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Excerpt

“Need any help?”

She gasped at my sudden appearance and let out a huff of breath. Her hair, which had been tied back, had loosened, and tendrils were free down the sides of her neck. My fingers itched to tidy her hair. Fucking liar. They itched to play through her hair and mess it up even more. To see her hair all mussed and her lips even plumper from my kisses.

I glowered at her and pointed to the bottle in her hands. “Help?” I repeated as she stared at me dumbly.

“Yeah,” she spit out as she thrust it at me, banging it into my chest and nearly knocking the air out of me. “The stupid cork’s stuck.”

I held out my hand for the corkscrew, holding my breath as our fingers touched for the briefest of seconds. After a few deft hand movements, the cork was freed, and I handed her back the bottle which she set on the counter while I twisted the cork from the wine opener. “Easy peasy.”

She grinned at me as that was something we’d said to each other when we were younger, and I’d tease her and Bev. I frowned when she closed her eyes and took deep breaths, her hands gripped in fists. “What are you doing?”

“I have to go back in there and flirt like a mindless idiot. I’m bracing myself for that.”

“Mindless idiot?” I grinned as I had other words for what she’d been doing. “I thought you enjoyed being the center of two men’s attention.”

“Then you’d be wrong.” She rolled her shoulders and tilted her head to the side like she was preparing to enter a boxing ring, and my control snapped.

I gripped her shoulders and met her shocked gaze. “Don’t.”

She’d stiffened under my touch, but she hadn’t made a move to back away from me, so I kept my hands on her shoulders. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t be what you think everyone wants you to be. Be you, Sof.”

She flushed, and her breathing emerged in pants at my whispered, plaintive plea. I knew I must look like a maniac, but I suddenly didn’t care. Fuck this. I’d wasted ten years acting like I didn’t care. Ten years wishing everything were different.

Well, things could be different if I just acted like I had a pair of balls.

I grabbed her hand and dragged her behind me. She didn’t put up much of a fight and followed as I led us out the back door into the darkened rear yard. I tugged her to a section away from the light spilling out of the kitchen window.

I stopped and spun to face her, in an area of the yard where I could barely see her. But I could see her eyes, wide and shocked and intrigued. Taking a step toward her, I moved slowly so she could back away. So she could make it known she wanted nothing to do with me.

When she bowed forward toward me, a thrill of victory rushed through my veins, and I cupped her face. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you don’t dream of my kiss. Tell me…”

I couldn’t speak because she was running her fingers through my beard and stood on her toes, nuzzling her lips into my neck. Nothing had ever felt as good as her touch. I feared nothing would ever feel as good again.

Groaning, I hauled her against me, burying my hands in her silky hair. I crushed my mouth against hers, feeling like I’d uncaged a madman. Her gasp of pleasure only fueled me on as I drank from her mouth like she was the holy grail. Like her mouth held the secret to the universe. Like I’d die if I didn’t keep kissing her.

One hand dropped to cup her ass, hauling her closer to me, and she mewled with pleasure as I pressed against her. There was no hiding how much I wanted her. Fuck, if we weren’t outside my sister’s house right now, I’d have her against the wall. On the grass.

Somehow, I caged the wild beast, and our kisses gentled. My fingers on her face caressed and stroked her soft, silky skin, making her moan in pleasure. Gathering every bit of strength I had, I broke the kiss, although I couldn’t stop touching her. My hands roved over her back, while my head dropped so I could keep kissing her cheeks and jaw and that tender spot under her ear that made her shiver.

“Fuck, I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”

I grunted when she pushed at me, stumbling back a step. I barely caught myself from falling onto my ass as she freed herself from me. “Sof?”

“Don’t. Stay away from me. This should never have happened.”

“Sof?” I shook my head. “What the fuck are you talking about? This is long overdue, and you know it!”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her middle. We now stood closer to the kitchen light so I could see her better. I hated seeing her so defeated. “Sof?”

“If you care for me at all, leave me alone.”

I stood in stunned silence as I watched her walk around the side of the house. I wanted to roar my frustration, but that would only alert everyone inside about what an ass I’d been. Somehow, I had to find a way to get through the rest of dinner and dessert.

If only I hadn’t just fucked everything up.

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Other Titles Within this Series

FORBIDDEN MONTANA LOVE

The Burkes of Burnside Creek Series - Book One

SECRET MONTANA LOVE

The Burkes of Burnside Creek Series - Book Two

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