Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(48)

For her either. And he seemed to be as perplexed by it as she was.


“I hate that I hafta go.”


“Do you want to wait until your clothes are dry?”


“Nah. I’ve worn worse than this.”


Her fingers traced the cut muscles in his chest. “At least let me give you a ride to your truck.”


“The walk will do me good. But I appreciate the offer.” He snatched his wet clothes and only grimaced a little when he slid them on.


When she returned from donning a robe, Tell lounged by the front door. “Thanks for supper tonight. And for—” his hungry gaze swept her from head to toe, “—dessert.”


“Anytime.”


“Will I see you tomorrow?”


“If you want.”


His knuckles followed the curve of her jaw. “Oh, I want.” Then he slipped out into the night.


Chapter Thirteen


Georgia spent way more time on her hair and makeup for the reunion than she’d planned. Pointless fussing as she was torn on which image she wanted to project to her classmates. That Georgia Hotchkiss hadn’t changed in appearance at all? Or that Georgia Hotchkiss had changed completely?


She scrutinized her reflection. Her hair, a solid foot shorter than in her teenage years, was sleek and professional.


Wait. Why did she want to look like she’d just stepped out of a board meeting? Why wouldn’t she prefer to look sexy?


Dammit. None of this shit mattered.


Georgia fluffed up her sleek style into a tousled look. As if she’d just rolled out of bed after a bout of hot, hair-pulling sex. Tell would appreciate it.


She was wearing a sleeveless, form-fitting dress in a pale blue. With a modest bodice, the fabric was shirred from the empire waist to the froth of tulle at the hemline, two inches above her knees. With her funky platform heels in a blue cheetah print and a rhinestone clutch, she’d probably added fashion violation to her list of worries, which was already too long.


Seeing Deck for the first time since the dissolution of their marriage.


Seeing Tara-Lee, pregnant.


Seeing the girls in her class who hated her.


Seeing RJ’s friends.


The doorbell rang.


Georgia gave herself one last look and headed downstairs.


Tell hadn’t waited for her to open the door; he’d just waltzed right in.


And wasn’t it ironic he was standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her, just like she’d seen in all those teen movies where the guy showed up to take the girl to the prom? To top it off, Tell had a look on his face she’d never seen on any man.


“My God, Georgia. You are a f*cking goddess.”


“Thank you.”


He stopped her before she reached the bottom stair, setting his hands on her hips. He still topped her by a couple inches.


“What?”


“You look so damn perfect I’m afraid to touch you. Afraid I’ll muss you up.”


Her shoes dangled from her right index finger. She propped her forearms on his broad shoulders and let them hang between his shoulder blades as she rubbed her nose to his. “I love it when you muss me up. In fact, if you wanna ditch this whole reunion idea right now, I’ll take you upstairs and let you muss me up however you want. All night.”


Tell laughed. “Mighty tempting offer, hot lips. Now you gonna let me give you a proper kiss?”


“Please.”


His mouth came down on hers with more force than she’d expected. He dove in for a tongue-teasing, openmouthed kiss that utterly overwhelmed her. His fingers tightened on her hips. And he blew every one of her circuits.


Then he eased back and made her weak-kneed with his dimpled grin. “See? I didn’t muss you up at all.”


Not on the outside. But on the inside? Different story.


“You ready?”


“Just have to put my shoes on.” She used the newel post for support as she shoved her feet in the heels and checked out Tell’s attire.


A black western-cut sport coat worn over a pristine white shirt, a bolo tie at his neck. Jeans, boots and his black hat. Yummy. “You are quite the head-turner, Mr. McKay.”



“Thanks.” He seemed embarrassed by the compliment.


Georgia grabbed her clutch. As soon as they stepped outside and approached his truck, Tell apologized.


“I’m afraid we ain’t showing up to the school tonight in a fancy sports car. The only person I know who has one is Keely’s husband, Jack, and it seemed a little forward to ask to borrow it.”


She waited while he opened the door. Then he helped her into the cab. She wrapped her fingers around the braided leather strings of his bolo tie and pulled him closer. “I’m very fond of this truck. Especially after last night. Now I know it is possible to steam up the windows in July.”


Tell held her hand on the short drive to the school. She checked her reflection again, adding a coat of lip gloss.


The parking lot was nearly full, and her stomach tightened.


This was it.