Free The Second Time Around by Angie Daniels

wanted this. She wanted him and responded by resuming the kiss and arching toward him.
    Moments later, when he ended the kiss and raised his head, she nearly cried out in protest.
    â€œHave dinner with me tomorrow?” he breathed against her lips.
    Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to speak. “I can’t.”
    His eyes were looking directly into hers, making it impossible to look away. “You can’t or you won’t?”
    It had only been twenty-four hours and already she felt the seductive pull of his spell. Scraping up what strength she had left, Brenna pushed herself away from him. “Both.”
    â€œBrenna, I’m not going away. I plan to spend every second, every moment with you until whatever is supposed to happen between us, happens.”
    She stepped back and stared at Jabarie, fighting the hard throb of her body and the knowledge that men like him knew how to break a woman’s heart. “And I’m supposed to be excited about that?”
    â€œI would hope that you’d want to spend time with me.”
    Anger ripped at her. “Well, I don’t.”
    â€œYour kiss says otherwise.”
    She rolled her eyes heavenward. “Listen, I’m really not in the mood to have this conversation right now.”
    â€œOkay,” he said but something in his eyes told her he wouldn’t stop until she agreed. “I’ll be by tomorrow.”
    Her heart jackhammered. “Please, don’t bother.”
    â€œI told you I planned to spend as much time with you as I can.” His voice had the ability to lull away all the defenses she put up.
    Brenna stepped away from him, yet his body heat clung to her even after there was several feet between them. “Why?”
    â€œIt’s the only way I’ll ever get you out of my system.” He ran a hand against her cheek. “See you tomorrow.” With that, he turned and walked toward the door.
    Brenna moved over to the sink and immediately filled it with soapy water. While stacking the dishes, she took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. Jabarie still had the ability to turn her world upside down; unfortunately she didn’t want her world rocked. Nor did she want the kisses he was intent on showering her with. The power of the kiss still had her lips tingling.
    Reaching for the faucet, she shut the water off and reached for the first plate and tried to ignore the arousal humming through her body. Her desire was alive and her body was yearning. She hadn’t been with a man in five years because the only man she had ever wanted was Jabarie. He had been her first and only lover and no man made her feel the way Jabarie did. But being around him made her realize that no matter how much she tried to deny it she still wanted him in her bed. And that would be a big mistake.

Chapter 6
    T he next morning Brenna woke up slowly. She rolled onto her back then tossed her arms happily into the air. It was Sunday. Her day off and she planned to do something she hadn’t done in a long time. Relax.
    Since she had opened her bookstore last year, she had been spending every waking hour making it the success that it was today. Unfortunately, as a result, she’d had little to no life at all. Other than an occasional happy hour with her partner, Rhonda, the only place she visited often was her queen-size bed. Brenna frowned. It was sad to admit, but outside of work, she had no life at all. She had been too busy with her store to think about her non-existent sex life, but not anymore. Jabarie had awakened desires she hadn’t felt for years. Now her body was demanding things she refused to give it.
    Stretching her arms over her head, a smile curled her lips. She was looking forward to a day of strolling along the boardwalk, checking out all of the new shops that emerged in the last several years. But what she wanted most of all was to spend the afternoon sitting out on the beach with her book