Page 34 of Best Kept Secret

“It’s because of Jared, isn’t it?”

He tugged on his seatbelt to loosen it, and then he turned toward her. Now seemed the perfect time to tell her the truth; however, she was staring at him with those beautiful brown eyes, her silky hair curving gently around her shoulders and her chest heaving in the red T-shirt that clung to her curves and made him want to…

“Hudson?”

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth, but she surprised him again by placing her finger over his lips. He noticed her fingernails were painted red to match her shirt.

It was cool outside, but inside his car, it was sizzling hot as they gazed at each other with her finger still on his lips. He fought the urge to suck it into his mouth, but instead, he waited for her to speak.

“Never mind. I’m tired of talking about Jared, aren’t you?” she whispered.

He nodded, and she traced the outline of his mouth with her fingertip, setting off a reaction in his groin. He wasn’t sure where this was going, but he unfastened the seatbelt just in case.

“I have a confession to make,” she said.

You do? I’m the one who should be confessing. “What is it?” he managed to say, his voice sounding gravelly.

“I’ve been staring at your lips all night and wondering how they would feel on mine.”

His cargo pants suddenly felt uncomfortably tight, and his blood thrummed through his veins. “Kelsey…”

She traced his lips again and leaned in a little closer, inadvertently giving him a peek down her top. Her perfume wafted up, and he was surrounded by her sweet scent. Her eyes blazed with desire, and he had no doubt his looked the same.

“Do you want to kiss me, Hudson?”

“Hell yes.”

Then their lips touched, igniting sparks that threatened to turn into flames. Her lips were soft and plush like his favorite pillow, and he sank into them. She wove her hands in his hair, her pretty red fingertips massaging his scalp before pulling him closer.

Someone moaned, but he wasn’t sure if it was him or her. Then her lips parted, and he slipped his tongue inside her warm, inviting mouth. He slid his arms around her waist, desperate to get closer, and inwardly cursed the gear shifter between them.

Soft, warm, and sweet. Kissing her was just as he’d imagined it’d be, only so much better.

Then she pulled back, her breath coming out in ragged pants. His hands were still locked around her waist, and he was reluctant to let go.

“Do you want to come in?” she asked, her expression a mixture of hopefulness and uncertainty.

If she was worried she was being too forward again, he was quick to set her mind at ease. “Yes, more than you know, but…”

“You don’t have to explain.”

“Yes, I do.” He moved a hand up to her face and cupped her cheek. Now that they’d stopped kissing, he could think more clearly, even if his body had other ideas, as evidenced by his tight pants.

“Some guy once told me I was too aggressive,” she said. “Is that why?”

He instantly hated the guy for multiple reasons. Now that he’d tasted her, he didn’t want to think about any other guy doing the same, even if he was no longer a threat.

“Not at all. I like that you took the lead.”

She smiled and leaned into his hand.

Brushing his thumb across her soft skin, he said, “I just think we should take it slow—go on some more dates, get to know each other better, and then…”

“I want that too. I just wasn’t sure if you did especially… Oh, never mind.”

He moved his hand down to finger the hair that curled over her shoulder. Just as he’d expected, it felt smooth and silky between his fingers. “Tell me.”

Placing her hand on his chest, she said, “According to Jared, you don’t do relationships. He said you’re more of a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of guy.”