“What about your family?”
“Just Jenny and Casey. My mom lives in Texas. Turn at the next left, then the first right.”
She didn’t mention her father. More important, she didn’t mention Casey’s.
“It’s the next left, then the second-to-last trailer on the left.”
The main road into the mobile home park was gravel, and his wheels crunched as he slowed.
“This is it.”
The trailer she directed him to was similar to all the others. White with streaks of rust running down in places like brown tears. He’d never thought of a structure as literally being tired, but Paige’s mobile home appeared beyond exhaustion.
Her faded blue hatchback blocked the space in front, so he pulled to the side and stopped behind a white Chevy. He barely had it in park before she was getting out, not giving him a chance to open her door.
“Thanks for the ride.”
He cut the engine and followed her. She’d just rounded his hood when the trailer door opened and Jenny came out and down the steps.
“Hey, handsome. Casey’s asleep.” She gave an exaggerated wink to Paige. “You’re welcome.”
“Thanks, Jenny. I really appreciate it. Though there’s one little thing we’ll have to talk about later.”
“Really?” Jenny smiled in Jake’s direction. “I can’t imagine what. Oh, Guy came over and jumped your battery. Good as new,” she said, gesturing to the hatchback.
“Thanks.”
Jenny smiled and got in the Chevy. The engine roared and they watched her make a three-point turn, then drive away, her taillights gradually disappearing.
A light pole rose in front of the next trailer over. It leaned like it’d been caught in a storm and the light was faint. There were a few others, all standing at odd angles and half of them dark. Except for a dog barking in the background, it seemed deserted. He didn’t like to think of Paige coming home alone, especially at night.
“So, Jenny doesn’t live here?”
“She does, but she’s out a lot. She inherited the trailer from an uncle—hers, not mine. It’s a little cramped right now, but I’m saving for a place of my own.”
“Thus the two jobs. And Casey. That’s a lot.”
She lifted her shoulders like it was no big deal when he knew damn well it was.
Her eyes met his then danced away. “Thanks again for the ride. And the drink.”
“You’re welcome.”
Another moment of silence passed and neither of them moved. Paige stared at a spot over his shoulder. “Nice night, but I guess all the nights are like this. That’s why people move to Southern California.”
A light breeze gently lifted her hair like even the wind wanted to touch her. “Is that why you moved here?”
“No. I moved here to start our life.”
“It hasn’t started yet?”
“Not really.” She shrugged again, something he’d noticed she did a lot, and stared at the toe of her tennis shoe digging into the gravel. “Not the one I want. Oh, I meant to ask you, why didn’t you tell me you owned Evolution? That you’d sold patents for prosthetics?”
“Simon has a big mouth.”
Looking up at him thoughtfully, she leaned her side against his truck so their bodies were facing. “You don’t want people to know?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Actually, it is. It’s a really big deal. Especially to Casey.”
Of course he was proud of what he’d done, but it meant something more coming from Paige. “It wasn’t just me, it was a team effort and…” Her eyes held his, and whatever else he might have said got stuck in his throat. How had they gotten so close? Had he moved? Had she?
She’d driven him crazy for weeks, but especially tonight with that voice and those eyes, her full lips and shy smile. He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. There were so many reasons he should get in his truck right now and drive away, but mostly because he knew touching her once would never be enough.
“Paige, I—”
“Simon asked me—”
Their words tumbled on top of each other and dwindled off in the heat building between them.
He shifted even closer, drawn by her until there was barely a breath between them. What man was strong enough not to kiss Paige when she stood gazing up at him under the stars?
Taking her face in his hands, he slid his fingers into her hair. Her soft inhale was loud in the quiet night, and her eyes never left his. He gave her a chance to move away. Just the slightest turn of her head and he would back up, regain his sanity.
When she didn’t, he lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. Her lips were warm and soft, and instead of taking a step back, she stepped into him. He traced his tongue along the seam, teasing her until she opened to him. And then he was lost. Her arms wound around his neck and any reasons he had for not kissing her evaporated.
Her body was soft under his hands and the sweet sounds she made vibrated into his chest. He slanted his mouth over hers, deepened the kiss, and fell deeper himself. Their tongues tangled around each other. It was new but strangely familiar, even when he knew he’d never tasted anything so sweet.
Paige’s fingers dug into his scalp like she needed to keep him from pulling away when there was no chance of that. With an arm around her lower back, he brought her fully against him, setting off new waves of heat. After some time, he lifted his head and looked into the blue eyes of a woman who’d been well kissed.