Read Online Rockies Retreat: Destination: Desire, Book 5 by Crystal Jordan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Crystal Jordan
Ads: Link
And maybe I won’t just be hoping to sleep with him by then.”
“At this rate, I’ll need to have my prayer mafia dedicate a whole session to you!” Gloria hollered after her.
Laurel giggled all the way down the hall. The crazy characters at The Enclave were going to make this summer amazingly fun. Then again, what else had she expected at a camp full of artistes?
She slung Neil’s sweatshirt over her arm and jogged over to his cabin. The door was open, so she called through the screen, “Knock, knock.”
“Hey!” Violet yelled back. “Come on in.”
Laurel pulled open the screen door and stepped in. Hefting the hoodie in her hand, she skipped a real greeting. “I just wanted to drop this off. You forgot it in the dining room.”
“Thanks.” Neil set his laptop aside, hopped up from the couch and reached for his garment. “Sorry about that. I set it on a counter when Vi almost dumped her tray and forgot to go back for it.”
“That explains why none of us saw it at our table.” She winked at Vi. “Especially our detail fiend.”
His fingers brushed hers when he took his sweatshirt, and a sizzle buzzed over her skin. A wave of goose bumps followed in its wake, making her fight a shiver. She had a sneaking suspicion if she looked down, her nipples would be clearly visible. The fact that his gaze dropped to her breasts for just a moment told her she was right. A tiny smile played around his full lips.
“No problem,” she replied, her voice a little too breathy. She cleared her throat, and turned her attention to Violet, who was hunched over a desk, her brow furrowed. “You look industrious. What are you up to?”
“I’m working on his copy edits.” The teen waved a sheaf of papers in the air, covered in odd squiggles.
Laurel blinked and said slowly, “You’re doing your dad’s copy edits. For his novel. And you’re thirteen.”
“Hey, don’t knock it.” Neil shrugged into the hoodie and resumed his spot on the sofa. “Her grammar skills are better than mine.”
Amusement trickled through Laurel. These two had the most unique father-daughter relationship. “Slave labor?”
“Well, we have a housekeeper at home, so cleaning and dishes and stuff are handled.” He pointed out rationally, “She’s got to earn her allowance somehow.”
“Creative.” She twisted her lips. “And kind of lazy.”
“Hey, I became a parent for a reason. She needs to be well-trained so she can care for me in my old age.”
The man had the driest dark humor, which surprised her because he always looked so serious and somber. He couldn’t be more different than her usual type, yet she couldn’t deny she was wildly attracted to him. After those kisses, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind. It had been a long time since she’d indulged in an affair, but she was hoping he might be interested. She already knew she was. Maybe it was too sudden, too fast, but her gut instinct had served her well in the past. And it told her that under his solemn exterior, Neil Graves was an explosively amazing lover. She wanted to find out if she was right about that. Their chemistry certainly lent credence to the idea.
A logical side of her brain warned that an affair could go bad before the end of a three-month program and then she’d have the awkward fun of living next door to her ex-lover. But no risk, no reward, right? She wasn’t the sort of woman who was afraid of taking chances, or she’d never have gambled that a career as a painter would pay off. The odds had not been in her favor, yet here she was.
“I think I see a girl running in this direction.” Neil quipped, “Who wants to bet if it’s Ruth?”
Laurel pulled open the screen just as the kid came skidding through the doorway, her springy curls looking even wilder than usual.
“Hey, Violet. My grandma said I could invite you to sleepover at our cabin if you want.” An appealing note entered her voice. “She baked cookies. Big
“At this rate, I’ll need to have my prayer mafia dedicate a whole session to you!” Gloria hollered after her.
Laurel giggled all the way down the hall. The crazy characters at The Enclave were going to make this summer amazingly fun. Then again, what else had she expected at a camp full of artistes?
She slung Neil’s sweatshirt over her arm and jogged over to his cabin. The door was open, so she called through the screen, “Knock, knock.”
“Hey!” Violet yelled back. “Come on in.”
Laurel pulled open the screen door and stepped in. Hefting the hoodie in her hand, she skipped a real greeting. “I just wanted to drop this off. You forgot it in the dining room.”
“Thanks.” Neil set his laptop aside, hopped up from the couch and reached for his garment. “Sorry about that. I set it on a counter when Vi almost dumped her tray and forgot to go back for it.”
“That explains why none of us saw it at our table.” She winked at Vi. “Especially our detail fiend.”
His fingers brushed hers when he took his sweatshirt, and a sizzle buzzed over her skin. A wave of goose bumps followed in its wake, making her fight a shiver. She had a sneaking suspicion if she looked down, her nipples would be clearly visible. The fact that his gaze dropped to her breasts for just a moment told her she was right. A tiny smile played around his full lips.
“No problem,” she replied, her voice a little too breathy. She cleared her throat, and turned her attention to Violet, who was hunched over a desk, her brow furrowed. “You look industrious. What are you up to?”
“I’m working on his copy edits.” The teen waved a sheaf of papers in the air, covered in odd squiggles.
Laurel blinked and said slowly, “You’re doing your dad’s copy edits. For his novel. And you’re thirteen.”
“Hey, don’t knock it.” Neil shrugged into the hoodie and resumed his spot on the sofa. “Her grammar skills are better than mine.”
Amusement trickled through Laurel. These two had the most unique father-daughter relationship. “Slave labor?”
“Well, we have a housekeeper at home, so cleaning and dishes and stuff are handled.” He pointed out rationally, “She’s got to earn her allowance somehow.”
“Creative.” She twisted her lips. “And kind of lazy.”
“Hey, I became a parent for a reason. She needs to be well-trained so she can care for me in my old age.”
The man had the driest dark humor, which surprised her because he always looked so serious and somber. He couldn’t be more different than her usual type, yet she couldn’t deny she was wildly attracted to him. After those kisses, she hadn’t been able to get him off her mind. It had been a long time since she’d indulged in an affair, but she was hoping he might be interested. She already knew she was. Maybe it was too sudden, too fast, but her gut instinct had served her well in the past. And it told her that under his solemn exterior, Neil Graves was an explosively amazing lover. She wanted to find out if she was right about that. Their chemistry certainly lent credence to the idea.
A logical side of her brain warned that an affair could go bad before the end of a three-month program and then she’d have the awkward fun of living next door to her ex-lover. But no risk, no reward, right? She wasn’t the sort of woman who was afraid of taking chances, or she’d never have gambled that a career as a painter would pay off. The odds had not been in her favor, yet here she was.
“I think I see a girl running in this direction.” Neil quipped, “Who wants to bet if it’s Ruth?”
Laurel pulled open the screen just as the kid came skidding through the doorway, her springy curls looking even wilder than usual.
“Hey, Violet. My grandma said I could invite you to sleepover at our cabin if you want.” An appealing note entered her voice. “She baked cookies. Big
Similar Books
