Read Online Project Valentine (A Homespun Romance) by Geeta Kakade - Free Book Online Page A

mean to be rude. It's just...." she doubled over again.
    "I know," Karl's laugh mingled with hers. Warm friendly, healing. "You should have seen my face. I got my leg out, took a step forward and there I was in another one. For a few minutes I thought someone had dropped a bomb in the yard. Arthur stood by wagging his tail. I swear he had a grin on his face. It took a while to realize he was claiming full responsibility."
    "Please.. stop." Her sides ached as she put pictures to his words.
    He watched her as if enjoying her laughter. Now and then he smiled ruefully. It was a while before Karl's gaze landed on her mouth, effectively cutting off all sound. Jessica's eyes shied away from the look on his face.
    "What did you mean last night when you mentioned my mouth?" The silky query ousted all thought, all control.
    Her runaway tongue had done it again.
    "Your mouth?" She made her tone as vague as possible.
    "You know what I'm talking about Jessica. You said, quote `I must have been mistaken about your big heart, your kind mouth' unquote. What did you mean?"
    How many times had she vowed not to talk first, think later? She'd done it again. Gotten herself neck deep in trouble.
    Jessica stared at Molly's uncle wondering how to convince him her opinion of his mouth was a purely clinical observation.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    "Jessica?"
    There was no getting away from the truth. Not with Karl. He was waiting. Jessica had an idea he had the patience of a sphinx.
    Reluctantly she turned to him. "Just that....just that mouths are an indication of a person's nature and yours hints at kindness and generosity."
    "I see." His expression gave nothing away.
    "About your yard..." Every time she looked at it something shrank inside. A mole would have envied Arthur those holes.
    Karl looked at her and smiled. It was a curiously intimate smile that shut out the rest of the world.
    "Never mind fixing the yard." His voice was cotton candy soft. One hand came up, and his knuckles skimmed her cheek gentle as a butterfly's caress.
    Her legs shook so hard, Jessica could barely stand. Karl's touch singed her skin, making speech almost impossible. A drumroll of emotion had her pulses cavorting in a wild frenzy. She couldn't place the gleam in Karl's eyes, the softness around his mouth.
    Jessica looked away. It was hard to keep her mind on track when her senses were derailed. "I'm truly sorry about the mess. It's just that Arthur's been through such a hard time lately. If you'd only give him a little time to get used to all this."
    “He can have all the time he needs.”
    His breath stirred her hair and she knew he was right behind her. Had he really said Arthur could have all the time he needed to adjust. Jessica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t know her head had gone back till she felt the hardness of Karl’s chest. She wasn’t dreaming. Jessica’s eyes flew open.
    “Th…thank you so much.“
    The silence forced her to turn around, look up. The gleam in Karl’s gaze was brighter, the intent look in his eyes highlighting his pupils. Twin lasers of light leaped out and bound her, as he said humorously, "With my mouth, do I have any other choice?"
    Her eyes slid to his mouth and for the life of her Jessica couldn't look away.
    She didn't resist when his hands took possession of her shoulders, or his head blocked out the sky. In the one second his lips rested on hers, the world tilted on its axis. Her soul leaped out of her body to touch Karl's in midair. Time held its breath.
    When she opened her eyes Jessica blinked rapidly to bring the world back into focus. It was a good thing Karl had his arms wrapped about her, her face crushed to his chest. Her limbs weren't capable of supporting her just yet. Sensations strong as a tidal wave swamped that part of her brain that dealt with calm, cool, collected. Jessica's eyes closed again. Why fight anything that felt so good? This might be short but she was going to enjoy the