Caiden (A MacLaughlin Family Novella Book 2) Read Free Page B

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be piling all this on you. It’s my problem and I don’t need to drag anyone else into it.”
    “It’s not your problem. And you can tell, Cole he doesn’t need to come. I’ll be the one watching over you.”
    “You barely know me.”
    “I plan on getting to know you much better.” He brushed a silky strand of black hair from her face. His knuckles grazed her cheek and she leaned into his touch. “I think you’re on board with that plan, don’t you?”
    She nodded.
    “Good, then it’s settled. If I’m not with you, you’ll be staying with my mom in Fort Worth.”
    Her eyes flew open and she pushed him away. “Absolutely not. I’m not dragging your family into the middle of this. He could be dangerous.”
    “Lina, my brothers would kick my ass if I left you alone after finding out what’s going on. Not to mention Mom would probably tan my hide.”
    She giggled. The image of any woman attempting to spank the giant grown man next to her was hysterically funny. He easily stood about six and a half feet tall and was as solid as a mountain. A mountain she’d like to climb. God, she had it bad for him.
    “What could you possibly find funny about this?” He crossed his arms and glared.
    She burst into another fit of giggles. “You…being…spanked.” More laughing commenced and this time he joined her.
    “She would though.” He chuckled.
    Their food arrived and they moaned in unison at the tantalizing smell of dinner. She glanced sideways, wondering if he was going to move back to his side of the table. Nope. His butt was firmly planted. He took a bite of his ravioli and smiled at her. At least he was right handed so they wouldn’t be sword fighting with their elbows.
    “They have the best lobster ravioli here I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve eaten all over the country.”
    She took a taste from her bowl and sighed. Damn. That is good. The way the butter and lobster melted in her mouth was divine. The hint of lemon was just perfect, too, and the pasta was just the right thickness. Not too much.
    “See.”
    “Yes, I have to admit it is very good.”
    “I don’t run into many women that enjoy working on cars. Of course, I have to drag my brother Harvey into the garage to work with me and my other brother, Trevor, won’t go near a bucket of grease. So I guess, I’m the only one in the family that likes working on cars. Even my dad would just sit and watch.”
    “Me, dad, and Cole worked on it all through high school. Building the GTO is one of my favorite memories. I don’t think I could ever let go of that car.”
    “It’s amazing how integrated a car can become in your life. I look at different parts of my mustang and I can remember the conversations I had with dad while I was working on it.”
    “Yes, it’s like a map to memories.”
    “Where have you been my whole life, Lina?”
    “Arizona.”
    He turned to face her and lifted his hand to her cheek. His hand was callused and hard, but his touch was so gentle. She leaned into the caress and closed her eyes, forgetting they were in a restaurant in the middle of a crowded room.
    His other hand slipped behind her head and pulled her toward him. She opened her eyes just as his lips closed over her mouth. It was slow and gentle, playful at first. He licked along the seam of her lips and she opened her mouth, inviting more. The invitation was not ignored and she squelched a moan when his tongue swept through the inside of her mouth, tasting her.
    Nerves fired throughout her body and a throbbing ache settled between her legs. She would need more than a kiss from him for her body to be satisfied. Her palms pressed against his chest, not pushing, but enjoying the hardness of his muscular frame. She wanted nothing more than to slide them inside his shirt and really get a feel for his body.
    He pulled back gently and leaned his forehead against hers. “We need to leave before they kick us out.”
    “I agree.”
    He stood from