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Con artists Jenna York and Ethan Summers always seem to cross paths during their travels around the world. With their partners in tow, the cunning criminals wreak havoc across the globe, stealing from the rich and giving to the richer. While Jenna tries to convince herself that she sees him as nothing more than a professional rival, Ethan finds it a little harder to fight his attraction to the beautiful thief.
The plane ride isn’t long, but it’s quiet. I spend the hour pretending
to read my email while Ethan pretends to read a bio on Stonewall Jackson. The
silence is deafening. With the playful banter long gone, I realize Ethan is as
freaked out as I am. That’s not to say the electricity that always crackles
between us is gone. It’s there, and if anything, it’s stronger than ever.
By the time we finally land, my confusion has turned into aggravation.
Why doesn’t he say anything? And why do I care? Totally frustrated and ready to
escape, I grab my bag and angrily rush off the plane as soon as Gabe opens the
hatch. I mutter my thanks and head straight inside to pick up my rental. It’s
still a two-hour drive to Strawberry Flatts, and even though it’s early, I’m tempted
to find a hotel and spend the day in bed with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s before
dealing with my dad tomorrow.
When did I become such a
girl?
With my key in hand, I quickly turn, and naturally, I run right into
Ethan’s broad chest.
I’m livid. “Why are you following me?”
“Aren’t you even going to say goodbye?”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?
We spent an hour on a plane and you didn’t say a word to me. Why do you
suddenly care?”
Ethan’s eyes flash with a mixture of hurt and anger as he grabs my elbow
and leads me toward the rental car parking lot. The car is easy enough to find,
and I’ve just tossed my bag into the trunk and slammed it shut when I feel his
hands wrap around my waist. He spins me around, and I unconsciously grip his
shirt, pulling him closer until his chest is pressed to mine. Ethan’s breathing
is rough as he leans close, and my entire body trembles when he trails his lips
across my cheek.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he says, his voice rough and low. “I’m kissing
you because you’re beautiful. I’m kissing you because you make me crazy. And
I’m kissing you because, I pray once I do, I’ll finally be able to get you out
of my head.”
He doesn’t even give me a chance to argue. His mouth collides with mine
in a punishing assault that makes my knees buckle. A soft moan escapes my
throat when his tongue finds mine, and my fingers entwine in his hair, pulling
him forcefully until there isn’t a breath of air between us. With a groan that
curls my toes, he kisses me roughly, and I kiss him right back, letting myself
drown in his touch as years of pent-up frustration finally dissipate into
something electrifying and dizzying and real.
We’re both shaking when we finally pull away. His baby blues are dark
and desperate as he gazes down at me. I let my fingers caress his scalp, a
silent apology for pulling too hard in my fervent need to get closer. With a
breathless sigh, he kisses me again, and this time, everything moves in slow
motion. This kiss is gentle and sweet, and when he pulls away again, he presses
his forehead against mine.
“Wow.”
“Yeah,” he murmurs roughly. “I’m glad we got that out of our systems.
“Me, too.”
We stay in each other’s arms, just gazing at one another. I have no idea
if we’ve caused a scene, and quite frankly, I couldn’t care less. I have bigger
problems now—the biggest of which is that Ethan and I were absolutely wrong,
and I can tell by the look in his eyes he realizes it, too.
One kiss will never, ever be enough.
Amazon best-selling author Sydney Logan holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education. She is the author of five novels - Lessons Learned, Mountain Charm, Soldier On, Once Upon a December, and Pros & Cons. Sydney has also penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul.
A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.
Visit her website at www.sydneylogan.com.
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