Read Online Foxfire by Carol Ann Erhardt - Free Book Online Page A

flickered giving a romantic glow to the growing
dusk.
    “How long have you lived here?” Tyler
asked.
    “Three years.”
    Tyler put his feet on the railing. “I think
I'm going to like it. When I was a kid, we lived in a small town
where everybody knew everybody else's business. Back then I hated
it. Couldn't wait to get away. Then after college I couldn't wait
to get back.”
    “Then why did you leave? What brought you to
Foxfire?”
    He winked at her. “The scenery, what else?”
He stood and leaned his elbows on the railing, gazing out into the
trees. “Even at night, it's beautiful.”
    That was the second time he'd avoided
revealing the reason he'd moved to Foxfire. Harri's words came back
to her that Tyler was hiding something. But Grace shrugged it off.
Nothing about Tyler seemed threatening. Besides, everyone had
secrets to guard.
    Tiffany yawned loudly.
    Grace mirrored Tyler's stance, leaning over
the railing. “Did you know that sometimes you can see foxfire
glowing along the ground?”
    “I thought that was a legend. It's true then?
Have you ever seen it?”
    She nodded. “It's beautiful and haunting at
the same time.” His shoulder brushed hers. A shiver crawled up her
spine.
    He draped an arm around her shoulders and
pulled her closer. “Are you cold? Do you want to go inside for a
while?”
    His hand caressed her arm. Goosebumps arose
that had nothing at all to do with being chilled.
    “I'm not cold. I love being outside. We have
one thing in common. I moved here for the mountain scenery and
serenity, too.”
    He turned her to face him. “And we both love
animals. We seem to have a lot in common.” His thumbs caressed her
cheeks.
    Her heart tripped faster. His nostrils did
that little flare thing again, which she found totally
sensuous.
    “That's true.” Her voice came out an octave
higher than usual. She cleared her throat.
    He lifted her and sat her on the railing
facing him. She placed her hands on his shoulders for balance. Her
whole body felt as if it were melting. Like the witch in The Wizard
of Oz, soon she'd be nothing but a puddle at his feet.
    “So when do we see this foxfire?” he
asked.
    Small talk, she told herself. Focus on the
small talk, not on his face. Not on the way the torches add
highlights to his dark hair. Not on the fact that his arms
surrounded her, resting on either side of her hips.
    “Only when the moon is full and the night is
bright.”
    “Ah, unlike tonight.” He gazed up at the sky
where clouds hid most of the stars.
    She stared at the expanse of his neck and the
dark hairs that had escaped the neckline of his shirt. “Too
overcast,” she said.
    He lowered his head and stared at her. Not
just stared but stared. The message in his eyes tapped on her
heart.
    He brushed a knuckle under her chin.
    “You're beautiful.”
    She fought against the growing attraction.
She couldn't handle an affair with this guy. He'd eat her
alive.
    She tried to jump down, but his hands spanned
her waist pulsing heat waves through her body. The jump turned into
a slow body slide. Her hands gripped his shoulders a little
tighter. Her breath caught in her throat, releasing when her toes
finally touched the deck. Her head spun, sending her closer against
his chest. His arms closed around her. Her heart and mind battled
and her heart won.
    She parted her lips and suddenly they were
pressed against his. He took the kiss deeper, his hands sliding
upward, thumbs brushing the sides of neck. It wasn't enough. She
wanted more. Needed more. Ached for his intimate touch.
    She ran her hands through his collar-length
hair, loving the feel of the silky thick strands. His tongue teased
her, begging and offering more.
    ****
    Tyler wanted to scoop her up and carry her to
his bed. His thumbs circled the soft flesh of behind her ears,
emboldened by her passionate response. He flicked his tongue
against her lips and she opened, accepting his advance. A little
voice whispered that he shouldn't be doing