Reading Online Novel

In His Bed(7)



Lea hugged his mom. “I’ll call you tomorrow. It’s good to see you, Colin. Glad you’re home.”

He wanted to say what he was thinking. Like, me, too, because you’re here. Or, I can’t wait to see more of you. With his mom standing beside him, the only thing he could say was, “Me, too. Let me walk you out.”

When she almost protested, he grabbed the paper plate and slid his hand against her lower back. God, the feeling, even so slight, made him want to pull her close, take her out to dinner, hell—take her to his bedroom. He didn’t care. Just being in her presence made him want to be a better man.

She walked to the driveway and stopped by the little red four-door. “So,” she said almost on a whisper, forcing him to lean closer to hear her sweet voice. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He might not be a guy in his fifties, but he knew how to treat a lady. His mom had taught him how to respect a woman. He leaned around her and opened the car door. After handing her back the paper plate, he nodded. “Around ten, okay?” She was obviously uncomfortable as she looked back toward the fence gate leading to the back yard. “Lea, nothing happened. We just talked. She doesn’t think anything about us talking.”

He knew what had to be going through her mind because, one, he could see the nervous darting of her warm gaze, but, also, he knew the gamble he’d be taking with his mother’s friendship if he pushed too quickly.

“I know,” she whispered. “I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression.”

When she slid into the driver’s seat, he closed the door and leaned his forearms against the ledge of the open window. “I don’t either. I’m being a good guy and not leaning in this car and kissing the hell out of you.”

“Colin, maybe I’ve given you the wrong idea.”

When she gripped the steering wheel he knew she’d been fighting the attraction all day as hard as he’d been. “No, Lea, you didn’t. We both know the idea was mutual. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Agreed.”

He leaned back as she started the car. “See you tomorrow,” he said and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to keep from wrapping his hand on the bumper to make her stay. He hadn’t had enough yet. He wanted to sit and talk more, listen to the soft cadence of her voice, watch as she tried to keep her smile hidden.

She reversed the car out of the driveway then stopped against the curb. He held his stance, not giving her even a glimpse into his fantasy. Then she slid her small hand up and gave the whisper of a wave.

Damn, if it didn’t send his frown into a full-blown goofy ass grin. He waited for her to drive down the road and turned to go back to the party. When his phone rang, he grabbed the cell from his pocket. Natalie’s name scrolled onto the screen. He swiped to end the call and returned the phone into his pocket.

He had a feeling the friends-with-benefits option of his life was about to come to an explosive train wreck. He’d been blown away when he walked onto the patio. The sight of Lea standing there in her little sundress, with skin so smooth and curves for miles not only made his dick stand to attention, but made his gut do a major flip-flop. He had no idea what had happened, but he sure as hell couldn’t let her reservations stand in the way of exploring what they both felt.

Being tired of dates followed by empty nights either alone or rolling out of some woman’s bed at six in the morning wasn’t even an option on the radar with this new start. He wanted someone he could make breakfast for, someone who wanted to sit up all night and watch badass Vin Diesel movies and eat popcorn. Hell, someone who’d eat. The women he dated lived off salad and treadmills.

He’d been waiting for someone who could match the drive and passion he had for life. He’d known when he was seventeen Lea was a vibrantly sexy woman and now, as a man, he had no doubt she would be the only woman capable of easing the fever possessing every muscle in his body.





CHAPTER TWO



Colin pushed the brass doorbell button and walked to the edge of the wraparound porch. The house encompassed everything a grand Victorian should be—two large looming chimneys, intricate woodwork tucked into the overhangs and beside the round columns on the porch. The thought of this woman staying alone in such a huge place would make anyone seek company to fill the space.

The metal ting from the screen door opening caught his attention. Watching her step outside made his throat pull a desert routine while his brain absorbed the muggy morning heat. She was obviously trying to give him a heart attack.

He tried to focus when she spoke, but all he could make out was something about his truck, the bedroom, and a dog. Ignoring everything else, all he could focus on was her sweet ass in those black yoga pants. Hating the fact the hem of the long T-shirt she was wearing tried to cover up the generous globes, he imagined lifting the material and bending her over the porch swing. Damn, his cock was losing space in his cargo shorts.