Page 72 of Love at First Ride
‘Tell that to the people scrapin’ a living there with no electricity.’
Our eyes meet. For the first time, I’m reminded that we’re from different worlds.
I look down. ‘Sorry,’ I say.
‘Don’t worry about it. I know what Echo’s tryna do. Sometimes I think he’s just prolonging the inevitable.’
‘You think he should stop fighting?’
‘I think he should ask them to up their offer. Offer the residents a better compensation deal instead of tryna cut our lifelines. Strangle us into submission.’
When it’s time for him to leave, AJ puts on his jacket. He holds out his hand, and I walk into his embrace. With the kiss he gives me, it’s a miracle we don’t end up back in my bedroom.
‘So…’ he says, our foreheads pressed together. ‘Tonight.’
‘Tonight,’ I repeat and my body is already on fire. I don’t know how I’m expected to make it through to this evening.
‘What time?’
‘Seven?’
‘I’ll be here.’
I kiss him one more time. Just to get me through the rest of my day.
‘I’m happy that you told me about Amber’s party.’
‘I’m sorry I yelled at you.’
‘Don’t be. I should have straight up asked.’
He holds my hands. Whatever sins he might have committed in the past, they are all forgiven, because having both his undivided attention, plus his lips to kiss, trumps any anger I may have felt toward him. ‘I should have told you the night of Amber’s party. Found some way to drag you away from Amber.’
He winces. ‘You should have, then told me what an idiot I was.’
‘Oh, I was already doing that… in my head.’
He smirks. ‘You do know that if you’d told me, tonight would have come a lot sooner?’
Something blossoms inside me. I kiss his cheek, trailing my lips up to his ear. ‘So let it be worth the wait.’
I hear his quiet chuckle. ‘Oh, don’t you worry, Palmer. Tonight, when I come back, I plan on making you feel so damn good.’
Chapter Eighteen
Hollie
I’m reading the romance novel featuring Coyote Maverick to Mrs Huxley, who is sat up in her chair. Turns out, it’s her favorite.
‘Mrs Huxley, I don’t think I can read you this bit. It’s a little too X-rated,’ I say with a giggle, but as my gaze skims down the page, I feel yet another ripple travel through me, my intimate muscles tightening, my core throbbing in delicious anticipation.
Tonight, I’m having sex with AJ Callahan.
All day, I’ve been walking around, my entire body tingling at the prospect, in a state of permanent arousal. This is going to be the longest dayever.
‘Oh, honey, the spice is the best part!’ Mrs Huxley exclaims, which sends me into a second round of giggles. There’s no way I’m reading some of this stuff out loud to a woman in her eighties.
‘Do you seriously want me to read it?’
