General Joe (Magnolia Ridge #2) - Alexa Riley Page 0,3

back home. Now that he’s here, I’ve spent the last two days hiding from him. Never in all the time that I sent things to Joe did I think I’d be running from him. I’m acting like a coward.

Before now it was all a fantasy and I could live in an imaginary world. One in which I’d made myself believe Joe had this long-lost love for me, that he held out on love for me. I imagined one day he’d come home and confess it all, but now it all could come to an end and I’m not ready. I’d rather live in my made-up world than face the reality that Joe isn't mine.

Life has been full of too many heartaches and I’m not sure I can face another. Living in the world of make believe is so much easier. In that space no one died or left me. I know I’m fighting the inevitable and I can’t avoid Joe forever. Unless I can hide until he leaves for another deployment.

I can’t let my heart think that he’s out of the Marines and finally coming home. The possibility of seeing him every day, even if he isn't mine, is too much. Although I wouldn't have this constant worry that he could get hurt and we’d get a call that something bad happened to him.

If anything, this should send me running to him because you never know when it might be the last time you see someone. I don’t know if I can risk falling more in love with him. The hurt could ruin me.

“Bunny.” I jerk my arm from my eyes at the name Joe gave me so long ago because he said I could never sit still. My eyes meet two cool blue ones and he furrows his brows. “Are you done running?”

How did he walk over here and hover over me without me feeling him? Joe isn't a small man, so I should’ve heard him coming.

“I don’t think I can move,” I manage to whisper.

He leans down closer and places his arms on either side of me, pinning me below him.

“You want to tell me why you were in jail?”

Is that really his first question?

“I didn’t do anything. It’s not my fault things are cheaply made and just break.” I clamp my mouth shut knowing I’ve already said too much. Barbie told me to stay quiet.

“Let me guess. This has something to do with Missy?”

I glare at him. How the hell did he know that? Did she tell him? Probably. I’m sure she’s been all over him since he got back to town.

“Oh, so you remember Missy. Did you stop at her place and get one of her fake donuts?” Again, I shut my mouth before I say more. I can’t ever seem to keep my thoughts to myself. If it wasn't for Barbie I would have been busted at the police station. She kept my mouth sealed with a few elbows to my ribs.

“Fake donuts?” he asks, and I open my mouth to tell him all about it, but close it nice and tight.

Those fake donuts were wonderful but they were not made by Missy. They are a lie because Missy doesn't bake shit. I’ve hated her since she went on a date with Joe back in high school. Now she’s poking at my best friend Barbie’s romance book store downtown. Missy’s gone too far this time, so she’s fair game.

I stare up at him, deciding now that he’s caught me, I’m not going to back down. I glare harder but it doesn't do anything. He shifts over me, stretches out, and my whole body lights up and it finally dawns on me how we’re lying. He’s on top of me and that has to be his cock digging into my hip. I feel something that is really big and hot and I assume that’s how a cock feels when it’s pressed into you. These are things I can only speculate on since I have exactly zero experience.

“Are you hard?” I blurt out. Why can’t I keep my mouth shut? Get it together, Kayla.

I should have known he’d find me. I’m lying under the gazebo that’s all lit up at night. Maybe in my subconscious I was trying to be found. I’ve practically got a spotlight on me. That also means anyone who walks by can see us.

“Bunny, I’m on top of you. Of course I’m hard.”

“So just being on top of a woman gets you all