K-I-S-S-I-N-G by Dana Pratola

Author:Dana Pratola [Pratola, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dana Pratola
Published: 2018-02-10T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Winsome was probably never more perplexed in her life. The laundry forgotten, she stared out the window at Caleb and Darryl as they drilled into the trees, banged in steel rods and hooked up some kind of rigging and pulley system. Every so often, Caleb would glance at the house, and though she was hidden from view behind the Irish lace curtains, she felt that he sensed her watching.

Her lips hummed with the memory of their kiss. Kisses. One of them instigated by her. She wanted to believe her own boldness added to the experience, and looking back on it now, yes, she liked having been the one to zero in and take what she wanted. But honestly, taking the initiative had been the furthest thing from her mind. All she’d felt in that moment before kissing him was the absence of his lips from hers, and she’d wanted them back.

There was no shame in admitting that she hoped to do it again. She had never been kissed that way before, like he wasn’t just taking, but giving something to her at the same time. She’d felt his need and his power, his body tensed against hers, but there was tenderness beneath the strength, entreaty beneath the yearning. His careful restraint, more than his words, assured her he wasn’t going to take anything she was unwilling to give. She was eager to discover just how much that was.

“Wow,” she murmured, watching Caleb’s back and arm muscles bunch and flex beneath his sweatshirt as he knelt on the ground beside Darryl and positioned wood boards to screw them together.

They were building what looked to be the floor of the treehouse, and she didn’t see how it was going to be possible for the two of them alone to raise it up into place, even with the pulleys. Yet, several hours later, they had not only raised the floor, but had begun adding other pieces, some built at ground level and hoisted up, others added where they were.

The sun moved by steadily, drawing shadows across the front yard to merge with the waning light, while she divided her time between watching Caleb, and reading the book held open in her lap. When she saw him put his drill down and gesture toward the house with his head, she got to her feet, nervous to be caught sitting here. He may have surmised she was watching, but would know for sure if she didn’t relocate.

As he and Darryl started packing things up, she hurried to the kitchen. The stove clock said nearly six, and she knew the men would be hungry. It wasn’t really her place to play hostess to Caleb’s friend, but Darryl had been so helpful, she should do something.

Unfortunately, a quick scan of refrigerator and cabinet contents revealed limited choices. It was too late to defrost chicken, but she could throw some pre-made beef patties in a skillet. There were rolls, onions, and canned chili if they wanted to doctor them up a bit.

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