The Love List by Naima Simone

Author:Naima Simone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2022-02-15T19:56:55+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“I STILL CAN’T believe you arranged all this.”

Korrie stared in awe at the huge screen set up several yards in front of them. Somehow, Israel had commandeered the screen, and she didn’t know what shocked her more—the projector propped on top of his black Ram 1500 pickup truck playing Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves...or the simple but beautiful split-level log cabin surrounded by trees and acreage. It seemed the bestselling author masquerading as a bartender preferred his privacy. And he’d bought himself an oasis out here on the outskirts of Rose Bend.

“It’s not a wild and crazy outing, but you did mention how much you love eighties movies. I thought this might be a cool surprise.”

Israel passed her a slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza from the grease-stained cardboard box bearing the name of Rossi Pizza Palace, the best pizzeria in Rose Bend. She accepted it on autopilot, schooling her features into a smile, while inside...inside her belly quivered. She’d uttered that throwaway comment in passing, yet he’d remembered; he’d paid attention.

The man not only stoked her body’s hunger. He seduced her mind.

There was no part of her that didn’t ache for him.

And in the last three weeks that she’d become partners-in-crime and even friends with him, she’d become adept at hiding her ever-increasing need.

In other words, she’d become a consummate liar.

“Do you like it?” Israel asked, sliding a paper plate under her pizza.

“Of course.” She bit into the slice of pepperoni, sausage and cheese heaven, groaning at the explosion of flavor and spices on her tongue. “Rossi’s is always delicious.”

She opened her eyes to catch his hooded gaze on her mouth. Noted the firm set of his wide, full mouth. The stretch of skin over his sharp cheekbones. And all of that intensity was focused on her.

The breath stalled in her lungs, but every nerve ending jolted to strict attention, vibrating like a tuning fork. And he was the perfect pitch she sought.

This...greed for him had only deepened, intensified since their first outing at the karaoke bar. Yes, they’d bonded on the stage, but he’d slid under her defenses, etched himself on her very psyche out on that porch with his low, careful admission. An admission that had pulsed with pain, frustration, bitterness and an aching vulnerability that had crept inside her and refused to leave.

He scared her.

No, that wasn’t correct. That was her passing the blame.

She terrified herself. Because she’d allowed herself to want another man who was emotionally unavailable.

Want. She latched on to that word like a mountain climber clinging to a rope dangling off the side of a cliff. As long as she could remember that this was strictly about the physical, she could control this reaction. Control herself.

Control your heart.

“But as for everything else?” She found a smile, upped the wattage on it to cast the thoughts in her head in the shadows. “Karaoke. A motorcycle ride through the mountains. Zip-lining. And now Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman and pizza in the back of a pickup.

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