Beautiful Burn Read Online Free PDF Page A

face.
    “That was certainly something .” She quipped and turned back to the lighthouse.
Auburn's eyes swept the weather-worn fencing that enclosed the old
structure, where only a small sandy path allowed entrance. “I can't
believe you just kissed me.” Her fingertips were trailing across
her tender lips, as if reliving the feeling of our kiss.
    A small smile was turning the
corners of her lips when I reached out, my hand seeking hers again.
“Life is short.” I replied with astounding sincerity. Her head
turned to meet mine, and she finally allowed the stubborn smile she'd
been trying to hide break into a full grin.
    “My point in all of this
was...” I interlaced our fingers as I spoke, “story isn’t about
place. It’s not about the climax or the resolution; it’s about
the emotion that connects all of us.”
    “Hmm…” She cocked her
head and pursed her lips. “I like that,” she said softly. “Maybe
I'll go with that.” The excitement rose in her voice. She tapped
her lips in a way that she knew was silly before she laughed and
pushed me in the shoulder, throwing me off balance as she darted
around me, hair flying and laugh floating on the wind. She looked the
part of a beautiful, composed young woman, but her unique and
endearing, playful sense of humor reminded me that life wasn't all
bad. There were still beautiful, lighthearted moments to be had, if I
chose to grasp them.
    “Is that how you repay the
man that inspired you?!” I scoffed when I’d finally caught her. I
held her lightly in my arms, enough to keep her steady, enough for
her to feel the raging hard on settled in my cargo shorts.
    “You give yourself too much
credit.” Her laugh shot straight to my soul and lit my
nerve-endings like firecrackers.
    I
smiled when I realized she could shit on me for the rest of my life
and I’d be the happiest man alive.
    “Is that so?” I caught my
breath as I looked down at her. She glanced up at me with amusement
surrounded by a veil of wild, dark hair. The way the setting sun
caressed the muted angles of her face impressed me like a work of art
might impress another. High cheekbones accentuated her round,
slightly-too-large eyes and dark eyebrows and the full cupid's bow of
her lips.
    “Yup.” She grinned and
crossed her arms, teasing. Suddenly I was more aware of my hands at
her waist, settled on her hips. I pulled away and grasped for my good
sense, which was always escaping me at the most dire of times. I
wanted to kiss her again, but I also wanted to keep my job, letting
this go any further than it already had would spell trouble for both
of us.
    I ran a hand through my
dirty-blond hair. “We should head back.”
    “Okay.” She retreated,
giving me the space she must have sensed I needed. We headed back the
way we'd come and a few minutes later we were back in the boat and
rowing towards the little stretch of coastline we called home.
    “Told you Michigan had a lot
to offer,” I finally interrupted the silence.
    “I feel enlightened.” She
grinned, teasing. “I don't remember you being so active a few years
ago.”
    “I grew up doing a lot of
this stuff, but when when I got married I had less and less time.
When things started to get bad a few years ago,” I paused, working
at the persistent ache in my shoulder. “I found it was a good
escape. When Mel gets on a subject, she likes to beat it to death.
Out here on the water was about the only place I could find peace.”
I ended.
    “I'm sorry.” She placed a
hand on my forearm, her dark eyes connecting with mine. I appreciated
the chance to slow my rowing and enjoy these moments with her. “My
parents used to fight all the time when I was a kid, even after the
divorce they were always in and out of court arguing about custody.
It was awful. I remember watching Peter Pan on repeat as a kid and
wishing a magical world existed where kids never grew up and didn't
have parents screaming and hating each other.” The emotion in