Read Online A Wicked Kiss by M. S. Parker - Free Book Online

you.”
    “Are you sure?” I didn’t like how small and unsure I sounded, but I wasn’t embarrassed by it. Jasper was the one person I didn’t have to hide from, didn’t have to be strong for.
    He cupped my chin, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip. “Why wouldn’t he want his daughter to meet you?”
    I looked away. “I don’t know...”
    “Hey.” His fingers tightened on my chin. “Look at me.” His voice was low, firm.
    Reluctantly, I did as he said.
    “You are a kind, caring woman, Shae. An amazing woman. Any man would be grateful to have you meet their child, to be a mother to their daughter.” He ran his fingers down the side of my face. “Allen was like a brother to me and I knew how he felt about you. If he’d had a daughter, he would’ve told me. Then he would’ve told you when he knew things were going to be serious, which was about two days after he met you.”
    I leaned into his touch and closed my eyes. “I know that. I mean, I know it in my head, but after the letter...”
    “You aren’t sure what to believe.” He finished my sentence.
    I sighed and opened my eyes. “How do you manage to know what I’m thinking?”
    He smiled as he leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Because I’ve spent the last eight years watching you.” He groaned a moment later and chuckled. “That sounded really creepy, didn’t it?”
    I laughed, some of the tension easing. “A little bit.”
    He raised an eyebrow and slid his hands down my arms. “Any chance I could do something to make you forget about it?”
    “Well.” I pretended to consider the question. “My brother’s being an ass. My late husband’s ex-girlfriend just announced that they had a child together. What I really want is to not have to think about any of it.”
    He looked down at me for a moment and then took a step back. I gave him a puzzled look as he took my hand and led me off the porch.
    “Where are we going?” I’d been thinking my request was pretty obvious. Maybe I should’ve just told him that I wanted him to take me into the house and fuck me until I couldn’t remember my own name.
    “Let’s take a walk.”
    “A walk?” I echoed.
    He smiled, his eyes shining. “Yes, Shae. Let’s take a walk. Show me how well the vineyard’s doing. Let’s talk grapes and wine.”
    I let him lead me towards the vines and we began to walk down the rows. We moved slowly, taking our time. It was a perfect October afternoon. The sun was out, but there were enough clouds to give us some shade. The breeze was cool but not too cold and carried just a hint of autumn. The scent of the grapes was heavy on the air, a rich, heady smell that reminded me of the prior years when I’d take walks like this with Allen.
    “How’s the harvest looking?” Jasper asked, finally breaking the silence.
    “Good.” I squinted up at the sun, enjoying the warmth. “Jacques says we didn’t lose enough in the fire to make much of a dent in our production. If the frost can stay away just a bit longer, everything should go smoothly.”
    “Have you been watching the weather reports? It looks like things are going to be going your way.”
    I laughed and shook my head.
    “What?” Jasper gave me a confused look.
    “Are you seriously talking to me about the weather?”
    He laughed too. “I suppose I am.”
    “Do you really want to talk about the grapes and frost?”
    He stopped so suddenly that I took an extra step before I realized he wasn’t beside me anymore. Then he was pulling me towards him hard enough that I automatically put my hands out as I collided with his chest.
    “No.” His voice was low, husky. “I don’t want to talk.”
    “Then what do you want?” I asked softly.
    “You, Shae.” He bent his head towards me. “Always you.”
    The moment his mouth touched mine, everything else ceased to matter. His tongue slipped between my lips as one hand cupped the back of my head. The other hand pressed against the small of my back,