Legends and Lies by Katherine Garbera

knew that despite what she’d said she still wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t hurt her emotionally. But she’d been willing to meet him here. Seeing the implicit trust she’d just given him by turning to him affected him. He refused to analyze it, happy that she’d let him back into her life.

    He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, meaning for the embrace to be an apology—or perhaps even a thank-you for staying when no one else had. Even though he wasn’t sure if this would last.

    Jared had never seen anything more beautiful than the woman in his arms. He reached between them, the backs of his fingers brushing her. She shook from the brief contact. She bit her lower lip, and he bent down to lick it.

    He leaned back, bracing himself on one elbow so he could run his finger down the center of her body, down her sternum and between her ribs. He lingered over her, caressing her with long sweeps of his hands. She was so responsive to his touch, and he wanted more.

    She was the best thing that had happened to him in a life filled with lucky moments. He thought about the story he’d told her earlier about the coffeehouse. He was one of those men who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time when it came to business, but this was the first time he felt like he was in the right place with the right woman.

    But he wouldn’t say those words out loud. He wanted her, but until this moment he had not realized how fiercely.

    She was exquisitely built, soft and feminine. Her breasts were full and her skin flushed. He ran his hands slowly over her torso, almost afraid to believe that after all his hard work, after all his planning, she was really here.

    He’d barely explored her before, and he needed to now. He needed to find out how she responded to his every touch. But they were lying on a blanket in the infield, and though it felt like they were in their own private world, he knew they weren’t.

    “Annie, you go to my head.”

    She smiled up at him, a sweet, shy smile that made him feel ten feet tall. There was something very fragile inside this ultracompetent woman. He pulled her more fully into his arms, cradling her to his chest with one arm. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his neck. Each exhalation went through him. God, he wanted her.

    But he was going to wait. Then he felt the minute touches of her tongue against his neck.

    “Isn’t this sweet?” a voice suddenly said.

    Jared glanced up and bit back a curse. Dave Jenner stood next to their blanket. Annie went totally stiff under him and turned red.

    He rolled off Annie and got to his feet, drawing her up beside him and wrapping his arm around her waist. He refused to act like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t have.

    “What can we do for you?”

    “Mom is looking for you, Annie.”

    “Thanks for passing the message along,” Annie said.

    Dave stood there, hands on his hips.

    “Was there something else?” Annie asked.

    “I want to have a few words with Jared here.”

    “Dave…”

    Jared had no problem talking to her relatives, but he could tell she was unsure of whether or not she should leave him with Dave. He tipped her head back and kissed her lingeringly, staking his claim on her in front of her brother. Then he gave her a small nudge in the direction of the RVs. “Go on. We’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

    She shook her head. But she walked away, and he watched her go before turning to her brother.

    “How many times are we going to do this?”

    “However many it takes until you get the message.”

    “What message is that?”

    “That you’re not welcome around here.”

    “Your sister seems to feel differently.”

    Dave rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ll see about that.”

    Dave turned to talk away. Jared appreciated the man’s sentiments and the fact that he was looking out for Annie, but Annie was his now. And he wished there was an easy way to let the Jenner men