AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I said nothing. I had vague memories of my behaviour at the pub. I found a text from an unknown number this morning saying if I ever wanted to hook up for something casual, they were down.
I must have given my number to some guy. Maybe Doug?Ugh.
Tom’s lips curled up into a smirk again. “And, before you puked, you threw yourself at me, darling.”
I folded my arms, rankled at his use of ‘darling’.
His smirk faded. “So don’t accuse me of sleeping when I was out there in the field with your father and your employees putting out the fire and when the brigades arrived, I helped your mum with tea and food in the kitchen for staff and the firefighters. Then, I did a briefing with the crew them, and the police came for statements and finally, I got home, had a shower and crashed. And then you turned up on my doorstep, faking how busy you were last night and accusing me of doing nothing.”
I gaped. “Why?”
Tom blinked.
“Why?” I demanded again. “What’s your game, Tom?”
“Game? What are you on about?” Tom threw his arms in the air, eyes wide in disbelief. I watched his biceps and pecs ripple and flex with the action.
“I haven’t heard from you in four years and now you are rescuing me from the pub after a few drinks and helping my mother bake cookies?”
God, my words sounded so weak. But I couldn’t get a read on Tom at all.
“No more games, as you put it, Rosie.” Tom closed the distance between us, and I held my ground. “You kissed me last night.”
I remembered Tom striding into the pub and just one look at him and I knew I still wanted him. Not Doug or any of the others. Last night, alcohol had clouded my better judgement, but I couldn’t blame beer on the swoop of heat low in my belly at the sight of him without a shirt this morning. And only wearing grey sweatpants.
I licked my lips and Tom’s eyes followed the action.
“You kissed me back,” I whispered.
Tom narrowed his eyes. “Let me tell you whatIdid last night.Ihelped you get home safe, all to be accused of—what? Being a creep?Ihelped because it was the right thing to do.Ihelped with the fire, andIhelped your mum because it’s what you do. WhatIwanted to do.” His nostrils flared. “Like hell I’d leave your family to fend for themselves when the vineyard is on fire. I’m not the arsehole you think I am and—” He paused for a second, “I’m not playing any game, Rosie.”
“You kissed me,” I repeated, like an idiot.
Because I was an idiot refusing to accept that he was my knight in shining armour rather than the evil villain in this story.
Tom shifted closer still. I could feel the heat of his half-naked body. He looked down at me with hooded eyes.
“No, you kissed me.” His voice rumbled like distant thunder. “And I made a mistake of kissing you back.”
Frustration and anger bubbled up. “I hate you!” I yelled.
He sneered. “No, you don’t.”
I hissed, and then pounced, standing up on tiptoes, I roughly cupped his face and kissed him hard.
What the hell was I doing? The sight of his bare chest and a glimpse of his forearm muscles and I was jumping his bones.
Tom stiffened for a second, then wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me against him. His other hand held the base of my neck, his fingers snaking into my hair, and pulled, forcing me to look him in the eye.
“Whatever Richard told you, he was dead wrong,” he whispered against my lips, his eyes full of fire and lust, and kissed me back, his tongue sliding over mine.
I was liquid heat. Was this a need for validation after Richard’s spiteful phone call, that other men found me attractive and sexy?
That Tom wanted me?
We clawed each other, panting, feral, almost hissing. Tom swiped his tongue across my lips, and I bit his lip back.
“Ow!” He grumped, touching his swollen bottom lip. “You bit me there last night.”
