Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2)(29)

I feel guilty, but it’s only half a lie. Lottie did want me to hang tonight, and I know she’ll be happy to see me. Still, I feel a stab of regret as Will smiles at me. “I get it,” he says. “But just know, you’re missing out on all of this.” He points to himself, and the reheated leftovers, and I laugh.

“Next time.”



Will puts on a shirt, and gives me a ride back to where I left my car by the creek. I get out, and look at the water regretfully. I can still see part of Harold the boat sticking out of the water, stuck in the mud of the shallows. “I guess I should find someone to haul him out.”

Will gives me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I broke your boat.”

“It’s not your fault,” I sigh. I head over to my car, and Will opens the door for me.

“I’ll call you,” he says, and I nod, trying to ignore the unsettled feeling in my stomach.

“Bye.” I lean up on tiptoes and drop a quick kiss on the corner of his lips, but Will catches me around the waist and kisses me deeper, leaning me back against the car and claiming my mouth so thoroughly, I’m left reeling and dizzy, and breathless in his arms. God, this man can kiss: his hands sliding hotly over the curve of my hips, his tongue stroking me slowly, intoxicating. A promise of so much more.

He releases me, breathing heavy. “Next time,” he tells me with a wink. I nod, half-falling back into the driver’s seat. I manage to fumble the keys into the ignition, and I drive away, watching him recede in the rearview mirror. It already feels wrong to be leaving him there, when I could be wrapped up in his arms; naked in his bed. Just a taste isn’t enough. I need all of him.

And I’ve never needed anyone before.

I turn back to the road. This is why I made the excuse about Lottie, why I need a moment to catch my breath. Just as fast as the pleasure took over, now I feel something else spinning through me, off-balance, too close to the edge. I want him, god, I want him so bad, but a part of me is still holding fast to keep control.

I’ve known from the start that he’s different from all the other guys. Nobody’s ever pursued me like this, and nobody’s ever treated me this way either—looked past all the flirty quips and careless teasing, and seen the part of me I never show.

He wants to know me. Not just for a brief fling, or a couple of crazy nights of fun. He’s never asked for more, but I saw it in his eyes today: that fierce possession, a heat that could take us both down in flames.

“You’re going to be mine.”





Ten.


I show up on Lottie’s doorstep with a takeout pizza, a bag of chips, and one condition: no talking about William Wyatt Montgomery.

Lottie seems puzzled, but she keeps her word, and we spend the rest of the evening curled up on the couch, watching old Julia Roberts movies with Kit snoozing, sound asleep between us. I let out a yawn as the final credits roll—which quickly turns into a sneeze. Lottie reacts like she’s heard a gunshot go off.

“No!” she whispers loudly, scooping Kit into her arms and turning to shield him. “No germs, we just got done with that flu last month!”

“I’m fine.” I sniffle, grabbing a tissue.

“Hmmm.” Lottie gives me a dubious look. She gets up and retreats a safe distance with Kit still in her arms. “You don’t look so hot. You should take some Emergen-C or something.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t get sick,” I tell her proudly. “I haven’t had so much as a cold in years—ATCHEWW.” I sneeze again, and then twice more until my eyes are streaming.

Lottie points to the door. “I love you, babe, but you haven’t stayed up half the night feeding this guy cough syrup. Out! Call me when you’re not contagious.”

“I’m not—ATCHEW.”

“Out!”

I get my stuff and head back across town. Now that I think about it, my throat feels kind of scratchy, but it’s probably nothing. Like I told Lottie, I don’t get sick. I haven’t taken a day off in years, and I don’t plan on starting now.

I’m just unlocking the door when my phone buzzes: a text from Will.

How’s girls’ night going?

Fun, I text back. Back home now.

Want someone to come tuck you in?

My stomach curls. Lust comes rushing back to me in an instant, but the hesitation I felt before hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still lurking, uneasy in the back of my mind.

I’m not ready to take this step with him.

Rain check? I type instead. I’m beat.

Sweet dreams xo

When I see my reflection in the hall mirror, I know I’ve made the right call: my eyes are streaming, and my nose could give Rudolph a run for his money. I dig out a couple of vitamin bottles from the kitchen drawer and down a handful before I go to bed, certain that whatever it is, I’ll feel better in the morning.

I’m wrong. My bulletproof immune system must have been shot by spending half the afternoon splashing around in running water, because I wake up sick. Really sick. Burning eyes and raw throat and streaming nose and pounding headache kind of sick. All I want to do is bury myself back under the covers and never come out again, but I have viewing appointments booked with a client all morning; they’re driving in from the city and I can’t just bail on them, and besides, with Marcie gone now, I’m the only one who can do it.