Page 60 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

For the sake of ending her cold war, I let it go. Would I stop buying her things? Absolutely not. Especially when the baby came. But for today, I’d change the subject.

I took the envelope from under my arm and set it on the table. “I wanted to bring this by.”

“What is it?” She stood, walking closer to flip open the folder.

“It’s the deed to the flower shop and the executed contract.”

“Oh. Okay.” She picked up the papers, running a hand over the first page. “This makes it official.”

“It is official.”

She stared at the page, not speaking, as a crease formed between her eyebrows.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never owned anything before. Nothing like this.” The fear in her voice pierced my heart. “What if I screw it up?”

“You won’t.” I put a hand on her shoulder, nudging her to turn. When her eyes tipped up to meet mine, the worry in her gaze made it hard to breathe.

She shouldn’t worry. She shouldn’t have fears. Aria deserved an easy life. I’d make sure of it, if she’d just let me.

“I won’t let you fall.”

“You say that and it’s sweet. But you don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“I need to do this on my own.”

“Understandable. Think of me as the safety net.”

“I’ve never had a safety net.”

“You do now.”

Without thinking, I brushed a stray hair away from her temple. One touch and my heart galloped. Aria had said on Monday that she wanted to know me. I wanted to know her too, inside and out. Again and again.

Her eyes searched mine. Her breaths shortened.

It was her lips that drew me in. Before I could rationalize what I was doing, my mouth was on hers and my arms banded around her back.

She let out a small whimper, a mewl, as I dragged my tongue across her lower lip. Then her mouth opened, and I swept inside, savoring the heat of her mouth. Aria gripped the lapels of my jacket, clutching me as her tongue tangled with mine.

Fuck, but she tasted good. Sweet and warm like melted honey.

She molded to my body as I held her close, soaking her in. My pulse pounded and I slid my hands down, fitting my palms to the curve of her ass as I pulled her into my arousal.

Aria moaned, holding me closer, as I swallowed the sound down my throat.

The distant sound of a bell chimed. The front door. The flower shop.

Marty’s voice carried to the back room as he greeted the customer. “Hello there. What can I help you with today?”

We snapped to reality and tore our lips apart. Aria blinked rapidly, clearing the fog. I ran a hand over my damp lips.

Then she was gone, stepping away and retreating to the other side of the table. She palmed her forehead, her eyes wide. “That was . . .”

“Sorry.”