Free Do Not Disturb by Lisa Ballenger Page B

tapped her
watch with her finger. "Say goodnight to Mr. Tyler."
    Brett shrugged at her please help me look.
"Sorry, kid, can’t help you."
    “All right.” Kelly dragged out the words and
ambled to the back of the house. “I’m going to stay up sooo late when I get to
college.”
    “Yes, dear, I’m sure you will.” Allison smiled at
the joke. Kelly threatened to do all sorts of things when she went away to
college, knowing Allison would just ignore her.
    As Allison strolled toward the couch, Brett
reached out and grabbed her hand. "Come here." He pulled her down on
his lap.
    Placing her hands on his chest, she tried to
stand. "What are you doing?"
    He looped his hands around her waist, holding her
down on his leg, allowing her back to rest against the chair arm.
    "You'd better keep your voice down if you
don't want Kelly back in here."
    One look at his smiling face and her heartbeat
doubled. Her knees rested against the inside of a muscled thigh, his strong
hands pressing her against his body, her face now only a few inches from his.
    "You going to kiss me this time?" He
leaned closer to her lips, his voice low and raspy. “Or do you want me to do it
again?"
    She ached to touch his rough, unshaven face again.
Trace the hard lines of his jaw, run her fingers over the thick, short, blonde
hair. She’d touched him earlier, but hesitated now. This was different. A touch
of intimacy, not comfort. Everything about him was enticing her, but she didn’t
move.
    "I guess it'll have to be me again." His
hand traveled up her back, shifting her head down to his.
    She closed her eyes as their lips met. A soft
kiss. Then his head twisted slightly, angling into her. He parted her lips and
pressed harder, slowly, encouraging her lips open.
    She slid her hand from his chest to his shoulder,
then around his neck. The stubble of his beard scraped her skin as her fingers
wandered around to his face.
    The small move sent Brett into action, his tongue
invading her mouth.
    A jolt of pleasure raced from her mouth down her
body. He massaged the small of her back, while his other hand positioned her
head for a deeper kiss.
    Each touch by his hand or movement by his mouth
flamed her desire. It’d been so long since a man had kissed her. And no man had
ever kissed her like this. Brett seemed ready to devour her.
    She wanted more. Moving her tongue against his,
she pushed her way into his mouth. She felt his intake of breath.
    He leaned back in the chair and slipped his hand
up her back to press her breasts against his chest, holding her so close she
could feel him panting.
    "Mom, I'm ready for bed."
    Allison jerked back so fast she fell out of his
lap and onto the floor in front of the chair.
    "OK." She screamed, slapping her chest,
gasping for air. "I'll be there in a sec."
    Brett lay with his head back in the chair, his
eyes closed, his chest heaving, a smile on his face. He slowly cracked his
eyelids and held out a hand. "Need help?"
    "How do I look?" Allison jumped up,
straightening her clothes.
    "Like you've been thoroughly kissed." He
sighed. "Beautiful."
    "Oh my god." She placed her fingers on
swollen lips. "I can't go in there like this."
    He curved his fingers around her leg. "Sure
you can. Kelly won't notice."
    "Are you sure?" she whispered. Her
daughter was pretty perceptive.
    "I'm sure." Brett sat up. "Tell her
we were laughing at something on television if she asks. That’ll explain your
flushed face." He gave her leg a gentle nudge. "You worry too much,
darling. Go say goodnight to Kelly."
    He was leaning with his back against the front
door, one ankle crossed over the other when Allison returned through the hall.
    "So how'd it go?"
    Stopping a few feet from him, she shrugged.
"All she wanted to talk about was the pool party she's going to
tomorrow."
    Brett slid away from the door and snagged her
hand. "See. Nothing to worry about."
    He opened the front door and stepped out, taking
her with him. "I'd better get going." He rubbed