Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(26)

“No. We can’t.”

He would have stepped back, would have released her from his grip, but she brought her mouth to his. Again, twin passions ignited and flared. His hands traveled from her shoulders to her hips. Cruising over those dangerous curves, they moved higher, skimming her ribs to rest under her soft breasts.

He was losing himself in the heat. “Baby,” he whispered against her busy lips. “We have to stop.”

“Mm-hmm,” she murmured, stealing his breath without backing off.

“Gianna.” Beckett brought his hands to her face and gently forced her back.

“I’m sorry. What were we talking about again?” she asked breathlessly.

Beckett yanked her against him for a hug, crushing her to him. “We were talking about how we aren’t going to do this.”

“Right. I forgot,” she said, snuggling into his chest. “I have kids that I need to think about. I’ve made too many mistakes already and they’re depending on me to make this work.”

“Too many complications for both of us,” Beckett agreed, dropping a soft kiss on the top of her head. Her hair smelled like eucalyptus and lavender. “I’m not looking for anything serious.”

“And two kids means serious. They’d get attached.”

“The town would be booking wedding space if we started dating. Blue Moon would take it harder than the kids if we didn’t work out,” Beckett sighed.

“And it wouldn’t work out. I’d do something stupid or —”

“I would say something stupid and then we’d end up seeing each other all the time and it would be horribly awkward and —”

“I’d have to break my lease with you so I wouldn’t have to watch you mow the lawn shirtless, because that’s what you do in my fantasies. Plus, you don’t like my father and that’s a deal breaker.”

“I may have slightly misjudged your father, but that doesn’t mean I like him dating my mother.”

“That makes us practically brother and sister,” Gianna said. “That’s gross.”

“Really gross,” Beckett agreed.

She sighed and tilted her head back to look at him. “This doesn’t mean I’m not insanely attracted to you,” Gianna clarified.

“Right back at you, Red. If those two kids weren’t next door, you’d already be naked.”

“Well, that’ll keep me up tonight.”

Beckett leaned down and gently kissed the tip of her nose. “You should probably get back in there before they decide to see who can fit in the microwave. They looked pretty miserable when I stopped in.”

“It’s a trick. Don’t fall for the puppy eyes. Especially Rora’s. She’s got them down to a science.”

“I’ll say. I felt like my guts had been ripped out and then trampled.”

“I’m suddenly in a much better mood,” she said with a slow grin.

“Happy to help. I’d say anytime, but if we do this again it won’t stop at kissing.” It was a dark promise.

He turned her around and pushed her through the door in front of him.

“What’s this?” she asked, spotting the glass globe on the ground.

“I forgot. It’s your housewarming slash apology-for-being-an-* gift,” Beckett said, picking it up and handing it over.

“Beckett!” She peered through the glass. “It’s a fairy garden. I’ve always wanted one — how did you know?” She looked up at him, wonder and surprise written all over her beautiful face.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he said gruffly.

“Like what?”

“Like you want to go back in the shed.”

Her face transformed to a wicked temptress. “Oh, but I do,” she said with a slow wink.

“Gianna, get in your house, now,” he ordered.

“Thank you, Beckett. For everything.”

“Bring the kids over in half an hour. And for God’s sake, please wear something baggy.”





11





Gia decided not to tempt fate, or Beckett, and wore yoga pants and a long sleeve wrap sweater in a safe, bland gray to dinner.

When she announced they were having dinner at Beckett’s, Evan had shot her a skeptical look while Aurora immediately ran upstairs to find her shoes.

They trooped across the stretch of grass from their front door to Beckett’s back. He was waiting for them in the kitchen and let them in before Gia had a chance to knock. He’d changed too, she noticed. Gone was the dark suit she’d been tempted to wrestle him out of and in its place he’d donned a pair of chinos and a lightweight sweater with the sleeves shoved up to his elbows.

He sent her a warning look when he caught her studying the way the soft navy fabric stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. Gia gave him an embarrassed smile and slipped off her shoes inside the door.

“Thank you for having us over for dinner,” she said, politely. As her lips quirked, she was painfully aware of what her mouth had been doing half an hour earlier.

Beckett sent her another smoldering glance before answering. “Thanks for coming over. I needed help eating all this pizza.”

Evan perked up. “Pepperoni?” he asked.