Read Online Kiss This by Hadley Quinn - Free Book Online Page A

paused. “What? What do you mean?”
    Teague picked up the blanket and shook it
gently. “The first time I saw you run by was the first time I’d
touched sand for ten months.”
    She watched him fold the blanket haphazardly
and tuck it under his arm. “How come?”
     
    ***
    He paused, silently chastising himself for
admitting that.
    “Bad memories,” he shrugged, and he started
walking back toward the Jeep. Camryn walked right beside him,
slipping her hand in his. He was surprised she didn’t press for
more information, but he was grateful. And the act of something as
simple as handholding—with Camryn—was endearing enough to distract
them both.
    He felt her glancing at him until she said,
“Merry Christmas, Teague.”
    He slightly nodded as he turned to look at
her. “Yeah, I guess it is well after midnight. Merry Christmas to
you, too.”
    They walked in silence until they reached
the parking lot. The street light nearby cast a dull glow on them
and Teague could see her better. He reached up and brushed a bit of
sand off her cheek, and then let his hand linger.
    “So is that what that was back there? A
Christmas gift?”
    She barely smiled as she looked down at the
ground. “Sand in your pants? Not exactly.”
    He gave an easy laugh and leaned up against
the Jeep, pulling her close to him so they were front to front.
“Well I’m definitely not complaining,” he said, sliding his fingers
into her back pockets.
    He took in a subtle breath of air to torture
himself with the way she smelled. He could feel the heat from her
body and it enticed him the same way. She still wasn’t looking at
him; like she couldn’t bear the way he was studying her. Her focus
seemed to be on his chest—anything to avoid looking him in the
eye.
    “Camryn, I’m not going to kiss you if you
look at me. I guarantee I never lose a bet.”
    He thought she’d laugh at his arrogance, but
she slowly looked up to meet his gaze. “I should probably get home
to check on my mom,” she said suddenly.
    Teague felt his expression darken but he
didn’t respond with words. He removed his hands from her pockets
and turned to unlock the passenger’s door, the mood seeming to
shift instantly. Neither of them said a word as they got in the
Jeep and left the parking lot.
    It was Camryn that spoke first once they
were on the road. “What are you doing for Christmas tomorrow?”
    He pulled onto the highway and turned down
the stereo. “Jay and I are going up to his dad’s. My uncle’s
house.
    “Oh. Where does he live?”
    “In Tillamook.”
    “The cheese place?”
    “Yeah,” he smiled. “What are you doing
tomorrow?”
    “The Millers invited us over.”
    “Oh. Well you’re lucky, then. Loretta is a
great cook.”
    “That’s what I’ve heard.”
    He glanced at her briefly. “You don’t sound
too happy about it. What’s up?”
    “Oh, I’m fine with it. I’m sure I’ll be
going by myself, though. My mom claims she’s not ready to face
people.”
    Teague didn’t know what to say. Camryn was
up here away from her friends and the rest of her family, and
Christmas Day was going to be spent with a house full of strangers.
“I’d invite you to come with me, but you’re better off at Kyah’s.
My family is fucking insane.” He said it as both a warning and to test her knowledge.
    “I don’t need a second pity invite,” she
smiled earnestly. “And I can deal with people just fine.”
    He glanced at her again. “Hm, yeah I’ve
noticed.”
    She angled her head to eye him carefully.
“Oh? And what have you noticed?”
    “Just that…you’re very confident.”
    He pulled into her mom’s driveway. Camryn
thanked him for the ride as the Jeep came to a stop, but he told
her to wait and he got out and opened the door for her. Teague was
about to walk her to the front door when a scream from the house
and the sound of breaking glass shocked them both to attention.
     
     
    ***
    Camryn took off for the steps, taking them
two at