Free Love So Unexpected (The Lawson Brothers Book 6) by Marquita Valentine

I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”
    “It’s not your fault,” he said softly. “I’m just tired of being the Lawson they all pity.”
    This time, she tipped up her chin, a question in her eyes. He braced for it. “Why would they pity you?”
    He wanted to tell her about Iris, about the baby ... everything ... but then she would look at him the same as everyone else. Call him selfish, but he wanted time with Sofia to be free of his past ... and he wanted her to view him as a man.
    “Because I haven’t settled down.”
    Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you telling me you’re the wild Lawson?”
    He laughed. “That would be my brother, Elijah. He’s a pilot. Travels the world. No telling where he is right now. Could be South Korea, could be Alaska.”
    “Have they considered that maybe you haven’t found the right woman yet?” she asked. He liked how she tagged on that yet , because it meant she saw him.
    “I’m not sure exactly. I don’t share my business with them,” he admitted. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty quiet.”
    Her pretty eyes widened. “I haven’t noticed at all. Since the day I met you, you’ve talked my ear off.”
    “Smart tail,” he chided.
    “Doesn’t bother me if you’re quiet.”
    He dipped his head. “Why is that?”
    “’Cause I don’t need you to talk in order to know what you want. It’s pretty obvious.”
    “Oh really?” he asked, and she nodded. “What about right now? What do I want?”
    She licked her bottom lip slowly. “To kiss me.”
    “Is that a fact?” His voice got all low and rumbly.
    Her chin tipped up higher. So close. So damn close. “It’s that obvious.”
    Slowly, he touched the side of her face with the tips of his fingers. “I’d hate to prove a lady wrong, but...”
    He kissed her then. Brushed his lips across hers softly so that if she wasn’t of the same mind, she could tell him so.
    “Do that again,” she ordered.
    He smiled against her mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”
    She melted against him, even as he slid his hand halfway around the back of her neck, caressing the side of her face with his thumb. Deepening the kiss, he teased her mouth open and groaned when her tongue touched his. She tasted like sweet wine. His imagination didn’t begin to do the reality of their first kiss justice.
    Damn, it had been too long since he’d kissed a woman like this.
    Her hand gently grabbed his wrist, but not to push him away. Instead, she glided her hand up his arm, and then back down again.
    Desire hit him hard and sudden.
    He broke their kiss, dragging in air. “I’ve been wanting to do that since our first date.”
    She searched his face. “I’m glad you didn’t wait any longer.”
    “Just glad?”
    “I don’t want to hurt you, or get myself hurt either, Caleb.” He could hear the sincerity in her voice, but it still stung.
    “Look, I get that you’re set on leaving, but until you do, I’d like to be the man in your life. The only one. I don’t do temporary, but I think you’re worth whatever time you’ll give me.”
    Her mouth went slack. “You can’t be real.”
    “Afraid so, sweetheart. What do you say?” he asked.
    ***
    S he’d said yes. God help her, she’d said yes to Caleb so fast that her head had spun around like a top. However, she wouldn’t regret it. She couldn’t regret something so sweet and sensual. That kiss had gotten to her. He’d gotten to her.
    Caleb had said exactly what she needed to hear, but she couldn’t dwell on that.
    Sofia focused on the bulletin board in the Piggly Wiggly where local jobs were posted. So far, no dice.
    Maybe Wednesday was a bad day to come. Later in the week, she come by here and try again.
    “Fancy seeing you again.”
    Sofia sliced her gaze to the woman she’d met the first time she’d driven into town. “Apricot, right?”
    The woman’s lips thinned. “Apple McCoy.”
    Snapping her fingers, Sofia shook her head. “That’s right. Sorry. I’m