Harlequin Special Edition: March 2022, Box Set 2 of 2 by Christine Rimmer

Author:Christine Rimmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

The moment Jim dropped his hold and stepped back from her, Tallulah was forced to reach behind her and grip the edge of the counter for support. At some point during their fiery kiss, the bones in her legs had turned to sand and were now threatening to collapse. Her lungs couldn’t work fast enough to satisfy her oxygen-starved body.

Beneath the partial veil of her lashes, she watched Jim thrust a hand through his thick, tawny hair, then wearily swipe the same hand over his face.

Eventually, she was able to speak. “Having regrets, Jim?”

His expression sheepish, he met her gaze. “I was thinking I would. Especially if I didn’t stop and allow both of us the time to consider the consequences.”

How much time did he think they needed to recognize that the red-hot craving that had sparked between them was something out of the ordinary? Something a person didn’t often encounter? Tallulah had kissed other men before her marriage to Shane and after her divorce. But none of those connections came close to the exploding desire she felt when her lips were on Jim’s and their arms were around each other.

“You believe the consequences of what we just experienced would be bad? Well, I don’t.” Her keen gaze took in his tight lips and clamped jaw. “But I guess you weren’t seeing stars and hearing birds singing.”

His eyes widened as his brows shot straight up. “Were you?”

The question very nearly caused her to groan with frustration, but the odd look on his face caused her to tamp back the sound. He honestly hadn’t recognized the depth of her desire, and the idea had Tallulah suddenly seeing him from a totally different view. Yes, he was a widower and his wife’s death had clearly altered his life. But she had the feeling his reticence about making love was not entirely about the loss of his late wife, but more of a lack of experience with women. Which was hardly a bad thing. It was just something she’d never dealt with before.

“Yes. I was seeing stars and hearing birds,” she said softly, then feeling a bit embarrassed for admitting it, she turned back to the sink. “I’ll make that coffee now. Before the cobbler gets cold.”

As she filled the carafe with tap water, she heard his step and then felt his hand rest on the back of her shoulder. The touch was warm and had her body longing to turn and repeat the heated kiss they’d just shared. But why would she want to? All her kiss was doing to him was filling him with regrets.

“I’m sorry, Tallulah.”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said bluntly. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“Yes. There is. I started all of this and then I stopped—just when things were getting...”

When he didn’t go on, she finished for him. “Hot?”

“Yeah,” he muttered as though he was guilty of committing a crime. “Now you’re taking it personally and—”

This time she couldn’t stop the short laugh that escaped her lips.

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