Read Online Sunkissed by Janelle Daniels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janelle Daniels
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when it came to men. She enjoyed them, appreciated their company, but never in her life had she wanted someone as much as she wanted Grant.
“I think we’re pretty much wrapped up for the night. Tomorrow will be another long day.” He gave her a tired smile. “I won’t lie. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. I’m impressed.”
Her lips curved. “I told you I wasn’t going to let oranges defeat me.”
“So you did.” He chuckled. “Why don’t you come in? I’ll make you dinner. I have a guest bathroom you are welcome to shower in.”
“Thanks. It will be nice to wash off the grime.”
“Do you have something to change into?”
She shook her head. “No. It didn’t even cross my mind that I’d need it.”
“I did warn you it would be messy.”
“Yes. Yes you did.” Her smile was rueful.
His eyes crinkled. “I think I can scrounge something for you to wear while we throw your clothes in the washing machine.”
The sun was almost down by the time they made it back into the house. “ Here’s some extra towels.” He opened the cupboard below the sink, showing her the fluffy cream towels. “Are you sure this robe is okay? I don’t think any of my pants will fit you, but I might be able to find something else.” He looked doubtful though.
“This is great.” The soft midnight blue terrycloth was plush against her fingers.
“Take as much time as you need. I’ll start dinner once I clean up.”
“Thank you.” Reaching for him, she brought her lips to his in a firm kiss. When she pulled back, she was pleased to see his eyes hazy.
“Uh, you’re welcome.” He shook his head. “I’ll be down the hall if you need anything,” he said before stepping out of the room and heading down the hall.
She leaned against the back of the door after locking it.
Eyes closed, she took a heavy breath. She could handle the physical attraction to Grant, but she was beginning to struggle with the fact that she liked him as a person. He was kind, generous, and never expected anything in return. He was someone to admire. But she couldn’t afford to admire him. She was in deeper than was safe.
As she stepped into the shower, she realized she wasn’t going to turn back. She wasn’t going to turn away from him just because she was a little more involved than what was comfortable.
She was already in the rabbit hole. It was time to enjoy the ride.
Breathe. In and now out. I can do this, Grant thought.
Imagining Natalie in the shower, her skin all rosy, was more than he could handle. Just thinking of her slipping on the robe that had been against his own skin shot a shiver down his spine.
He had to stop thinking about it. The woman had worked like a slave in his orchard. Never complaining, never asking to leave. And she hadn’t even gotten paid for it.
Maybe he should offer to pay her?
Idiot. Of course not. Even with his brain foggy, he knew that would be a mistake.
What had he been thinking, offering to cook her dinner?
He hadn’t been thinking. Havesting had exhausted him, allowing him to give into his desire to keep her close. But he didn’t feel exhausted any more.
He needed to feed her quickly and push her out the door.
Nicely, of course. He didn’t want her to think he was ungrateful. He just knew he couldn’t be around her for very long before he lost his restraint.
Resting his hands against the counter, he leaned, hanging his head while trying to calm his body. He cared about her, liked her. She wasn’t someone he wanted to tumble and walk away from. She deserved more than that.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” He turned toward her, offering a smile. “Just a little tired.” He could have laughed.
Her smile was sympathetic. “It was a long day, wasn’t it? Is harvesting always so strenuous?” She moved to a chair before lounging comfortably.
“It never gets easier. Your body may get stronger, but that still doesn’t make it better.” Unable to stop
“I think we’re pretty much wrapped up for the night. Tomorrow will be another long day.” He gave her a tired smile. “I won’t lie. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did. I’m impressed.”
Her lips curved. “I told you I wasn’t going to let oranges defeat me.”
“So you did.” He chuckled. “Why don’t you come in? I’ll make you dinner. I have a guest bathroom you are welcome to shower in.”
“Thanks. It will be nice to wash off the grime.”
“Do you have something to change into?”
She shook her head. “No. It didn’t even cross my mind that I’d need it.”
“I did warn you it would be messy.”
“Yes. Yes you did.” Her smile was rueful.
His eyes crinkled. “I think I can scrounge something for you to wear while we throw your clothes in the washing machine.”
The sun was almost down by the time they made it back into the house. “ Here’s some extra towels.” He opened the cupboard below the sink, showing her the fluffy cream towels. “Are you sure this robe is okay? I don’t think any of my pants will fit you, but I might be able to find something else.” He looked doubtful though.
“This is great.” The soft midnight blue terrycloth was plush against her fingers.
“Take as much time as you need. I’ll start dinner once I clean up.”
“Thank you.” Reaching for him, she brought her lips to his in a firm kiss. When she pulled back, she was pleased to see his eyes hazy.
“Uh, you’re welcome.” He shook his head. “I’ll be down the hall if you need anything,” he said before stepping out of the room and heading down the hall.
She leaned against the back of the door after locking it.
Eyes closed, she took a heavy breath. She could handle the physical attraction to Grant, but she was beginning to struggle with the fact that she liked him as a person. He was kind, generous, and never expected anything in return. He was someone to admire. But she couldn’t afford to admire him. She was in deeper than was safe.
As she stepped into the shower, she realized she wasn’t going to turn back. She wasn’t going to turn away from him just because she was a little more involved than what was comfortable.
She was already in the rabbit hole. It was time to enjoy the ride.
Breathe. In and now out. I can do this, Grant thought.
Imagining Natalie in the shower, her skin all rosy, was more than he could handle. Just thinking of her slipping on the robe that had been against his own skin shot a shiver down his spine.
He had to stop thinking about it. The woman had worked like a slave in his orchard. Never complaining, never asking to leave. And she hadn’t even gotten paid for it.
Maybe he should offer to pay her?
Idiot. Of course not. Even with his brain foggy, he knew that would be a mistake.
What had he been thinking, offering to cook her dinner?
He hadn’t been thinking. Havesting had exhausted him, allowing him to give into his desire to keep her close. But he didn’t feel exhausted any more.
He needed to feed her quickly and push her out the door.
Nicely, of course. He didn’t want her to think he was ungrateful. He just knew he couldn’t be around her for very long before he lost his restraint.
Resting his hands against the counter, he leaned, hanging his head while trying to calm his body. He cared about her, liked her. She wasn’t someone he wanted to tumble and walk away from. She deserved more than that.
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah.” He turned toward her, offering a smile. “Just a little tired.” He could have laughed.
Her smile was sympathetic. “It was a long day, wasn’t it? Is harvesting always so strenuous?” She moved to a chair before lounging comfortably.
“It never gets easier. Your body may get stronger, but that still doesn’t make it better.” Unable to stop