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Jaently He stood in front of her and held out his hand “Come on, coward,” he murmured “You owe me a dance”

His hand arainst hiht actually swoon, because he sood, was so warm Her entire body seemed to melt into his as his arm slipped around her waist Her hand went to his shoulder, and James tipped his head and smiled at her, just a little Parker sed, then put her cheek on his solid shoulder

Norah Jones’s sainst the dock, and she and Jaht Help me out here

Slowly, slowly, he slid his hands down her bare arh hers His hair tickled her neck as he bent his head, his lips warm as he kissed her shoulder, and the relief was so iainst her neck

Parker slipped one hand against his chest, feeling the solid thu that the ache in her grew sharply His lips her up her neck, his beautiful ainst her skin

Beauty suddenly decided that Jaht, because she chose that ainst his knee, as if she was cutting in Ja, then looked at Parker, and honest to God, she was actually dizzy, his s his face

He leaned in a little closer, still s her, but please, it’d better be soon or she oodness, his lips were against hers, the softest brush, so sentle, soft kiss that she returned carefully, almost shyly

This was so different froo, when she’d barely been thinking, when she’d used him to distract herself froly wonderful, Ja for her response Then he cradled her head in his hands, angling for better access to her mouth, and kissed herhair, and he held her closer, that beautifulmore he wanted to do other than stand out here and do exactly what they were doing

Beauty whined, and James smiled He pulled back a little and smoothed Parker’s hair back from her hot face

“The blackflies are starting to bite,” Parker whispered

“Maybe we should go in,” he said, that s at his mouth

“Okay”

Then he took her hand and led her off the dock, up the stairs and into the house, and Parker ith his atery and her whole body was pulsing with a war deal, when the truth was, she felt so stuff aside Beauty leaped neatly onto the couch, ditching the James led her down the hall, past his room There was her bedroom Yep Terror

James stopped outside her door, tilted her chin up and kissed her again He stopped al back to look at her “You okay?” His voice was gentle Which entle man

The thought somehow made her more scared than ever

“Yeah! No It’s just…I’m a little…nervous,” she heard herself say

Yes The wo baby boy in a total of three hours No drugs, either Not really virgin-bride material

His eyes were dark “We don’t have to do anything, Parker,” he murmured, and his voice alone made Lady Land croon

“Right No, I know that Which, thank you, by the way” She took a shaky breath “No, Jauy I as…” She felt her head wiggling around like a bobble-head figurine and ed to stop She looked at his chest, which seemed like a safe place to park her eyes “You You’re the last guy I ith”

He didn’t answer She continued looking at his chest Fascinating shirt, all white and, um…cottony Then he cupped her face so she really did have to look at him

His eyes were soft And he was s He looked so relaxed, how could he be relaxed when she was about to jump out of her skin?

“And that was… But this…” she said “It feels—it feels different” Her voice was a whisper now

Very slowly, as if she were a skittish fawn—Why a fawn? Why not a skittishto explode—James kissed her, just a soft brush on the lips “Maybe because we’re friends now,” he murmured

And that was it exactly Whether it was good or bad, she didn’t know

It was probably good

He leaned in, so slowly, and kissed her again, and without quite realizing she’d ainst his lean rib cage, up to his chest

“Is that a yes?” he whispered, pulling back the slightest bit

“It’s a yes,” she breathed

“Good”

“Yes”

He reached behind her and opened the door, his ain, hot and slow and sweet Backed her into the rooh her hair, down her back Her dress was suddenly looser—he’d unzipped it, clever lad—and his tongue brushed hers, and suddenly her hands re his shirt, even if they were shaking a little His skin was hot and s that beautiful torso, and pulled hiet him on her, in her

He captured her hands in his and pinned the with hers “Not this ti just below her ear “This tis slow”

Then, hishers to slip her dress off her shoulders, Jas in life shouldn’t be rushed

And you knohat?

The guy had a point

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

WHEN JAMES WOKE up, the sun was at an odd angle, shining right into his face The bed felt different

He bolted upright Reality, or really, really excellent dream? Nope, this was her room Clock said 8:13 am The latest he’d slept in eous fe at him

Just not the one he expected

“Hey, Beauty,” he said, and the dog wriggled closer and rolled on her back, offering her stoly

Man Best night of his life Parker Harrington Welles, with hiht For a few seconds there, when they’d coht bolt and they’d have to start all over again Or never

Nope The Fates smiled on him, and if she wasn’t the most beautiful, softest…the way she’d said his naasp of surprise as she ca afterward, as if her bones had dissolved and all she could do was curl against hiainst his shoulder