Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

I wanted to see her shiver at my touch, watch her eyes darken with anticipation. But I didn’t. “That was our deal. We still need to talk to Omar.”

I pulled the SUV’s rear door open for her. My eyes were drawn to her lower lip, which she’d pulled under her top teeth.

“When are you going to be honest about what else you want?” Taylor asked.

I wanted to pull her lip out from under her teeth with my thumb and soothe it with my touch. When she brushed by me to climb into the SUV, I touched her elbow stopping her. “Let me be clear about something.” I waited until she turned slightly toward me. “I’m no good for you.”

“You keep saying that, but you can’t tell me what I want.” Her cheeks were slightly pink, like she couldn’t believe what she’d said.

“No, but it’s still true.” I was no good for anyone. I’d been told that all my life by my mom’s lukewarm attention for me and my teachers who’d given up on me instead of taking the time to encourage me. I’d been told again and again I was doing what was expected—I was no good—worthless—I’d never amount to anything. And for a long time, I’d proven those people right.

“That’s what you tell yourself, but today—”

I’d shown her a different person, someone I wasn’t. And it was probably a mistake. “I’m not that guy all of the time—hell even most of the time.” I lowered my voice and watched her eyes dilate. I finally gave in to what I wanted to do this morning after she’d kissed my cheek. I cupped her face, tilting it up to me. I lowered my head, and her lips parted in anticipation. I’d never wanted to kiss someone so badly—to know what her lips would feel like. I wanted to crush her body against mine.

“Lady, you ready to go or what?” The Uber driver asked.

Taylor startled and pulled back. “Yes, sorry.” Then to me, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nodded and gently closed the door. I should have been relieved we’d been interrupted. I had no business kissing her—making her want me. Making her think I was a good guy. I wasn’t. At the same time, I didn’t want her to leave. The thought of never seeing her again tugged at something inside me and made me uncomfortable in a way I’d never been before.

Taylor

My lips tingled with the anticipation of his kiss, which never came.

I was such an idiot. He didn’t want to want me even though I was positive he did. He was the exact opposite of any guy I’d pursued before and for some reason, it made me want him more. Even though I knew if he allowed himself to get close to me—he’d pull back again.

But I wanted to explore the hard muscles of his chest, I wanted to trace his tattoos with my fingers, I wanted to feel the warmth of his bare skin, and more than anything, I wanted his lips on mine. If he kissed me, I was sure there’d be nothing gentle or sweet about it. It would be deliberate, hard, claiming. The idea lit a fire in my core. I’d never been with anyone like him before and I knew it would be life-altering. He’d ruin me for any other man, but right now, with my lips still tingling from his breath, I couldn’t care less. I just wanted him.

Chapter Six

TAYLOR

I woke up Monday morning wide awake, remembering Friday night. The first thing I did was sit up in bed and grab my cell off the nightstand, but I didn’t have any messages. I leaned back on my pillow.

I hadn’t worked at the bar the rest of the weekend so I hadn’t seen Gabe. Was it stupid to hope for him to text? Yes, it was. We hadn’t kissed. We weren’t anything. And it was ridiculous to get excited for a text message or a phone call from a man like Gabe. We were too different, but I couldn’t deny I was drawn to him. A big part of it was who he’d shown me who he could be in the French Quarter—a guy I wasn’t sure he wanted to be.

As I moved off the bed and gathered my things to take a shower, I wondered if that was the draw. I’d only dated nice guys before—educated and respectful, from wealthy and involved families. I didn’t know Gabe’s history, but I didn’t think he had an intact family that worried about him. He exuded the lone bad boy vibe—whether it was by choice or necessity I didn’t know. I slammed my shampoo down on the ledge of the shower and groaned. Why was this guy getting to me? He’d been an asshole the majority of the time I’d spent with him.

Later at work, Dean came into my office. “How did your meeting with Isaac Kershaw go?”

Should I tell him Isaac missed the initial meeting and I was waitressing for him? Probably not. “We talked and he’s going to introduce me to Omar, the owner of the general store. He’s having the majority of the theft issues.”

“Good. I don’t like the idea that police officers are not taking crime in that area seriously.”

“Me either.”

“Keep me updated.” He stood to leave and then paused at the door. “How are you liking New Orleans?”

Thinking of my visit to the French Quarter with Gabe, I smiled. “It’s been great.”

He slapped the doorway with his hand. “Good. Glad to hear it.” Then he was gone.

My phone buzzed with a message.

Gabe: Want to meet up? We can get coffee and I can introduce you to Omar.

Taylor: Sure

Gabe: Ten-thirty?

Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was only ten A.M., so I had plenty of time to meet him if I took a cab. I quickly typed out a response before gathering my stuff to leave.

I was a little unsure how he’d react this morning after