Page 63 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

She turned up her chin, ready to lie, but when her eyes met mine, the fight disappeared. “I can’t,” she whispered.

“Then why are you running away? Stay the night.”

“I shouldn’t. I don’t want Charlie to wake up in the morning and me not be home.”

“I have an alarm.” I pointed to the end table. “It’s that little black box, right over there.”

She shook her head. “It’s not just Charlie. This happened so fast, I just need some time away to think. Okay?”

“Fine,” I muttered. “I’m willing to let that be your excuse to run away, but just this once. In the future, you can do your thinking in my bed.”

The last time a woman had told me she’d needed some time away to think, she’d moved to Montana and found a husband. There was no way I was going to lose Thea like I’d lost Emmeline.

She might need a night to think things through, but I didn’t. Nothing about us together had been a mistake. I’d thought about her constantly while I’d been in New York. I’d missed her and Charlie like crazy. And all it had done was confirm something I’d known the day I’d left Lark Cove weeks ago.

Thea and I could be amazing together.

“Good night.” She pulled on the door hard. My hand was still by the peephole, holding the door closed, so I let up and opened it for her.

“What are you doing?” she asked over her shoulder as I followed her outside.

“Walking you home.”

“You don’t need to. I’ll be fine.”

“Yes, you will because I’m walking you home.” It was dark, and I didn’t care if we were in Lark Cove. She shouldn’t be walking around alone at night.

She quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t think I can make it five blocks?”

This beautiful woman was testing my patience. If she wasn’t going to stay, then I wanted to get her home safely. Except that eyebrow quirk made my cock jerk in my jeans, and if I wasn’t out of condoms, I’d pull her right back inside and fuck her until she was so tired, she’d collapse in my bed.

“Thea, you can either let me walk you home or you can stay here with me. We’re out of condoms, but I’m sure I could find another way to wear you out. What’s it going to be?”

“I, um,” her cheeks flushed, “should go home.”

I grinned and placed my hand on her hip, pressing my fingertips into the small of her back. “Then lead the way.”

We walked in silence the distance to her house, past the bar and across the highway. As we turned down the side street closest to the lake, she picked up her pace. Either she was cold or she didn’t want me close enough for a good-night kiss.

Too bad. She had long legs but they couldn’t outrun my stride.

“Thanks.” She waved over her shoulder, turning up the sidewalk in front of the house. “I’ll see you—”

Before she could escape, I reached out and snagged one of her wrists. Then I spun her around and slammed my mouth down on hers. Her lips were open, so I slid my tongue inside, kissing her hard and fast before tearing myself away.

I grinned at the flush I’d left on her face. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She nodded, then turned and jogged up to the house.

Tomorrow.

Thea would be mine again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. She’d be mine all week long.

I’d spend these seven days breaking down her barriers, proving she could trust me. And when I left, she’d be coming too. Because there was no way I was going to leave Thea and Charlie behind again.

Which meant, starting tomorrow, I was going to find a way to get them to move to New York.

The next morning, I was back in the same place I’d left Thea last night, bent and ready to catch the little girl racing my way.