Read Online Finding Harmony by Jomarie Degioia - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jomarie Degioia
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to something inside her. Something that frightened her more than giving
her trust to a man. She feared she’d surrender her heart to feel that closeness
again.
Her response shouldn’t embarrassed her. Rick was hot and a
wonderful kisser. His smell, his taste, did things to her she’d only imagined. Oh,
it was just an organic reaction. Surely it had nothing to do with the
compassion she’d felt when she’d asked about his mother. There was a story
there, one he guarded closely. Who was she to press him on the subject?
A sound came from a distance, tires spinning on gravel as
Rick’s SUV barreled away from her lake. Good. She’d keep to herself like she’d
vowed before. Passion wouldn’t cloud her mind. Oh, even she didn’t buy that. Rick
made her hotter than Adam could have hoped to all those years ago. And just look
what a fool she’d been for him! She wouldn’t risk everything for passion. Not
again. She wouldn’t risk her heart on a man who could keep his focus as she
lost hers.
Rick’s vulgarity should have shocked her but he was right. She’d
accused him of coming out her expressly to get in her pants. It was obvious he’d
come out seeking information on the Institute’s progress.
He was right about her response, too. It wouldn’t have taken
but a touch for him to send her flying up to the starry sky. Ooh, those strong
fingers…
She changed into her nightshirt and grabbed one of the
bottles of essential oils she kept on the ledge beside her bed. Touching a drop
to each wrist, she breathed in deeply, closing her eyes once more. The calming
scent of lavender filled her senses as she climbed into bed. But her skin still
felt flush, her pulse still raced. Her hand moved over her belly, to where she ached
unfulfilled beneath her cotton panties. Just one touch. She fisted her hand and
pounded it on the bed. Oh, but only one person’s touch would do, not that she’d
feel it tonight or any other night. Rick’s.
Turning into her pillow, she let out a moan of frustration.
***
Rick stood inside the Welcome Center three days later,
staring at the topographic table display of the sprawling development. He’d
stopped by the Institute but the redhead at the desk said Dr. Robbins was busy.
He’d told Harmony the guy was vague. Maybe he was sharper than Rick thought. He
certainly handled both the developers and the environmentalists easily enough.
The Center’s interior was painted in greens and decorated
with photos of Cypress Corners. It was built like an estate home, plush and
inviting with expensive wood trim and light fixtures. He had an eye for that
stuff, since he’d been raised with his father’s money in Boston. Again the
contrast of pricey real estate surrounded by raw nature struck him.
He joined the other people standing around the table as the
tour guide’s voice droned on from a far corner. He caught bits of the
presentation, aimed to draw people to the very contradictions Rick found so perplexing.
A championship golf course and five-star restaurants bracketed by pristine
lakes and a friggin’ pet park, for Christ’s sake.
He tuned out the guide and the chattering prospective
residents and looked at the miniature layout of Cypress Corners on the table. He
found the lakeshore park easily enough, and the street where the house he was
staying in was located. But far on the other side of the table was the other
large lake. No tiny houses dotted that area. Not even the tent-cabin he knew
was there. He pictured the small camp, the narrow dock that jutted out onto the
lake. If he set his mind to it he could see the figures tangled on that dock,
so close to something he’d only imagined before.
Maybe he was lucky Harmony had pulled away. Hell, she hadn’t
pulled away. She pushed him away with her sudden coldness. Maybe she did him a
favor. He doubted one coupling on a smooth wooden dock would ease his need for
her. Hadn’t he spent the nights since then wanting her?
“… many pleasures
her trust to a man. She feared she’d surrender her heart to feel that closeness
again.
Her response shouldn’t embarrassed her. Rick was hot and a
wonderful kisser. His smell, his taste, did things to her she’d only imagined. Oh,
it was just an organic reaction. Surely it had nothing to do with the
compassion she’d felt when she’d asked about his mother. There was a story
there, one he guarded closely. Who was she to press him on the subject?
A sound came from a distance, tires spinning on gravel as
Rick’s SUV barreled away from her lake. Good. She’d keep to herself like she’d
vowed before. Passion wouldn’t cloud her mind. Oh, even she didn’t buy that. Rick
made her hotter than Adam could have hoped to all those years ago. And just look
what a fool she’d been for him! She wouldn’t risk everything for passion. Not
again. She wouldn’t risk her heart on a man who could keep his focus as she
lost hers.
Rick’s vulgarity should have shocked her but he was right. She’d
accused him of coming out her expressly to get in her pants. It was obvious he’d
come out seeking information on the Institute’s progress.
He was right about her response, too. It wouldn’t have taken
but a touch for him to send her flying up to the starry sky. Ooh, those strong
fingers…
She changed into her nightshirt and grabbed one of the
bottles of essential oils she kept on the ledge beside her bed. Touching a drop
to each wrist, she breathed in deeply, closing her eyes once more. The calming
scent of lavender filled her senses as she climbed into bed. But her skin still
felt flush, her pulse still raced. Her hand moved over her belly, to where she ached
unfulfilled beneath her cotton panties. Just one touch. She fisted her hand and
pounded it on the bed. Oh, but only one person’s touch would do, not that she’d
feel it tonight or any other night. Rick’s.
Turning into her pillow, she let out a moan of frustration.
***
Rick stood inside the Welcome Center three days later,
staring at the topographic table display of the sprawling development. He’d
stopped by the Institute but the redhead at the desk said Dr. Robbins was busy.
He’d told Harmony the guy was vague. Maybe he was sharper than Rick thought. He
certainly handled both the developers and the environmentalists easily enough.
The Center’s interior was painted in greens and decorated
with photos of Cypress Corners. It was built like an estate home, plush and
inviting with expensive wood trim and light fixtures. He had an eye for that
stuff, since he’d been raised with his father’s money in Boston. Again the
contrast of pricey real estate surrounded by raw nature struck him.
He joined the other people standing around the table as the
tour guide’s voice droned on from a far corner. He caught bits of the
presentation, aimed to draw people to the very contradictions Rick found so perplexing.
A championship golf course and five-star restaurants bracketed by pristine
lakes and a friggin’ pet park, for Christ’s sake.
He tuned out the guide and the chattering prospective
residents and looked at the miniature layout of Cypress Corners on the table. He
found the lakeshore park easily enough, and the street where the house he was
staying in was located. But far on the other side of the table was the other
large lake. No tiny houses dotted that area. Not even the tent-cabin he knew
was there. He pictured the small camp, the narrow dock that jutted out onto the
lake. If he set his mind to it he could see the figures tangled on that dock,
so close to something he’d only imagined before.
Maybe he was lucky Harmony had pulled away. Hell, she hadn’t
pulled away. She pushed him away with her sudden coldness. Maybe she did him a
favor. He doubted one coupling on a smooth wooden dock would ease his need for
her. Hadn’t he spent the nights since then wanting her?
“… many pleasures
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