A grin sweeps over my face and I tilt my head. "Yes."He pulls it higher until I'm standing on my tip toes, leaning against the counter to meet him half way. Ridge's lips trail against mine, the slightest touch before he pulls away. I exhale, asking for more. This time we meet more forcefully. I stretch on my toes as high as possible and brace a hand on the counter for balance.This kiss is the kiss to end all first kisses. I've kissed my fair share of guys. I mean, I've been kissing since thirteen when Greg Holiday planted one on me in the middle of the hallway and then ran away. But this kiss... it blows every other single kiss out of the water.If I can expect this every time with Ridge, I never want to put my lips on anyone else. And there are a lot of other places I'd like use my lips on his body. I'm seconds away from climbing over the counter and pulling him into the bedroom when he steps back.Feeling a little dazed, I lower myself back to the floor, my hand still brace
"It's Ridge. I texted him." Katy opens her door and waves.I pop the trunk and follow her out of the car. "You texted him?"We meet at the back as she unloads her bags. "Yeah. Look, Tabitha. I'm not sure who the guy at the mall was, but he upset you. Trust me when I say if it's something big, Ridge is the guy to help you out.""Ridge?" I guess he could hook me up with a nice security alarm.Katy holds her bags in two hands and turns with sympathy. "You don't have to share whatever freaked you out, but know I've got your back."She slams the trunk down and starts the short walk to her house leaving me to discreetly wipe away the water that's gathered in my eyes. I've never had a friend be so understanding and well... friendly — especially one I've known two days. The unexpected kindness throws me for a loop, but it doesn't last long.Ridge stands on the end of the porch, his thick arms ramrod straight holding himself up on the rail. "Everything okay?""Er.... Yeah. It's fi
"A few weeks ago. I couldn't come to Aunt Gertie's funeral with the black eye, but as soon as he thought everything was fine I left a note and bolted.""And the guy in the parking lot today, was that him?" The beam from the light house hits the truck on one of its passes, highlighting Ridge. His tense face looks fierce, not someone you'd want to mess with."Mario? No. One of his employees. He left a note on my window.""What kind of note?" he asks.I shrug. "It said seventy-two.""Seventy-two what?"I shrug again in case he missed it the first time. "Who knows? He's called a few times. I suppose I have three days to answer one of them.""That's everything?"Subconsciously my hand falls to my jeans pocket, my palm rubs against the USB drive still safety tucked away. "Yup."Now that Ridge knows my history, I brace, ready for him to take me home rather than on this promised date. What man in his right mind wants to get wrapped up in whatever I've got going on? Especially
The front door shuts behind me, but I barely hear it. I'm on the hunt for the elusive phone. I head into the kitchen but quickly turn. The ringing is louder in the living room. I walk by the rolltop desk and stop. There wasn't a phone on the main surface when I left, but I roll it up to double check.Nothing.There's another ring and my eyes fall until I open the lower right side drawer. In the middle of the deep bottom drawer, the one normally reserved for hanging files, sits an off white-yellow colored phone. The old style with the receiver and dial buttons on the front."Hello?" I pick up the receiver hoping I haven't missed the caller. A long phone cord twirls, following me. Obviously Aunt Gertie's answer to being able to walk around the house while on the phone.The line is quiet for a moment and then, "Tabitha, is it you?""Amy?" How in the hell did Amy get the number to the phone hidden in the rolltop desk like Gertie was a super spy?"You don't have voicemail on thi
I stare at him not speaking. It's possible she wanted a coy pond. Some pretty rocks, a little waterfall, I already like the sound of it."They were six," Ridge continues.I giggle. "You can't hold it against her. They were kids.""She wanted to make a habitat for her pet alligator. Her mother went outside to find her and slipped in the hole Katy dug by hand. Fell and broke her wrist.""Oh." Not much you can say to defend that. "Did she have a pet alligator?""No," he deadpans."Well I promise I won't let Katy talk me into digging any ponds."He rolls his eyes like he doesn't believe a word I'm saying. "I'm on my way to check on a person of interest for a client. If you need anything, call me. If I'm not available, it will ring to my office and one of the guys will help you.""Nothing will happen."Ridge reaches into his pocket and returns holding a small silver key. "Take this in case you don't get your coffeemaker hooked up. You can use mine. Everything is in the cup
After days of nonstop cleaning and painting, the place looks nice. Not my place — I haven't painted another drop at my house — but the bakery shines. The floor's swept, the walls are a Pepto-Bismol pink that Anessa assured both Katy and me will look great in a bakery."Riley, don't be like that. I don't want to steal your dad's nail gun. We just want to borrow it." Katy walks in from outside, her phone pressed to an ear. Another resident of Pelican Bay who apparently knows how to get service in this town."Who is she talking to?" Anessa asks.I shrug. The decision was made to hang up wainscoting on the bottom section of the bakery wall. When Anessa went to find her hammer and nails, Katy jumped up with an excited declaration. She had a better idea. We're both just rolling with it.As expected, Anessa is an awesome chick. Between her and Katy, I have the friends I didn't know I needed, but I've always wanted. It happened fast, but we've bonded the last three days. Being half hig
Katy made me try on fifteen million different outfits, but a short three hours later I'm ready to open the door for Ridge by seven. The cute little tea length dress with pink roses will freeze my legs off, but considering it makes my boobs perkier than they were in high school, it's worth the risk.By six thirty when there's been no sign of Ridge, I pace between the living room and kitchen. I quickly peek outside to check his truck is still there, in case I'd gone deaf and missed hearing it drive itself away. The black Ford hasn't moved.Six fifty-eight rolls around and there's a knock. I count to ten and with practiced fake calm walk to the door with tiny steps. I can't seem like I've been waiting for him."Oh my god. Are you okay?" Even in the dim light of the front porch, the dark colored bruise on Ridge's right cheek draws my attention.He walks inside with a small grin plastered on his face, but something isn't quite right. "A scratch."A light blue long sleeve button do
"For sex?"One long kiss passes between us before Ridge makes his way out the door without answering my question. He walks to his truck and drives down our short street before he turns. I go inside when I lose sight of him around the corner. Pasta salad? The question lingers as I close the door behind me.My move to Pelican Bay was to bring me peace and alone time. Allow me the chance to reflect and get my shit together. Between Katy, Anessa, and Ridge everything is spinning on its axis. I have no control over my situation. And holy hell I wasn't planning to get attached to people so quickly. Definitely not a muscled hottie with a secret job.Without dinner plans there's no reason for me to hang around in a dress with my bra unhooked. I switch out the dress for a long sleeve shirt and my favorite pair of fleece pajama pants. With the soft inner lining and large ice cream cones covering the outside, they're my go-to pants when I need a pick me up. I need one tonight.And a telev