Satellite of Love. Christa Maurice

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СКАЧАТЬ love it. I wouldn’t do it otherwise. It’s too hard.”

      Michael shifted toward her. “Really? Why’s it hard?”

      “Lots of planning, lots of effort and sometimes that horse just won’t drink.”

      “That little girl today seemed pretty excited about you.”

      “She’s one of my fans. They aren’t all like that.”

      Michael took a drink of his coffee and gestured to the bookshelf in the corner. “You have a lot of dinosaur books.”

      “I like dinosaurs and I work with little boys who also like dinosaurs. What about you? Other than cars and The Simpsons, what do you like?”

      He took one hand off the coffee cup, reached over and brushed his fingers down hers. “I’m liking you a lot.”

      “You know that wasn’t what I meant.” Her whole being centered on his touch, making following the conversation difficult.

      “It wasn’t?” He worked his fingers under her palm and started drawing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

      “I was thinking about hobbies and interests.” She couldn’t manage a decent breath. Only the top third of her lungs were operating and it was making her dizzy. Or maybe it was his touch making her dizzy. Either way, she needed to put down her coffee cup before she dropped it.

      “You’re interesting.” He leaned over, set his coffee cup on the table and when he sat back, turned toward her.

      “Not that interesting.”

      “You’d be surprised.” He brought her hand to his lips.

      The fingers around her cup got very jealous and distracted, but just as they mutinied, Michael caught the cup and put it on the table. Maureen shivered as he leaned in closer.

      “I think you’re fascinating,” Michael murmured just before pressing his lips to hers. He cupped her cheek, and still held her hand.

      Maureen parted her lips under his gentle assault. Her free hand strayed across his chest, exploring the tempting hardness she’d been sneaking peeks at all day. Exactly as hard and molded as she’d thought. He groaned against her mouth. The sound vibrated through her and raised her temperature. The turtleneck was a bad choice. Too hot. She needed to take it off right now. Bunching her fingers in his shirt, she decided his shirt was too hot too, and she needed to know what his bare skin felt like. No other man had ever made her feel this reckless. She couldn’t decide whether she should push him onto his back or lean back, pulling him on top of her.

      Michael made the decision for her. He sat back, still holding her hand and blinking. “Well, that’s some coffee.”

      “Yeah.” Was he up to innuendos about dessert, and was she really up to offering? This was a second date. She had a reason for resisting. Was she prepared to toss that reason out the window?

      “I should probably go.” Michael stood, a little unsteadily. “Are you coming to the garage in the morning?”

      “Only if you come get me. My car is still there.” She stood too. There was still time to offer dessert. It would save him a trip.

      “Great. I’ll get you for lunch again.”

      “I’ll have to bring some work with me.”

      “Oh.” He frowned. “I am being a big time suck, huh? Do you—are you sure you can afford to lose the time? I can just bring the car over tomorrow afternoon when I’m done. You don’t have to be there.”

      She knotted her hands behind her back. Dang it, he was doing it again. Mixing his signals. Assuming she wanted to be at the garage and then telling her she didn’t need to be. Push, pull. That alone should have been enough to make her remember she was fixed here probably with his nephew in her class next year while he’d be leaving. Imagine the parent teacher conferences with Tony and Pam D’Amato sitting across the desk from her.

      Imagine missing out on Michael. “Don’t you want me at the garage?”

      “Yeah, but not if you don’t have the time. I mean, I don’t want to get in the way of your job.”

      “I can bring what I need.” Except the computer to put the grades into. Lugging her desktop to the garage would be overkill. It was early enough to get some done tonight.

      And after he left town, she’d have plenty of time.

      “I’ll just bring along what I need. Unless you don’t want me there.”

      He gave her a crooked grin. “Baby, I’m starting to want you everywhere.” Dragging her into his arms, he kissed her again, bending her back.

      Maureen sunk her fingers into his shoulders as a tide of heat engulfed her. Parent teacher conferences with the D’Amato’s were a long way away and her personal life wasn’t any of their business. She wanted this, now. To hell with the consequences. Maureen wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself up his body until he groaned. His fingers clutched the back of her shirt.

      “You are no average, ordinary girl,” he murmured, brushing his lips along her jaw.

      “I never claimed to be anything I wasn’t.”

      “No, you didn’t.” He lifted his face from hers. “I better get out of here before this gets out of control. I really am trying to be a good guy here.”

      “Is that what you’re doing?” She’d tried to sound playful and did manage a smile to go with it, but the question rang through her mind with anguish.

      “Can’t fuck with the locals.” He put his hands on her shoulders and took a step back. She thought she heard the sound of Velco separating, but she might have been imagining it. “Tomorrow. Lunch, and then you can hang out at the garage while I tune up your car.”

      Maureen followed him to the door. “I’ll be ready.”

      “Good.” After he opened the door, he kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He pulled the door closed behind him, leaving her staring at it.

      Can’t fuck with the locals? What did that mean?

      * * * *

      Bear backed the Satellite out of the driveway. Early evening again. Maybe not for her, but nine o’clock was pretty early for him to end a date.

      If he hadn’t ended this date when he had, he would have to regretted it. Damn, two days into this charade and it was already rubbing him raw.

      He wanted her. In fact, he was starting to think he wanted her every day, morning, noon and night in a permanent, legal kind of way. Lust was part of it. That cute little bob and flowered turtleneck look covered a hot chick. The body, the responses, the innocent delight in her eyes. Such a turn on. Way past the fuck-me heels and nothing left to the imagination cleavage he was usually treated to.

      Another component too. One that upped the ante into something he didn’t recognize. This СКАЧАТЬ