Residual Burn (Redwood Ridge Book 4) by Kelly Moran

Author:Kelly Moran [Moran, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smashwords
Published: 2019-09-23T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Ella moved the vase of flowers on her kitchen table to the left an inch, shook her head, and moved it back. The setting was perfect. Her pretty white plates and blue cloth napkins complimented the ivory lilies. She needed to quit putzing.

She’d had dinner at Jason’s place a couple evenings this week after work since that initial “date,” but this was the first time he’d be coming to her apartment. They’d had great conversation and a lot of laughs, brushed on some deep subjects. There was nothing to be nervous about. Heck, he hadn’t even tried to kiss her since the night he’d found her in the park.

Which probably meant he did just want to be friends. Admittedly, she was disappointed. He’d been right about their spark. Yet, there was still her secret hovering between them. Often, she’d tried to bring it up, relieve her guilt, but he’d always told her no, that she should tell him some other time. It didn’t feel right, him not knowing. In truth, he might hate her when he learned the truth. What she should do was talk to Greta about it, see what advice her cousin had to offer.

Not now, though. Jason would be here any minute.

A glance at her entry table, and she smiled. The envelope of cash he’d tried to give her sat beside her purse. After eating chicken parmesan at his place, she’d used his bathroom and had left the money on his vanity. Two evenings later, it had wound up back in her purse. It had become a twisted sort of game on who would wind up with it.

She closed her eyes and pulled a breath into her lungs. She’d worn black leggings and a loose white top. Supper was in a skillet on her stove. The table was set, the bathroom cleaned, the furniture dusted, and her hardwood floors swept. Everything was fine. She was fine.

Until a firm knock on her door threw her pulse into overdrive. Gosh, he made her so anxious sometimes. The good kind. Flutters and giddiness.

She cleared her throat and turned the knob. “Hi.”

Gah, he was handsome. One day, maybe she’d get used to that, but it seemed unlikely. He rocked a pair of worn jeans and a green tee that brought out the flecks of moss in his eyes amongst all the hazel. A day’s worth of scruff dusted his jaw and his sandy blond hair was long enough on top to brush his brow.

“Come in.”

“Hello, Ella.” He moved past her, hands in his back pockets. His biceps bunched at the position and she bit back a moan. “Smells good. What are we having?”

“Beef stir-fry and rice. Are you hungry? We could eat now. Otherwise it’ll keep for a bit. We could talk for a while until you’re ready or watch TV or—”

“Still nervous, sweetheart?” He grinned, decimating buildings around him. “After all the times we’ve hung out?”

Hung out. Not dated.

Dang, that shouldn’t hurt.

“Yes, well. I can’t help it. It’ll go away after a few minutes, I’m sure.

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