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16
Cass kissed Harrison back with as much fervor as he gave her.His kiss started out like an explosion, and she definitely felt that heat driving through her veins.He settled the stroke into something powerful and beautiful, and Cass felt cherished and sexy and valued with every touch and breath they took together.
She finally pulled herself together and remembered she stood on her front porch, with her son and two of her friends just behind the door to her right.She ducked her head and broke the kiss, Harrison’s ragged breathing now in her ear.
She had no idea what to say, because it felt like that kiss had said it all.It had voiced all the passion and teasing and flirtatiousness between them.It had screamed about her desire for him and his pure male attraction to her.It had broadcast to both of them that this wasn’t casual, or something for only the summer, or that didn’t have the potential to be long-lasting and fiery hot at the same time.
She finally looked up at him, those deep green eyes looking for some confirmation.“You’re not a bad kisser,” she said, her voice caught somewhere in her throat.
Harrison laughed in that sexy, low voice of his that made her female cells vibrate and hum.“You don’t have to say that.”
“One of the best kissers I’ve ever kissed,” she said.“And I’m not saying anything I don’t have to say.”
Harrison ducked his head, his breath flowing over her shoulder.She wished she’d worn something sleeveless so she could feel it, be skin to skin.“Kissing definitely makes you my girlfriend,” he whispered.
“Okay,” she whispered back.Then she guided his head up so she could kiss him again.As she sank into the touch and let him hold her up while he explored her lips—oh, yes, he was a good kisser—Cass let herself fall for him a little.
Just a little, so it wouldn’t hurt too badly when she had to let him go to work and face her reality for the day.
“I’m just goingto get some more sunscreen,” she said later that day.Joy and Lauren watched her, and Cass simply needed to get away from them.Harrison had been right.They were driving her crazy, and it was only three p.m.Shopping with six women was always a bit of a mess, especially with strong personalities like Bea’s, Lauren’s, and Cass’s.
Yes, she could admit she had a strong personality.She liked things her way, and she ducked into an awful souvenir shop she’d normally never enter.Maybe this way, no one would follow her.
She’d told Bessie and Sage she didn’t need a babysitter.She didn’t need a care companion.She was fine, and she could take care of herself here on Hilton Head.Having everyone here almost felt suffocating, and she wiped her hand along the back of her neck and took a long breath.
The woman behind the counter barely looked at her, and Cass ducked between two aisles to further conceal herself.If she stayed in here too long, she’d get bombarded with texts.And she better come out with whatever she’d said she needed.
The problem was, she couldn’t remember what that was right now.A tiny chair, one made for a child, sat at the end of the aisle, and Cass sank into it.She pulled out her phone and texted Conrad about their mother-son dinner date that night.
He responded with,Yep, I’m planning on it.I think I got a job today.
Confusion ran through Cass.A job?
Right here on the island.They needed someone to lead bike tours, and I guess I impressed them on a mountain bike.He sent some laughing emojis, but Cass didn’t know how to respond.He was going to stay for the summer?Or for…how long?
Cass tapped to call him, and Conrad answered laughing.“Hey, Mama.Yeah, it’s my mom.”Someone on the other end of the line said something she couldn’t decipher, and then their voice faded away.
“You got a job here?”
“Yeah,” Conrad said.“It’s with this guy, Ryan Royce.He owns an outdoor tour company, and I ran into him at the gym.”
“He just recruited you for a job?”Cass asked.She didn’t think so.Conrad had to be doing something, and he often did stand out in a crowd.
“He saw me using the weights,” Conrad said.Cass read between the lines.Everyonehad seen him using the weights.Conrad worked out constantly, and he had West’s tall, lean body, so his muscles really stood out.
Cass reached up and rubbed her forehead.“You madea sceneat the gym.”She wasn’t asking.
“It was a heavy lift,” Conrad said.He laughed.“Mama, I got a job.”
“That’s great,” she said.“Really.I’m glad.”She didn’t ask him how long he’d be in Hilton Head.School started at Baylor just after Labor Day, so it could only last for two months.“You’ll need to go get some more clothes.”
“I’m gonna have Ben mail me some things,” Conrad said.Of course.Why fly back to your dorm in Waco when your roommate can box up a few things and put them in the mail?
“Sounds good,” she said, because Conrad didn’t need advice.He just needed support.“When do you start?”
“Tomorrow morning,” he said.“I’m gonna be here for a few more hours to do some training, and then I’ll be doing a tour in the morning with another guide.”
“Great,” Cass said.“I’m shopping right now, and we can move dinner or cancel it if you’re busy.”She didn’t want him to be busy and miss their dinner, but if he did, she could see Harrison again… Cass pulled in a slow breath and held it.
