who’s
taken me out since the big disaster .” Silence stretched between them.
His gaze was patiently penetrating. She pulled in a deep breath that expanded
her chest then puffed it out slowly before continuing.
“Every aspect
of my life when I was growing up was an open book. There’s no such thing as
privacy in such a small village.” She worried her lip with her teeth, hating
that no matter how she told it she would sound like a victim.
“I fell in
love with a boy from the village. Steve Jackson,” she admitted flatly. “My
father didn’t like him. He told me I was making a mistake, but I didn’t
listen.”
It was a
hateful story. Even two years later, the betrayal stung.
“He left me at
the altar. It was a scandal, especially when we discovered he ran off with
another girl from the village.” The pain in her chest eased at the
understanding and compassion in his azure eyes. Jack wasn’t judging her. Unlike
the entire village, who acted as though somehow Steve’s abandonment was her
fault.
“I’m sorry
that happened to you. Your fiancé should have been man enough to tell you
before…” He frowned.
“Before our
wedding day,” she added quietly. “Yes, he should have. I think he just couldn’t
face telling me. All the preparations were underway, and both our families were
so excited.” The news had devastated his parents, too. They were the first to
console her in the days after.
“Anyway, as a
result my parents are justifiably overprotective. By kissing me in the pub
today, you’ve put the entire village on alert. The net curtains are going to be
twitching for the next few days, with half the town on dump watch .” She
rubbed damp palms over her skirt.
“I’m sick and
tired of being the focus for gossip,” she explained. “Everyone will have an opinion.
Just you wait and see.”
Jack mulled
over her words silently, his face a study in concentration. “So, you believe
everyone in this town is going to care about how I treat you. To me that sounds
like there’s a warm and loving community who give a damn about you. I grew up
alone, Annie. There are worse things than having people care about you.” He
reached across the seat and hooked a hand behind her head, pulling her closer.
“Kiss me.” His
lips moved closer and her heart hammered. “I’ve been thinking about you all
afternoon.”
Chapter Five
Annie’s smooth
lips parted, allowing him access. Jack dimly registered the taste of lemons as
he plundered her mouth hungrily. He angled himself closer in the squashed
confines of the car, wishing he could pull her over the space between them into
his lap. This was no kiss for spectators. It was all about the two of them. His
heart beat a rapid tattoo as he shoved his fingers through her hair, caressing
the soft curve of her neck. Her breath was coming as fast as his and things
were rapidly getting out of control. He wanted her with an urgency that
pole-axed him. His knees banged against the gearshift. They should be somewhere
else. Somewhere where they could explore each other’s bodies completely.
Anywhere but in her tiny car on the way to her family home.
An engine
gunned. Jack pulled back, breathing hard, as a small red car rushed past.
What on earth
was the matter with him? He’d never been so out of control that he’d wanted to
strip a woman bare and make love with her on the side of the road before.
“We ought to
get home,” Annie muttered, her mouth looking swollen from his kisses.
“Yes.” He
dropped his hands into his lap. Struggled to get his aroused body back under
his control. “This isn’t the place for kissing.”
“Right.” Annie
stared out of the window. Every molecule of her body was rigid. She must be
feeling raw and exposed after revealing her past to him. What sort of a man was
this fiancé, to leave a woman he had to have loved at some stage alone at the
altar? Annie might be prepared to cut her ex some slack, but he wasn’t.
taken me out since the big disaster .” Silence stretched between them.
His gaze was patiently penetrating. She pulled in a deep breath that expanded
her chest then puffed it out slowly before continuing.
“Every aspect
of my life when I was growing up was an open book. There’s no such thing as
privacy in such a small village.” She worried her lip with her teeth, hating
that no matter how she told it she would sound like a victim.
“I fell in
love with a boy from the village. Steve Jackson,” she admitted flatly. “My
father didn’t like him. He told me I was making a mistake, but I didn’t
listen.”
It was a
hateful story. Even two years later, the betrayal stung.
“He left me at
the altar. It was a scandal, especially when we discovered he ran off with
another girl from the village.” The pain in her chest eased at the
understanding and compassion in his azure eyes. Jack wasn’t judging her. Unlike
the entire village, who acted as though somehow Steve’s abandonment was her
fault.
“I’m sorry
that happened to you. Your fiancé should have been man enough to tell you
before…” He frowned.
“Before our
wedding day,” she added quietly. “Yes, he should have. I think he just couldn’t
face telling me. All the preparations were underway, and both our families were
so excited.” The news had devastated his parents, too. They were the first to
console her in the days after.
“Anyway, as a
result my parents are justifiably overprotective. By kissing me in the pub
today, you’ve put the entire village on alert. The net curtains are going to be
twitching for the next few days, with half the town on dump watch .” She
rubbed damp palms over her skirt.
“I’m sick and
tired of being the focus for gossip,” she explained. “Everyone will have an opinion.
Just you wait and see.”
Jack mulled
over her words silently, his face a study in concentration. “So, you believe
everyone in this town is going to care about how I treat you. To me that sounds
like there’s a warm and loving community who give a damn about you. I grew up
alone, Annie. There are worse things than having people care about you.” He
reached across the seat and hooked a hand behind her head, pulling her closer.
“Kiss me.” His
lips moved closer and her heart hammered. “I’ve been thinking about you all
afternoon.”
Chapter Five
Annie’s smooth
lips parted, allowing him access. Jack dimly registered the taste of lemons as
he plundered her mouth hungrily. He angled himself closer in the squashed
confines of the car, wishing he could pull her over the space between them into
his lap. This was no kiss for spectators. It was all about the two of them. His
heart beat a rapid tattoo as he shoved his fingers through her hair, caressing
the soft curve of her neck. Her breath was coming as fast as his and things
were rapidly getting out of control. He wanted her with an urgency that
pole-axed him. His knees banged against the gearshift. They should be somewhere
else. Somewhere where they could explore each other’s bodies completely.
Anywhere but in her tiny car on the way to her family home.
An engine
gunned. Jack pulled back, breathing hard, as a small red car rushed past.
What on earth
was the matter with him? He’d never been so out of control that he’d wanted to
strip a woman bare and make love with her on the side of the road before.
“We ought to
get home,” Annie muttered, her mouth looking swollen from his kisses.
“Yes.” He
dropped his hands into his lap. Struggled to get his aroused body back under
his control. “This isn’t the place for kissing.”
“Right.” Annie
stared out of the window. Every molecule of her body was rigid. She must be
feeling raw and exposed after revealing her past to him. What sort of a man was
this fiancé, to leave a woman he had to have loved at some stage alone at the
altar? Annie might be prepared to cut her ex some slack, but he wasn’t.
Similar Books
