My Ex's Baby (Crescent Cove 8)

Too much.

Too hot.

Too perfect.

I pushed him back. “Stop.”

Dazed, he clutched the back of my neck and went for my throat again.

“August.”

No.

Everything inside me railed against the word, but I knew this was a mistake. I’d hurt him. I’d steep myself in the taste of him, in the utter pleasure, but then I’d ruin everything.

I always did.

I couldn’t chance it.

Not with him. Not Ivy’s brother.

I shoved him back. “What are you doing?”

He smiled into my mouth and nipped my lower lip. “Kissing you.”

“Why?”

He frowned, the heat and playfulness draining from his eyes. “Didn’t you want me to?”

I swallowed down the need to scream yes. I wanted it so much it terrified me. “Are you crazy? Ivy would kill us.”

He took a step back. “Why would she care?”

“We’re family. It’s weird.” I grasped at anything. “It’s just the adrenaline from the baby. I don’t want to ruin…” Everything. “Our friendship.”

“It wouldn’t.”

“It would.” I ducked under his arm. “It’s not real.”

“It tasted real. I like kissing you, Kinleigh.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We can be adults. If it didn’t work out, we’d be fine.”

See, he knew. I wasn’t the one that men took home to mom. I was the weird orphan girl his mom put up with because Ivy loved me. I shook my head. “I work upstairs. We’d have to see each other every day.” The laugh that came out of my chest was rusty and too high-pitched. “Imagine us getting naked? It’s just crazy.” So crazy that I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I touched my lips. “Crazy.”

His face went stony. “Sorry kissing me was so abhorrent.”

“No, it was fine.”

“Fine? Thanks.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Let me just drop you off.”

I looked around the parking lot and spotted Gina. “No, it’s okay. I’ll just go with the girls.” I shouted Gina’s name.

She twisted around, her dark hair in a ponytail and half of her diner uniform already on.

“Can I grab a ride?” I shouted.

She nodded and made a come on gesture.

“See?” My voice was more than a little panicky as I gazed at August. His forehead was lined, and his jaw was like granite. He looked perplexed…and pissed. “You can go home, and we’ll just forget this happened. Okay?”