talk to me. Have I misread what’s happening between the two of us?” he asked.
She wanted to tell him that he had. That would have been the right thing to do, but she didn’t want to do the right thing here. She wanted to give into what she was feeling, even if it wasn’t professional of her.
Jolene leaned into his body, and God, he smelled good. “You haven’t misread what’s going on between the two of us, Stone.” He smiled down at her and she wanted to melt against him.
Stone dropped one of his crutches and used his free arm to pull her up against his body. “Then you won’t mind if I do this, right?” he asked, sealing his mouth over hers without any more warning. He was right, she didn’t mind what he was doing to her at all. In fact, she loved having him kiss her.
Stone broke their kiss, leaving her breathless and needy. She wanted more, but there was no way that she’d push him for it. He had just gotten out of the hospital earlier that day, and Stone needed his rest.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I am, but I think we should get you back to bed,” she said.
He smiled at her again, making her feel weak in the knees all over again. “I like the way you think,” he said, stooping to pick up his dropped crutch. “Let’s go,” he said.
Jolene replayed her words in her head and realized that he had gotten the wrong idea. He thought that she was making him an offer to spend the night with him, and that wasn’t what she meant. “No, I think that you’ve got the wrong idea, Stone. I meant that you need your rest.”
“But I think that you sleeping next to me might help me sleep better,” he said. “Plus, if neither of us can sleep, I’m sure that we can find a way to pass the time,” he teased.
“I don’t want to rush into anything, Stone,” she insisted. “The kiss was nice, but I won’t jump into bed with you.” God, she sounded like a prude. “I’d like to just take this slowly if that’s okay with you.” From the look on his face, it wasn’t okay with him, but he nodded his agreement anyway.
“We can go at whatever speed you’d like, honey. You admitting that you wanted me was enough for me, for now. And that kiss was more than nice, sweetheart,” he breathed. He hobbled out of the kitchen, and she just stood there, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to get rid of the goofy smile that was now permanently pressed on her face.
Stone
Austin and Ranger had been working hard to find their father. Stone still thought that it was a giant mistake, trying to hunt him down, but his sisters seemed to have their hearts set on finding him. They had questions, and honestly, so did he, but he wasn’t willing to waste any more time looking for a man who didn’t want to be found.
His mother was worried that if they found her husband, he’d have more secrets to tell, and he wasn’t sure if she’d be able to take any more secrets or surprises. It didn’t mean that he wouldn’t tell her if they found something worth telling her about. And from the look on his brothers-in-law’s faces, there was news.
He had gotten the call, earlier that morning to come into their office, and Jolene was kind enough to drop him off on her way back to her place, to grab some more of her things, since he still wasn’t cleared to drive. Now, he was sitting with his sisters next to him while Austin and Ranger looked like they were getting ready to give the presentation of their lives.
“You really need to stop stalling and just get on with it,” Lulah said to her husband. Austin looked her over and smiled.
“Don’t be bossy, wife,” he teased. “I’ll get to it when I’m good and ready.” Lulah crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her seat. Stone was sure that his poor brother-in-law was going to pay for that remark later.
“Dude,” Ranger said, “bad move.” Austin rolled his eyes at his business partner and looked back over to his wife.
“Sorry, honey,” he mumbled to Lulah.
“I’ll deal with you later,” she promised, causing Bobbie to giggle. Stone had to admit, having sisters was still so new to him, but he really liked both of them. They were both spunky and took no shit from anyone, including their husbands.
“Whatever you say, dear,” Austin grumbled.
