Read Online Kissing Trouble by Airicka Phoenix, Morgana Phoenix - Free Book Online Page A

forest fire when it was only feet away from you. She could feel his heat washing over her through the space dividing them. But she pulled together a quick lunch of sandwiches, cheese and fruits and was absently sweeping clean the counter when Luis slid back his stool and announced he had emails to check. Shaun, after finishing his cereal, dumped his bowl into the sink and stomped off to find a chair in front of the TV with Dustin, leaving Mason there to pick idly at the container of roast beef until Julie threatened to cut his fingers off.
    “You are truly a violent woman,” he decided. “I feel like no part of me is safe with you.” Before she could stop him, he snatched a large chunk of meat and scurried towards the door. “For the road,” he said around the hunk he had shoved into his mouth.
    Julie watched him warily as he strolled from the kitchen and disappeared into the hallway. She shook her head as his footsteps faded into the distance.
    She was still standing at the island, staring at the giant sun spill burning blindingly on the hardwood floor from the open terrace door, when Wendy bounded into the room. She had to blink back the splotches of light before she could focus on the girl.
    She wore a one piece yellow swimsuit and flip flops with a pink towel slung over one tiny shoulder. She threw it carelessly over a stool and scrambled up onto another to watch as Julie collected herself out of her own thoughts and tried to remember what needed to be done next.
    “Can I go to the lake?” she asked.
    “Let’s wait for everyone else,” Julie replied.
    Wendy mashed her chin into her palms and huffed. “But I know how to swim,” she said.
    “Yes, but you still can’t go alone.”
    “But I’m nine!” Wendy argued.
    Julie looked up at her. “Yes, but you need to wait, okay? There are still a few things that need to be done before we can go down and I don’t want you there alone.”
    Wendy puckered her lips, but didn’t push.
    Rick bounced into the room next, wearing navy blue trunks. He shoved Wendy’s towel to the ground and scurried up on the stool.
    “Rick threw my towel to the ground!” Wendy wailed.
    “It was taking up a whole stool!” Rick protested.
    Julie sighed. “Guys, keep it together. We’re almost done. Rick, please pick up the towel and put it over a chair.”
    Grumbling, Rick slipped off the stool, snatched up the towel, and tossed it heedlessly onto the table where it slid across the glass and stopped short of flipping off the edge and onto the floor again.
    With the basket packed and two of the three kids ready, Julie turned to the children.
    “I’m going to run upstairs and get dressed. You two are not allowed to leave the house until I get back, okay?”
    The two nodded with all the looks of innocent angels. Too bad she knew them too well.
    “Promise?” Julie urged. “You have to stay right here.”
    Again, the two nodded, but in no way did it ease her mind. She was contemplating taking them upstairs with her and making them wait in their rooms until she was done when Mason sauntered in. His dark hair had been shoved back by hasty fingers, yet several strands had tumbled recklessly over his brow and the black plastic of his sunglasses. His jaw was freshly shaven and Julie was torn between which look she liked better on him. He was topless, miles of taut, toned muscle bared for viewing pleasure. His torso reminded Julie of Greek battle armor, chiseled and defined with absolute perfection. Everything from the hard cuts of his breast plates to the taper of his narrow waist and the rock hard groves etched into his stomach were designed to make a smart girl go stupid. Black swimming trunks hung low on lean hips and her gaze was caught in the V that disappeared into the waistband. 
    He meandered to the opposite end of the island, tossed down a towel she hadn’t noticed him holding, and swept off his glasses. He gingerly folded the plastic arms, rested them on the counter next to