Read Sweet Hill Temptation (A Short Story) for Free Online Page B

night, came rushing full force with the power of his mouth working hers. It was a feeling she was already addicted to. Already wanting more of.
    With the warm grass against her back, and an even warmer man against her front, they lay there for a moment, Luke simply kissing her. Not pushing too far. As if reassuring her that he would always be there. Something she desperately wanted to believe.
    He pulled back just enough to say, “Have dinner with me tonight.”
    She looked up at him. The sun was shining around him, making those green eyes of his sparkle.
    “We haven’t even made it through lunch,” she said with a little laugh.
    Brushing his lips against hers, he whispered, “Which is why I think tonight should be somewhere public. Otherwise, I may never eat anything but you.”
    Her body shuddered and a whole new dose of desire rushed to every cell. Annie was lost. Totally and helplessly lost to him.
    “Okay.”

Chapter Five
    “H ave a good day, son?” Luke’s grandfather asked, looking up from the computer he was working on.
    Every day after quitting time, Luke drove farther up Apple Heights to his grandfather’s place, where Andrew Jacobs spent most of his days going over paperwork and distribution forms. The little home office he ran reminded Luke of his childhood, running around and hiding under his grandpa’s desk. A desk he had been groomed to sit behind one day. He just hoped he could work hard enough for himself and his absent father to earn it.
    “Yes, Pop. Harvest is running smooth. Based on what we’ve shipped, we’re already in the black.”
    Andrew Jacobs nodded. Swiveling in his chair, he faced Luke. “Is that why you have a permanent grin slapped on your face?” He glanced over the rim of his glasses and raised an eyebrow. “Apples never made me that happy, so I’m betting something else has you walking around like a smiling buffoon.”
    “Just a good day,” Luke said.
    “Uh-huh. That kind of good day”—he gestured in Luke’s direction—“usually comes from a woman.”
    Luke nodded. “Yep. Annabelle Thompson, to be exact.”
    His grandfather leaned back in his chair. “The Thompson young lady.”
    Luke nodded slowly.
    “Good luck with that, son.”

    “Everyone is staring,” Annie said from across the small table. She took a sip of her wine, and Luke couldn’t help staring as her lips closed around the rim—
    Shit, he had to stop thinking that way or else he really wouldn’t make it through dinner without taking her—in public or not.
    “They’re staring because you’re hot.”
    “Or they’re worried I’ll slug you again.”
    He shrugged and smiled. “That too.”
    She looked around and fidgeted. Marco’s House of Meatballs wasn’t exactly extravagant, but it was the nicest restaurant in town, and keeping their date in town was his goal. He knew Annie struggled, trying to rise out of the shadows of her mother. He also knew that she fit here, even if she didn’t believe it yet.
    “Have I told you how beautiful you look?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Pink stained her cheeks, and she gave a little smile, which was adorable because Annie rarely blushed. He was catching glimpses of the softer side he’d seen in the past and this afternoon in the orchard. He liked it. Just as much as he liked her ball-buster side.
    “You look pretty good too,” she said. “But I have to admit, I prefer you in dirty jeans and shirtless.”
    He grinned. There was his girl. The one who wasn’t shy about anything, especially what she wanted.
    “Well, I prefer you naked. But silk and leather is a close second.”
    That made her really blush, and damn it, Luke wanted to take her home and see just how much of that creamy skin he could heat.
    There was definitely more than the brass side of Annabelle Thompson. He just wished more people saw that. For Luke, it had always been easy with her. He liked that she could dish back but he could still make her smile.
    “I was hoping you would come