HOOKED ON YOU (Paradise Cove) Read Free

pushed her hair off her shoulders. “After the wedding, hopefully our home will be ready for us to show it off.”
    She bent to kiss Taylor’s and Juanita’s cheeks, and pat Colt on the shoulder. “Enough about me and my problems. How’s it going? Where’s Jamie?” she asked Colt.
    “Baseball camp with Raul. Just until noon. Then maybe I’ll take the boys fishing.”
    “Sounds like the perfect summer plan. When does school start?”
    “Few more weeks. He’s excited about it, but learning comes easy for him.” Colt gave Kayla a self-deprecating grin and swallowed some coffee. “Smart like his mom.”
    “And he gets his good looks from you,” Kayla answered back. “Jamie’s a lucky kid.” She was the oldest of the three girls, thirty-two, and tall like they all were, with the same olive skin, dark hair and hazel eyes. “What are you guys eating? Sure looks good.”
    Juanita stood up. “I’ll get you a plate. There’s plenty more warming in the oven.”
    “Sit and finish. I can help myself.” Kayla headed toward the kitchen and returned a minute later, digging eagerly into the French toast.
    Suddenly Taylor’s disappointing morning didn’t seem so bad. She had her family and friends and what could possibly be better than that?
    She felt Colt’s eyes on her, and met his steady gaze. She smiled and his dimples flashed. A warm flush spread from the tips of her toes to the roots of her dark hair, and she wondered if he affected every female this way. Considering how many girls had come and gone in the past six months? Probably. Definitely .
    Taylor congratulated herself on giving Colt a pass. Lusting after a guy like him would not only be a waste of good time, it would never be enough. Not for her. When—and if—she was ready for a relationship, she’d not only want to be special, but she’d be looking for someone with the same hopes and dreams. Money didn’t drive her, but being successful did. She wanted the resort and her cafe to do well enough to support them all. Colt was sweet, but he was the most laid-back man she knew. Fishing and his son were all he cared about. And a cute gal in his bed .
    Kayla kept up a lively conversation with Colt and Juanita, and Taylor sat back to enjoy the moment and drink it all in. It had only been six months ago that Kayla had to face the disappointment of a miscarriage and cancel her wedding plans. Now she was optimistic that she might be pregnant once again. Although it was too soon to tell everyone the good news, her sisters and her mother were in on the secret.
    Colt pushed his empty plate away and wiped some of the whipped cream from his upper lip. His sky-blue eyes looked directly into hers. “You outdid yourself.”
    She looked at his mouth and had a ridiculous urge to lick away the whipped cream. Would he taste sweet, soft, or hot and sexy? Did his kiss drive all the young women wild? Her ex-boyfriends’ kisses had been nice, but hadn’t set off any explosions. She could barely remember them.
    “Taylor?” Colt tapped the table between them with his tanned forefinger.
    “Hmm?” She blinked and looked away. What had made her mind go there? With Colt? He was a buddy. She liked him. He liked her. They were not into each other. He gave her fresh fish if he had extra from a charter. She gave him free food during Paradise Cove’s happy hour. Not exactly a recipe for romance.
    “You were looking at me strange.” He tilted his head.
    “No, I wasn’t.” No way. Not her. Of course her gaze dropped to his mouth.
    “You have whipped cream on your lip,” Kayla told him, glancing at Taylor’s flushed cheeks. “That probably distracted Taylor.” She gave her a sly wink.
    “Why should it?” she answered hotly.
    “Ask yourself,” Kayla said. “How should I know why you’re staring at Colt’s mouth?”
    Taylor shrugged and scooted back in her chair. “This is ridiculous. Where is everybody? Why won’t they come in? I made some super breakfast