One More Kiss (Forsaken Sons Book 1) by Elizabeth Lennox (good summer reads .TXT) 📕

Lincoln filed that piece of information away for future use.  “What language is the system in?”

For the next few minutes, he and Carl talked technical languages. It was obvious that Carl was trying to use words and language that he assumed Lincoln didn’t understand.  But the ass didn’t know that most of Lincoln’s ideas needed computer coding in order to work properly.  It wasn’t purely mechanical engineering.  His ideas were more advanced than that.  So Lincoln was able to keep up with the conversation easily, much to the irritation of Carl.

A timer went off and Lincoln stood.  “That’s dinner.  Should we eat outside?”

Carl snickered.  “It’s only forty degrees tonight.”

Lincoln shrugged.  “I have several solar powered heaters on the deck.  We’ll be warm enough.”

That was obviously a piece of news that good ole Carl didn’t like.

Lincoln carried the casserole, handing Kinsley the beans and rolls, then led all of them out onto the deck.  With a flip of a switch, the heaters turned on and the area was filled with warmth.

“This is wonderful!” Kinsley exclaimed, sitting down in one of the comfortable deck chairs.  “Do you eat out here a lot?”

“Almost every night,” he told her.  “Unless it’s raining, and even then, I can pull a rain shield up so that I don’t get wet.  I prefer being outdoors.”

Kinsley didn’t comment on the fact that his house was made mostly of glass.  Or that his workroom had no windows at all.  That might raise too many questions.

“So, Carl…”

“You know, we’re engaged,” Carl interrupted, grabbing Kinsley’s fingers, kissing them before picking up his fork to try the cheesy chicken casserole.

“We’re…not!” Kinsley yelped.  Her eyes darted in Lincoln’s direction and he could see the confusion.  “We’re not!” she repeated firmly.

Carl chuckled condescendingly.  “Well, I haven’t popped the question or gotten the ring.  But we’ve talked about marriage.  We know that we’re getting married.”

Kinsley nodded slowly, but her eyes were wide, as if she were finally seeing Carl for the ass that he was.

Of course, Carl was simply being territorial.  The guy wasn’t a complete idiot and he must have picked up on the tension between himself and Kinsley.  Carl was merely staking his claim in the most obviously way possible.

Lincoln would probably do the same thing if their positions were reversed.  Good ole Carl clearly sensed Lincoln’s interest in Kinsley.  But who wouldn’t be interested in a smart, vivacious, amazing woman with a figure to die for?!  Carl knew that he had a good thing with Kinsley.

And that, Lincoln thought, made him the ass.  Not Carl.  Carl was simply defending what he rightly thought was his, correctly understanding the imminent threat.

Not that Lincoln would make a move on Kinsley.  Never! He’d never disrespect her like that.

So instead of beating his chest, Lincoln nodded easily.  “Kinsley has mentioned the future the two of you are looking forward to sharing together.”

Carl laughed and, for some reason, the sound sent revulsion throughout Lincoln’s body.

“Has she told you all her crazy ideas about the wedding?”

Lincoln glanced at Kinsley and saw the hurt in those blue depths.  “Um…well, she mentioned that she’s excited about the future.  I don’t think she has any crazy plans.”  Lincoln thought Kinsley’s need to organize her world, which included plans for the future, was adorable.  Not crazy.  Kinsley just wanted things to be a certain way.  Nothing wrong with that.  That definitely didn’t give Carl permission to ridicule her hopes and dreams.

Carl laughed, taking Kinsley’s hand again. “She’s timed this whole engagement and wedding stuff down to the hour!” Shaking his head, he added, “I’m not even allowed to propose until a certain day, simply because she wants to be married at a very specific time of the year.”

Again, Lincoln glanced at Kinsley. Her head was bowed.  She wouldn’t look at him, even to dare him to…whatever.  This meal was so completely different from their casual, friendly, sometimes outrageous or challenging lunches together that he wasn’t sure how to react.

“Well, I know that Kinsley’s efforts to organize my projects, as well as the financial aspects of my work, have been a life saver.”  He’d never said as much to her, but he’d noticed. And he felt like a jerk for not saying something before now.  “So, if she’s already organizing the day that you will join your life to hers, then I’d say you’re a lucky man.”

There was a moment of awkward silence after that.  Lincoln suspected that he’d revealed too much, but he couldn’t take back his words.  Especially when he saw her lashes lift so that she was looking directly at him, her big, blue eyes silently thanking him for his support.

He tilted his head slightly, acknowledging her unspoken response, then he looked over at Carl and changed the subject.  “So, what do you think about the Badgers’ chances this year?”  And off they went, discussing football and statistics for the Seattle area’s football team.  It was a much less controversial subject and, as the sky darkened the air around them, the tension eased.  If the dinner wasn’t quite relaxing, it didn’t feel like a time bomb either.

When the evening finally ended, Lincoln squeezed Kinsley’s shoulders as he held her coat for her as a silent apology.  She understood and looked up at him, those beautiful blue eyes telling him that he was forgiven.

As he lay in bed that night, Lincoln thought about Kinsley and the demure, black dress she’d worn that night.  It was similar in style to what she normally wore to the office, but it seemed different since it was a dress instead of a business suit.  Maybe because he was picturing taking the dress off of her petite form, pulling her into his arms and making love to her until neither of them could move.  What did she sleep in?  He could easily picture her