Read Online A Little White Lie by MacKenzie McKade - Free Book Online

bottom lip. Her fingers closed around the passenger handle and she opened the vehicle door, light flooding the cab. “Nothing. Forget about it.” She climbed inside and closed the door.
    Now that was strange. He opened his door and slid behind the wheel. “What’s up?”
    “It’s just—” She dragged in a heavy breath. “I mean— I’ve had a great time.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
    He shut the door, throwing them into darkness once again. With a turn of the key the truck engine roared to life. “Me too.”
    Anxiety skittered across his skin. Was she attempting to say goodbye?
    The trip back to the hotel was void of conversation. The wall she erected between them disturbed JD. He knew they had found something special. Did she feel it too?
    Fool , he thought. What the hell was he thinking losing his heart to a city girl anyway? Of course this type of life wasn’t her thing. She had even spelled out their differences.
    As he maneuvered the truck into a parking spot in front of the hotel, melancholy rose to the surface. He tried to shake off the disquiet, but it refused to release him.
    His hand trembled reaching for the ignition key. He switched off the truck and the engine fell silent. “Would you like me to walk you to your room?”
    Leaning over the console, she gave him a chaste kiss. “No. I’ll be fine.” For a moment she stared at him. Then she smoothed her hand over his cheek.
    JD’s heart raced. He wasn’t aware of his actions until he had her in his arms, his lips pressed to hers. She whimpered. The cry tightened his chest.
    “Stay with me.” He muttered the plea against her mouth.
    She closed her eyes. “I can’t.”
    The voice of reason pushed past his building emotions. She was right. Regretfully he released her. In less than a heartbeat, she was out of the truck and for all he knew out of his life.

Chapter Six
     
    Stella turned over in bed for the umpteenth time. Frustrated and tired, she doubled up her fist and punched the pillow next to her.
    “What’s wrong with me?” But she knew the answer. Her bed was empty. Why hadn’t she just let JD spend the night? “Because you let your guard down and got too close.” She rolled her eyes. “Great. Now I’m talking to myself.” She turned over once again, almost falling out of the bed with the sudden pounding on her hotel door. “Who the hell could that be?”
    As her feet touched the carpet, she scanned the room for her bathrobe, but it was nowhere to be found. Her hesitation caused the thumping to grow louder.
    “Hold on.” Another look around the room and she gave up. Whoever it was would get a good look at her body through her almost transparent negligee, and right now she didn’t give a flying fuck. She was exhausted, cranky and it was only Sunday.
    As she peered through the peephole her breath caught. JD was standing in the hallway, and by the scowl on his face he wasn’t happy.
    “Crap.” She looked away. He must have spoken to his grandfather.
    “I know you’re there, Stella. Open up.”
    Glancing back at the clock, she saw that it was only seven o’clock in the morning. If he kept this up, he’d wake everyone up. Her hands shook, fingers fumbling with the lock.
    When she pulled the door open, he pushed inside and jerked her into his arms. The brim of his Stetson creased her forehead. She didn’t have time to even take a breath before his mouth captured hers. Every bone in her body went limp when his tongue pushed past her lips. His kiss was demanding and possessive. The caress ended as roughly as it had begun, leaving her stunned.
    “Get dressed.” He didn’t offer a request, but an order.
    “But—”
    “We need to talk…” he paused spearing his fingers through his hair, “…about this thing between us.”
    Excitement and trepidation surged through her veins. She studied his face noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes. Evidently he hadn’t slept any better than she had last night.
    Stella