Let Me Love You Read Online Free PDF Page B

you and Dane close?” Lucy’s voice was faint, barely above a whisper.
    “I’d say so. Twins are always close, whether or not they want to be at the time.”
    When she remained silent, he shot a gaze her way. She worried her lip between her teeth and brushed her hands up and down her arms. Had something he said made her feel awkward? Was she cold?
    He took off his jacket and rested it over her. She thanked him, pulled it up to her chin and huddled into it, but Joey was the one who seemed suddenly warm.
    “Take my niece’s sixteenth birthday party, for example,” he said to distract himself from the tingly sensation crawling up his arms. “She really wanted something big for her Sweet Sixteen. I guess that’s a big deal for high school girls around here. It’s this Sunday—at your winery, actually—and if Dane were responsible for all the planning, Janice would be having hot dogs and lemonade. He’s never been one to plan anything. Always been one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants types.”
    “Wait.” Lucy sat up, clutching his jacket against her. “Janice…Brackett? We have a birthday scheduled on Sunday afternoon, but it’s for Cara Smith. I would’ve remembered seeing Brackett on the reservation.”
    “Cara is Janice’s legal guardian, her mother’s sister.” His voice went deep, out of his control. “It’s under her name.”
    “Oh…it’ll be a great event. You’ll have the Legacy Room at your disposal and—”
    He touched her arm, silencing her. “You don’t have to slip into work mode with me, Lucy.”
    She stared, her gaze flickering from one of his eyes to the other, and then down to his lips. For a fraction of a second, he thought she might try to kiss him. Would he kiss her back? Would he want to? A spark burned in his gut and desire flamed across his skin.
    “I want to ask you something, but I don’t know how this is going to come out,” she whispered, “and I don’t even know if I should be saying this, or what you’re going to think of me, but—”
    Could she be feeling the same gravity pulling them together?
    Before he overthought the moment, Joey planted his hands on her cheeks and dragged her face to his. Their lips met with force, and she made a shocked mewing sound as he tunneled his fingers through her hair. She stiffened against him. He slanted his head to deepen the kiss. Her lips softened on a moan, and she kissed him back, parting her lips. His stomach tumbled, sparking with newfound desire.
    Instead of taking what she offered, he pulled back.
    Mouth hanging open in surprise, Lucy’s hands remained in midair as if she had been about to touch his face. His entire body went rigid beneath the heat of her stare.
    “Does that sum it up?” he asked.
    She shook her head and blinked quickly as if trying to drag herself out of some sort of haze. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Isn’t that what was difficult for you to say?”
    “No.” She covered her mouth with her hand and rubbed her fingers over her lower lip. “That was… surprising …but definitely not what I was going to say.”
    Embarrassment landed in Joey’s gut, decimating any buzzing feelings that’d been growing there.
    “Then I’m sorry,” he said. “I crossed a line. I shouldn’t have done that.”
    “It’s fine,” she said, staring out over her vineyard. Harvesters moved between the rows, their lights guiding the way. “I probably shouldn’t have said what I was going to anyway.”
    “Oh, no you don’t. You have to tell me now.” Reaching over the edge of the truck, he dumped his beer into the dirt and then tossed the bottle into the grocery bag. “You can’t leave me hanging, at least not after I embarrassed myself like that.”
    “There’s no reason to be embarrassed.” She touched his shoulder. “Please, we’re two grown adults who’ve had too much to drink. I’d hate to quote the song, but you can blame it on the alcohol if you want.”
    He could, but he hadn’t had that