Page 13 of Rising Star

As if she’d just heard her own words and the implication underneath them, she turned her head, avoiding my eyes.

I was about to settle into my chair when I spotted pink paint below her earlobe. Wetting my thumb with my tongue, I rubbed the stain before I realized the intimacy of the gesture. Madison’s breathing hitched, and I hissed a quivering gulp of air.

Her hand closed over mine, keeping it in place while she closed her eyes for the longest seconds of my life.

“Sorry, you had paint right there,” I said, rambling the words out in order to explain my temporary lack of judgment.

Her lips separated. “Thanks.”

And I would die a starving man.

5

MADISON

The voices coming from the house brought me out of my slumber.

I blinked, trying to reboot my brain and remember where I was.

How long had I been out? By the sun hanging low in the sky, I bet it was late afternoon.

Which meant…ugh…I had slept in bright sunlight for hours.

Pushing my sunglasses to the top of my head, I raised my arms to inspect the damage. My green-army shorts and black tank top did nothing to cover my bare skin.

My stomach tightened. I looked like a freaking lobster.

The skin of my arms was devil red.

Another fuck-up to add to my already long list.

Since I moved into this house, nothing was going as planned. How could Sam trust me to care for the girls if I couldn’t even care for myself? How could he see me as a grown woman if I wasn’t even smart enough to use sunblock? Right now, I resembled a teenage girl on spring break who thought she was too cool for shade and sunscreen.

Today was my day off, and after Sam and the girls left early this morning to spend a day at the family friend’s farm, I decided to read on the back deck. Never would I have thought I’d fall asleep in the sun.

My hands flew to my cheeks, and the warmth of my skin told me everything I needed to know.

The back door slid open before I could cover up.

“Here, you are,” Sam said in his rough southern drawl as he stepped outside. Just the sound of his voice was enough to send a flight of butterflies to my belly. Damn it. Get a grip over yourself, Maddie. Could my resolve to not lust over him and keep my sanity show up when needed?

I folded my legs and wrapped my arms around my bent knees and rested my chin on them as Sam took a seat in the lounge chair next to mine, stretching his long legs. And at that moment, even his calves looked fabulous.

Stupid misplaced infatuation.

“The girls are looking for ya. I told them it’s your day off, but according to this”—his attention drifted to his watch—“we have about two minutes before they come barreling here.” His eyes landed on mine for the first time, and I offered him a sorry smile as his gaze trailed over the length of me, taking in the sunburn. “Shit, Maddie. Did you use sunscreen?”

I shook my head slowly, using all the strength I possessed to hold his gaze.

He swung his legs over the edge of the chair and leaned forward.

One of his hands landed on my knee, and the other cradled my face, his thumb tracing the ridge under my lips. His eyes translated every word his mouth refused to speak. My fascination with him multiplied. Sam Stevens was made of so many layers, I had still to uncover them all. He jerked away the hand cradling my face as if the warmth radiating from my flesh burned his palm. In a slow movement, he leaned forward, his cheek barely grazing mine, his stubble rough against my sensitive flesh. Shivers zigzagged along my back.

I gasped.

He growled.

Could he hear my raging heartbeat?