Page 46 of Nothing to Tell

While his mom talked him up, it was just as likely Roxie talked him down.

“She thinks you’re too good to be true,” Harper explained, much to his surprise.“She doesn’t dislike you, just worried one of her girls might fall for you and be disappointed.”Another smile glittered.“I don’t think it would be possible for you to disappoint anyone.”

And she was the one person he didn’t want to disappoint.Chances were high that Harper didn’t realize she was now one of Roxie’s girls too.Mrs.Lomond—sorry, Mrs.Kyst-Lomond, didn’t take long to adopt women into her circle.

“Roxie’s as full on as my mother.”

“I like Roxie, but I am worried about your mom?”

“Worried about her?”

“I told her we were friends and that she shouldn’t make assumptions.But she kind of cut me off and said you weren’t interested in shallow acquaintances.I didn’t want to disappoint her by telling her straight, Bastian.She loves you so much and I… I didn’t want to get her hopes up.I couldn’t lie to her either.She said you cared about me, and asked if I cared about you and—”

“I’m going to kill her,” Bastian grumbled.

How dare his mom be so blatant in her questioning.Carolyn wasn’t a deceptive person, but she was usually more discreet than to interrogate his girlfriends.This wouldn’t wait.

Snatching Harper’s hand to hurry them off the dance floor, his long strides couldn’t get them there quick enough.Trotting behind him, Harper kept up without much of a choice to do otherwise.

“Stop it!”Harper said, trying to break free.

Emotions were running too high for him to just stop.His mom’s interfering was too much, he’d told her plenty of times to keep her nose out.This time she’d gone too far.

“She had no right—”

“You’re hurting me,” Harper said.

That changed the game.His fury hooked a hairpin.The whimper in her voice stopped him immediately.In apology and reassurance, he looped an arm around her, keeping her against his side.

Turned out the journey was over anyway.His mom and father approached and may not get the reception they expected.His mom had to stay away from Harper and quit interfering.He’d make that clear.Harper had enough trouble with her own family.She shouldn’t be getting it from his side too.

Without his express permission, his mom shouldn’t be anywhere near his woman.Sharing lunch with Harper wasn’t a pleasure he’d had.It was wrong his mom got to date his girlfriend before he did.

“I’m going to kill her,” he muttered with renewed annoyance when his parents weren’t four feet from his side.“Mom—”

Harper snatched his face and pulled him downward until the cushion of her lips caught his.Awareness was instantly visceral.That sweet little body of hers bowed beneath his.Her hands slid to the back of his neck, pulling him down to urge herself up higher as he tasted her mouth for the first time.

SEVENTEEN

Bastian

HER ENCHANTING SCENT was nothing in comparison to the saccharine of her mouth.Intoxicated, he’d never get enough to quench the hunger she stirred in him.Without permission, his tongue slid between her lips.In the tangle, he sampled the flavor he’d sought all his life.He’d never known he needed it until that moment, now he couldn’t remember surviving without it.

She initiated the kiss and ended it too.Thank God.If she hadn’t kept a rein on sense, he’d have taken her there, damn their surroundings.

“Well…” he managed to say.

That single word was a struggle.The disorientation of her unexpected, but so very welcome, kiss, sent his brain cells scrambling.

She curled her lips into her mouth in a vulnerable show of apology.Oh no, baby.No reason for contrition.The flush in her cheeks was there for him.Their kiss did that to her.His guts burned in blinding envy of her teeth, her tongue, and all those places he wished to explore behind her plump lips.

She touched her nose to him, pressing her body closer too.A habit that was becoming his favorite.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

His parents must have kept on walking because they weren’t around anymore.He didn’t care, he couldn’t even remember why he’d sought them.

Every face in their periphery gawked with open interest.Not that he cared.No.Pride was what filled him.Harper wouldn’t be so used to the rubbernecking.