Love Burns by Babette James

Author:Babette James [James, Babette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Scarred Hero/Heroine
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2015-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Tonight had been perfect and a big mistake.

Dave stretched out beside Livie, and they lay together companionable and drowsy, her head pillowed on his arm.

A brilliant shooting star zipped across the sky.

Livie gasped. “Oh! Did you see that? The sky’s so amazing here.”

“Quick, make a wish,” he blurted, swamped by the memory of childish belief. I wish I may, I wish I might…

He shoved his wishes away.

Happiness rang in her laugh. What had she wished? He sifted his fingers through her hair, tucking tousled strands behind her soft ear. The memory poured over him of Livie rising wet and nude from the lake like some shy, erotic water creature. She was so beautiful. JoAnn had once described Livie as a mix of Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. He pondered the stacks of classic movies he’d watched while trapped in bed recuperating. Yes, perhaps, but for him she was simply, perfectly Livie.

She sighed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Just a touch of the vacation’s-almost-over blues. No matter how good going home will be, ending vacation is…difficult.”

“Yeah.” He stroked his hand along her arms. She had that right.

“This has been my best vacation in years. Thank you.”

“Good. You’re welcome.” He kissed her shoulder. If only he could sleep the night with Livie. As she’d drifted to sleep the other night, he’d been so tempted to stay with her until morning, but that blatant act might’ve embarrassed her if the others had caught them together in her tent. Right?

Excuses, excuses. Why don’t you just shut up, hold her close, and sleep. You need to sleep.

No, she needed to sleep in her own cot before he did or said anything they’d regret. Sleeping together would change things between them more than they’d already changed tonight.

Of course, Livie washed in starlight filled his mind, her slim strong thighs and sweet rear and how deep she’d clasped him within her heat.

His heart squeezed and his body rushed with that same primeval fight or flight response that jolted a body at a wildfire flare-up. This had gotten out of hand. He’d talked too much. Shared too much. Wanted her too much. She wasn’t using him to get over R.J. He wasn’t using her to revive his sex life. This thing with Livie wasn’t simple mutual attraction, satisfaction, or get-them-back-on-their-sexual-feet-again sex.

No, this wasn’t simple at all.

He didn’t want to know how vulnerable and courageous she was. He didn’t want this smug smart-ass male pride from knowing he’d given her pleasures no one else had.

Livie brushed her lips over his mouth, giving him her soft, perfect smile.

He kissed her, torn between the gnawing sensations of binding and tearing. Tomorrow would be a bitch.

Tomorrow, Lloyd and JoAnn would take her to the marina, she would drive her rental car to a Vegas hotel, and the next day she’d fly home to Florida and her new life.

You could follow her there and steal one more day together.

No. He needed to get his head together and find a new career. He needed to stop dreaming

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