Crazy For You by Alexander, S.B. (best ebook reader ubuntu .TXT) 📕

me that control of his was something far different than unleashing any anger.

“Stay here tonight,” I whispered in a breathy tone.

He tensed, his lips on my ear. “In your bed?”

God, yes. “You can sleep on the couch.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he whispered. “My control is ready to snap.”

“Then let it snap, Colton.”

He dragged his scruffy jaw along mine, his lips never touching my face. I was tempted to turn so our mouths would meet, but maybe he was right. Nan was probably wondering where I was or watching, although her view was probably obscured since Colton and I were against the front door.

“I’m going to put you down now,” he said reluctantly. “Then I’m going to get in my truck.”

I pouted but said nothing as I slid down every inch of his hard body. He groaned when my stomach grazed his erection.

I closed my eyes for a second, absorbing all of him, and when I was on two feet and shaky legs, I flattened my palm on his jaw. “You’re a good person, Colton Caldwell.” I had other words on my brain, but they escaped me.

He leaned into my touch. “No, I’m not.” He took one step back, his gaze never wavering from mine. He was allowing me to see so much emotion—restraint, desire, anger, and sadness. Then he blinked, breaking our connection, and just like that, he was walking away.

I gnawed on my lip, my legs trembling, my body screaming for him to come back. He didn’t have to worry about his control. I was sure I would lose mine too.

As his engine faded, I snuck into the house and ran right into Nan.

She stood with her arms crossed, looking out the window in the family room. “Is Colton okay?”

I lifted a shoulder, my body singing and heated. “I don’t know.” He was a dichotomy between his words and his actions.

“He likes you, you know.”

I snorted. “He says he’s not interested.”

She half grinned. “I’m sure that isn’t true. I saw how he was looking at you when you were on the steps.”

I hoped she was right, but for the time being, my body was on fire, and there was only one way to douse the flames. So I ran up to my room to finish what I’d started earlier.

18

The sweltering late Saturday morning sun mingled with a few wispy clouds. The September weather felt like the middle of July—hot and humid. The only difference was that the beach wasn’t as crowded. Tourists had packed up and gone home not long after Labor Day.

Sinking my feet into the sand, I scanned the immediate vicinity. The tide was low, and the waves slid along the sandy shore like a conductor leading an orchestra through Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2. Mom came to mind as I searched for Georgia among the handful of beachgoers who lounged on blankets and in chairs.

Mom had loved classical music, and I’d often found her listening to a symphony while she sketched on the back porch, absorbed in her craft as a way to unwind and relax.

I did one last pass, not seeing Georgia. Her text that morning had said to meet at the beach. Maybe I’d read it wrong. Hiking my bag higher on my shoulder, I opened the text app on my phone.

Georgia: Beach. Noon. Be there.

I didn’t misinterpret her message. “Beach” meant our usual spot. It always had. I checked the time. I was five minutes early. Maybe she was running late.

I was primed to text Georgia when a little boy squealed. “Mom, look at my sandcastle. Isn’t it awesome?”

With the nod, the mom acknowledged the blond-haired tyke before she resumed reading.

I couldn’t help but remember when Dad and I would build sandcastles.

Don’t you dare cry, Skyler Lawson.

My phone rang, distracting me from the emotions that wanted to break free.

“Where are you?” Georgia shouted in my ear.

I scratched my neck. “What? I’m at our usual spot.”

“Yikes. Didn’t I text you to meet on the beach in front of Grady’s?”

“Um, that’s a fat no. Why Grady’s?” Colton was there, and I wasn’t ready to see him, but the butterflies in my stomach said otherwise. Truth be told, I was anxious to see how we would react to each other after our intimate and intense encounter on my porch. I was curious if he would blow me off as if nothing had happened or if he would act awkward. I knew I would do just that.

“Shit. Sorry. My mom and I got into it about something stupid, and I spaced. Just get your cute butt down here. Mia and I are hanging.”

“Is anyone else with you?” I couldn’t see Colton lounging on the beach with Mia and Georgia unless Grady was with him. Even then, Colton didn’t strike me as the type to lie on the beach.

She snorted. “If you’re asking about Colton, then yes. He’s here, but he and Grady are playing pool in the game room.”

“Maybe I should bag out today.” As soon as the words dribbled from my mouth, I knew I was in trouble.

In true Georgia fashion, her voice sounded like a bomb going off in my ear. “Like hell you will. If I have to come get you and drag you by the arm, I will. And you’ll want to hear what I learned, anyway. Before you ask, it does involve you. So chop chop.” Then the line went dead.

I couldn’t even begin to think of what she’d heard. So much had happened in the last eighteen hours. I’d found out I was adopted. I’d witnessed a father beating his son. And above all else, I’d had not one, but two moments with Colton.

Georgia and Mia were about to get an earful, unless Colton had overheard that I was adopted. After all, I’d been on our deck when I read the letter. But if he had, and he’d told Georgia, she would’ve been at my house the second she found out.

Ten minutes later, I was dropping my mesh