A Wedding in Apple Grove Read Free Page B

said, “I’m glad you’re not one of my students.”
    â€œOh?” She seemed surprised by his comment. “And why’s that?”
    Encouraged by the catch in her voice and interest in her gaze, he drew her even closer. When she tumbled against him, he felt the jolt of energy all the way to his soul.
    Her eyes said yes, but her body tensed as if she wanted to say no. He waited a heartbeat for her to make up her mind. The instant she relaxed against him, he lowered his mouth until it was a breath from hers. “What is it about you?” he asked. “I don’t even know if you have a boyfriend waiting over at that reception, or a husband, and I still want to kiss you.”
    She slowly smiled. “No boyfriend, no husband.”
    Right answer, but still he hesitated, asking, “If I kiss you now, will you hold it against me?”
    â€œIf you don’t, I just might.”
    Unable to resist her sassy mouth, he brushed his lips against hers. She might have expected heat, but it was their first kiss—a kiss that shouldn’t even be happening—so instead of heat, he gave her softness and the promise of more to come.
    Then, unable to resist, he pressed his lips to the freckles on her nose and eased her out of his arms, wondering what had possessed him.
    Indecision filled her gaze for a heartbeat before she grinned and launched herself at him. “That wasn’t a kiss—” She wrapped her arms around him and used his shock to her advantage, tangling her tongue with his.
    He groaned and would later swear that he’d lost his mind on the side of Eden Church Road.
    When she finally slipped out of his arms, she rasped, “That’s a kiss.”
    He had to agree. “Are all of the female residents of Apple Grove this friendly?”
    She frowned. “They better not be.”
    Before he could think of a reply, she was walking away from him, searching the side of the road for something. “What did you lose?”
    He could have sworn she said her mind , but when he asked her again, she called out over her shoulder, “My sandals—I dropped them when I fell.”
    Dan found himself following her—he just couldn’t seem to keep his distance. He reminded himself that he wasn’t ready for a relationship, and given what he’d been told about the size of Apple Grove, if he started an affair with the winsome Meg, one of their 597 residents would be sure to find out. Was he ready for that?
    â€œWelcome to Apple Grove,” he mumbled beneath his breath, finding one of her shoes. “This yours?”
    â€œThanks.” She reached for the strappy sandal, put her hand on his shoulder, and slipped it on.
    â€œYou’ll break your neck, walking around on one heel,” he muttered.
    â€œNot if you find the other one for me.”
    He was right; she was going to be trouble.
    ***
    Meg watched Dan’s eyes change from a soft, clear gray to the color of winter storm clouds and she wondered if he was angry or aroused. He turned toward her and she got distracted by his strong jaw and the deep cleft in his chin. The temptation to touch it with the tip of her tongue had her staring at him, mesmerized… she couldn’t look away. He was built like a linebacker, but moved with the grace of a dancer. But the last thing she needed in this life was to get involved with another football player—a reminder of a past that would never be her future.
    She used to have a weakness for broad shoulders and muscular biceps. When she’d fallen against Dan, tingles of awareness set off sparks of desire wherever their bodies had touched. He was a big man—the only part of her that hadn’t brushed against him were the soles of her feet. She shivered at the thought; the reawakening of her libido was acutely painful.
    That was the only explanation she could think of for why she’d been tempted beyond reason to kiss him—really