Shelter Me by Catherine Mann

Author:Catherine Mann
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9781101637487
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2014-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

A HALF HOUR later, sated with French toast, Sierra leaned across the island to kiss Mike, savoring the taste of syrup and caramel on his tongue. “Breakfast was awesome, but can I take a rain check on the extended time with caramel sauce?”

Mike slid his hand into her hair, cupping the back of her head, kissing along her cheek to nip her ear. “Are you sure I can’t entice you to stay longer?”

“I have to help Mom out.” She picked up her plate and stood. “Later, though?”

He reached to take the dish from her. She held on for a second, tugging him closer until she leaned forward and kissed him. She wanted to stay but needed some space of her own to process all he’d told her. It wasn’t so much what he’d said but the fact he’d never shared these things before. That made her question everything from their relationship before, and until she had that sorted out, she didn’t know how to move forward. She ended the kiss, then kissed him once more. Briefly. Then she let go of the dish.

With a sliver of air between them, she said, “A lot happened here last night. I need space. I think you do, too. Having your help here has been a godsend, but it’s also almost as if we’re . . .”

“Living together.” His forehead fell to rest on hers.

“If we’re not careful, this could get messy fast at a time when we’re both raw after what happened to my dad.”

Mike flinched. There was no missing it. She felt that instinctive cringe all the way to her bruised heart.

“Later, okay?”

He just nodded, letting her go. Without another word, she finished dressing and slipped out the door. The fresh Tennessee air swept over her with the scent of farm fields and the first hint of a scorcher of a day to come. Her one day off since they’d worked all yesterday at the adoption event. Except there was no such thing as a day off here. She didn’t have time for a “boyfriend”—especially when that relationship came with so much potential for an implosion.

She sagged against the closed door for a second before regaining her balance. She just needed to slip into the house and get a shower, return her life to normal and then figure out what to do next when she had a clear head. Away from the temptation of licking caramel sauce off each other’s bodies.

Steeling her resolve, she raced down the steps, checking the yard carefully for her mom. At the sound of Sierra’s footsteps, the dogs started barking even though feeding wasn’t for another hour.

Her sandals slapped the grass, early morning dew squelching with each step closer to the house. The back porch fans were already churning, which could be an accident. Her family forgot to turn them off all the time.

Or someone could already be awake.

Not that it should matter. She was twenty-three, staying at home to help, not living at home. She paid her own bills and helped her mother out when the rescue made things financially tight.

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