Till I Kissed You Read Online Free PDF

I’m not a douche-bag asshole. Maybe I’m worried about you.” For the second time in as many days, he wanted to reclaim his words. He backed away and leaned against the counter.
    A hesitancy softened her features as she sat back on the edge of her seat. “ Are you worried about me?”
    â€œLook, the pavilion was burned down. Crayfish baskets were vandalized. Now this. It all ties back to these festivals, and more specifically to your side of town.”
    â€œThe baskets were on yours.”
    His gut told him the baskets had been collateral damage, especially considering the letter she’d received but hadn’t mentioned. He wanted her to tell him. Trust him. “Has anything else happened?”
    â€œNothing.” Her gaze skated over his shoulder as she unraveled a thread on her shorts. “So you came to the meeting last night to make sure I was okay?”
    The conversation was going south quick. “I need this festival to happen. I’ve got a lot invested in making it a success. Your side of the river will be fine without it. My guess is you could have a fund-raiser like you had for Monroe and raise the money for your project. I don’t have that luxury. Cottonbloom Parish needs the shot of tourism dollars and the hope that coverage in Heart of Dixie will bring.”
    â€œOf course, it all comes back to the competition.” She gave an almost-laugh that he wasn’t sure how to interpret and sat back with her arms folded under her breasts.
    â€œThat’s right.” He forced himself to meet her stare so she wouldn’t guess he wasn’t telling the whole truth. She dropped her gaze first. His entire body deflated now that her brown eyes were no longer boring into him.
    â€œThanks for the first aid. It’s late and I’d better check on Mother. I’ll let myself out.” She pushed the screen door open and limped out. He let her go before he could do something too telling like insist she call him when she got home.
    A car door slammed. The void she’d left seemed to expand like a black hole. A loneliness that he hadn’t battled for a long time settled over him. Finally, he moved, flipping the light off and checking out the front window.
    Her car was still there. The headlights were on, but flickering. Her battery didn’t have enough juice to get her car started. Everything went dark, but she didn’t get out. Even if she wasn’t there voluntarily, the fact that she was there at all seemed to fill the hollowness that had burrowed in his chest. He didn’t want to examine the meaning.
    Should he leave her to swallow her pride and come to him for help? She’d probably try to hoof it all the way to town, barefoot. He chuckled until he thought about what could happen to her all alone on a country road in the middle of night.
    He grabbed his truck keys and stepped outside. She was sitting in her car with her hands on the wheel, her head back and her eyes closed. He rapped on the window.
    Without opening her eyes or moving, she said, “My battery’s dead.”
    â€œI kind of figured. Pop your hood. I’ll give you a jump.” His behemoth of a truck could have squashed her Bug. He set up the cables and started his truck. The engine rumbled so loudly he didn’t bother trying to speak, only made a hand gesture for her to crank her car.
    It fired up immediately. He removed the cables and dropped her hood. She rolled down her window and he leaned over and laid his arms along the sill.
    â€œThanks again.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and kept her eyes focused toward his truck. “I’ve been a pain in your butt tonight, and I’m sorry.”
    He grunted. Stringing together the words “thanks” and “sorry” must have cost her dearly.
    â€œAs soon as I get this budget through, maybe whoever is causing problems will stop. I’ll try to stay out of your way and …