AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Confused, I just looked at her.
“I was ready for a good fight, but then you showed up”—Lark’s hand flicked between us—“looking all sad and sorry. I can’t fight with you now.”
Lark crossed her arms and pouted. I couldn’t help but laugh. That woman was ridiculous.
Charming.
Dangerous.
“Look, I don’t know what got into me.”
Sure I do. Royal was moving in on something that wasmine, and I didn’t fucking like it.
I cleared my throat and my errant, utterly ridiculous thoughts. “Royal can be a pain in the ass. He didn’t need to bother you, but I didn’t think about the fact that maybe you didn’t mind him... you know, talking to you.”
A slow smile played on her lips. “You were jealous.”
I shot her a blank stare, hoping like hell she couldn’t see right through me.
“Well.” She sighed. “Come inside before someone drives by, accidentally looks my way, and throws you into a jealous rage.” She liked to tease, and while I wasn’t completely unhinged, the thought of Royal driving up to her apartment was enough to further sour my mood.
Shoulda hit him.
Lark moved from the doorway, and I glanced back at the house across the driveway. Through the living room windows, the dull glow from the television meant the guys were still up, probably watching some late-night show. After tonight, I didn’t want to leave things awkward with Lark, so instead of doing the right thing—saying good night and walking away—I walked inside her little apartment.
It was like stepping back in time. Nothing had changed in the small space. There was even the old hunter-green recliner that Lee had lost his virginity in. I pointed to it. “Hey, Lark?”
She turned to look at me.
“Don’t... sit in that chair.”
Her eyebrows crept up her forehead before she laughed. “Ooo... kay.”
Shaking her head, Lark walked to the fridge, and her face disappeared as she leaned inside. I had another perfect view of her ass as she bent over to reach for something. When she straightened, my eyes flew to the ceiling.
“No Beer Thirty, but I do have some day-old peanut butter cookies.”
“Alice?” Alice made the best peanut butter cookies in Remington County.
“Big Barb, I think?” Lark shook her head. “I swear I can’t keep up in this town.”
I laughed. “It gets easier with time. But I’ll warn you. Big Barb likes to smoke while she bakes, so sometimes you get a nice little ashy flavor baked right in.”
Without breaking eye contact, Lark took two steps toward the trash bin and tilted the plate, dropping the entire contents into the garbage. “Noted.”
My laughter came free and easy. It was uncomfortable in my chest and sounded a little rusty, but it also had a strangely freeing feeling right behind it.
“You look far less grumpy when you laugh.” She took one step forward. “The little crinkly lines around your eyes come out, and I find thatveryhandsome.”
Lark was in my space, breathing the same air, and my hands found her hips.
“That’s called being old.”
Her smile widened. “Debonair. Dapper. Weathered.” She gave a little nod of approval with each word.
As her breath moved over me, I stopped thinking. I reached up, wrapped one hand around the back of her neck, and pulled her into me, crushing my lips to hers.
I swallowed the little shocked moan that pushed through her lips as I devoured her. Her mouth opened for me, and her back arched as I leaned into the kiss. Lark’s arms wound around my neck, and one leg hitched up.
