Free Hot Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones Page A

was the intruder, the
outsider. She couldn’t complain and have it do any good. Her father
wanted Sharon and he wouldn’t risk losing her ; she’d learned that the hard way too many
times to count. But ironically, neither could Sharon and Brad quite
get rid of Lauren. And for the first time ever, Lauren felt done
with this battle, done fighting for her home, for a family that
wasn’t a family at all. In fact, she was so done with this, that
she wondered if maybe she shouldn’t just let Brad and Sharon get
what they really want. Maybe Lauren should just go away and stay
away.

Chapter Seven

    It was seven-thirty on the dot
and Lauren sat at her kitchen table, her laptop open. A thunderous
knock sounded on her front door, and a smile tugged at Lauren’s
lips despite her nervousness over seeing Royce again. There was
simply no doubt that he was her visitor, as there seemed to be
nothing that man did in a small way.
    With a combination of
trepidation and eager anticipation, Lauren stood up and ran her
hands over her light blue, long-sleeved dress, where it tapered at
her waist. Her gaze dropped to ensure her skirt rested properly
just above her knees, then to inspect her strappy black sandals,
somehow comforted to see everything was where it should be.
    She inhaled a deep, calming
breath and then walked to the door and, without giving herself time
to think, opened it. “Hi,” she said, her throat going dry even
before she took in the sight he made standing there, somehow closer
than she’d expected, while appearing bigger than she remembered.
His hair was loose around his shoulders, black slacks molding a
powerful lower body, his black button-down sculpting a stellar
chest and arms.
    “Hi,” he said, gifting her with
a sexy grin that all but had her melting into her tiled floor. “You
look amazing, Lauren.” His voice was velvety soft and full of
welcome male appreciation.
    “Thank you,” she said, her own
voice a bit hoarser than it should have been, but then, it wasn’t
often a girl had a man like this at her door, ready to take her to
dinner while looking like he wanted to eat her
for dinner. She stepped back into the hallway. “Come
in.”
    A moment later the door was
closed, and they stood toe-to-toe, the scent of him, spicy and
male, wrapping around her, teasing her senses. Delicately, she
cleared her throat. “I should get my purse.”
    “It can wait,” he said, his
hands settling around her, pulling her close. “I’ve been thinking
about kissing you all afternoon.” He nuzzled her neck.
“So , can I?” His lips
brushed her ear. “Can I kiss you, Lauren?”
    Her hands settled on his
shoulders and she laughed softly, surprised yet again by this man.
She didn’t remember Roger, or any of the other men she’d dated for
that matter, ever making her smile this much. They darn sure didn’t
make her warm all over like Royce did. “You’re asking? After last
night?”
    With an easy step, he managed to
back her against the wall, spreading his legs and pinning her with
body. “Last night was driven by champagne and emotion. Tonight is
just about you and me.” His eyes were hot, his voice warm, gentle.
He leaned toward her, intending to kiss her, and she couldn’t wait.
She lifted up on her tiptoes to meet him halfway, but he didn’t let
her have his mouth. He pulled back just enough to tease her with
what might have been, what she hoped would be, and asked, “Is that
a yes?”
    Lauren responded by reaching for
his mouth with hers again. This time he didn’t stop her. At first
he didn’t move, and for the briefest of moments, she felt nervous
about her actions. But she’d come this farlast night, tonight. No
way was she backing down now. Instead, she pressed into him,
wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her tongue across his
bottom lip in a sensual move that, to her delight, made him
moan.
    Suddenly, he was devouring her
mouth, kissing her as if he were trying to possess her. And God,
she