Read Online Craze by Anne Conley - Free Book Online

protect her, keep her safe.
    The drive did its usual job. As the cityscape gave way to hills and scrub brush, the stress and anxiety of the day gave way to the peace his home landscape always instilled in him. His nerves quieted down and he rested his hand on Krista’s hip while she slept, giving in to the desire to touch her.
    It had been a mistake to handcuff her to the lever under his seat earlier. Ryan should have cuffed her to her own. He’d nearly come undone at her hot breath down there. If she’d been the least bit relaxed, she would have had to rest her body on his lap, but thankfully she hadn’t been. Instead, she’d been stiff and unyielding, unlike now. Now, with her head and hand resting contentedly on his thigh, he had to adjust the tightness in his jeans. Thank goodness she hadn’t noticed it before.
    The adrenaline had worn off and as soon as they left the store, she’d crashed. He didn’t want to wake her, but at the same time, he knew he needed to. She needed to be aware of her surroundings, and he needed to get some food inside her belly. At least he seemed to have gained some of her trust. He was aware he didn’t know what sort of trouble she was in, and she didn’t seem to understand his role in it. But his first priority was her comfort.
    He pulled his truck into his driveway and shook her gently, a little nervous about her reaction. He hadn’t brought a woman home since high school, before he’d enlisted in the Coast Guard. This was a real lady, not some horny teenager, and he was well aware that his home didn’t offer the creature comforts most women were used to—certainly not women like Krista.
    “Sugar, we’re here.” She jerked awake and bolted upright, even though he’d tried to keep his voice soft.
    Eyes wide, she stared out the window, and he tried to see what she saw—an old log cabin with a tin roof, the weathered structure looked either quaint or ramshackle. He tried to decide which she was leaning toward when she asked, “Why do you live here?” Her neck was twisting around, trying to take in her surroundings, looking at the Pin Oaks mixed with Mesquite trees.
    He shrugged, not knowing how to answer her, disappointment filling him. She didn’t sound impressed. To be fair, she didn’t sound much of anything. His grandpa had built the cabin, and after his parents took off, Ryan had moved in with him and had lived here ever since, except for his Coast Guard stint. “It’s home.”
    Two mixed-breed dogs ran out from under the porch to greet them and Krista opened her door, bending down to pet them, cooing softly. He ignored the feeling watching her with his dogs gave him. She liked the dogs and seemed at home with them. He liked that. He had to remind himself this was Classy Lady and she deserved more than he had to offer. She deserved a man who could commit, and he had a job to do.
    They walked in, Ryan carrying her sacks, pooches following. He looked at the utilitarian kitchen, the living room with worn but comfortable furniture, the wall of windows facing the back yard and more woods, and the back porch, trying to see it through her eyes.
    She turned to him, eyes wide. “You live here?” He still didn’t know what she thought of it, besides disbelief.
    Nonetheless, he couldn’t stop the pride tingeing his words as he spoke, “Yup. It was my grandpa’s place, but it’s mine now. I fixed it up a bunch and I live here.” He took her sacks to the bedroom and she followed in a daze. “Come on, let me show you around.” Setting her bags on the bed, he turned to her as she stood in the door. “You can stay in here, there’s more privacy. And the head,” he pointed toward the bathroom at her blank stare. “Go ahead and get settled, get clean if you want. I’ll make something to eat. I’ll get you some brandy. It’ll help.” She came inside the room slowly, brushing past him, and he had to ignore the hairs standing on end at her touch. “Unless you’d rather