Read Online After the Moon Rises by Karilyn Bentley - Free Book Online

raised a hand and went back to seasoning meat.
    Margie showed herself to the door, while Vonda picked up the used tea cups and placed them in the dishwasher.
    “What did you do today, Elizabeth?” Tom asked.
    Elizabeth leaned on the counter, watching Tom work.
    “Vonda took me to her place to grab some clothes because she said she’s crashing here for awhile. Then we went to eat at the deli. Margie was here when we got back and she talked to us for the rest of the afternoon. What did you do?”
    Vonda listened to them talk as she set the table. It was not her imagination Tom ignored her. On another day that would bother her, but today she didn’t mind. Margie had explained some things, some very interesting things, when Elizabeth offered to play the piano for them. Once she heard what Margie had to say about the matter, she could hardly wait to see if the alpha was correct.
    And to do that, she needed to convince Tom to sleep with her before the sun went down.
    Time was running out and she still hadn’t discovered how to get Elizabeth to leave them alone. But she’d think of something. She needed Tom and if Margie was correct, he needed her as his lover more than he knew. And as the moon would rise in a couple of hours, she didn’t have long to convince him of it.
    Good thing she liked challenges.

Chapter 8
    “Elizabeth, why don’t you go practice the piano? Vonda and I have some things to discuss and we don’t need an interruption, okay?” Tom looked at Elizabeth as they cleaned up the kitchen after dinner.
    “But I practiced this afternoon for Margie.”
    “Is there something you could do in your room?”
    “So like, you’re kicking me out of the first floor?”
    “Pretty much.”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “Adults. You guys are just weird. Fine, I’ll go read a book, okay?”
    Tom patted her back. “Thanks honey.”
    “And I’m going now. You can finish up the kitchen.”
    “Hey...”
    “You asked for that one,” Vonda said as Elizabeth huffed up the stairs. “Not like I’m complaining. You just solved my big dilemma of the day.”
    She leaned against the counter, hand outstretched for a plate to put in the dishwasher.
    “Glad to be of service.” He handed her a plate to put in the rack. “Now if I could just solve one of mine. Something’s been eating my herd each month. Only one or two head, but...”
    Vonda looked at the ceiling. That corner might need a broom. Looked like a cobweb hung there. She glanced back at Tom. That white-knuckled grip he had on the dishrag was bound to hurt.
    “You? You’ve been eating my herd?”
    Busted.
    She shrugged. “They were there.”
    “So are deer. And they need thinning.”
    “But they aren’t steak tartare. I love steak tartare.”
    “That herd’s my living!” He threw the dishrag into the sink.
    “It was only one.”
    “Yeah, one a month.”
    Vonda looked at his feet. Being busted was so not her idea of fun. “I didn’t mean to take all of them from you. I’m new to the area and wanted to eat. I thought it was from different ranchers.”
    Tom sighed and picked up the dishrag, which he shook at her, wet sprinkles emphasizing his words. “Promise me you won’t do it again.”
    “Okay, I’ll try. But I can’t a hundred percent promise. You have no idea how good they taste off the bone.”
    “Try. Please. Go eat deer. I’ll buy you steak tartare in a nice restaurant. Please.” His green eyes beseeched her.
    Who could resist those peepers? “I’ll try really hard.”
    ****
    Tom stared at Vonda. Unbelievable. She caused the thinning of his herd. Even so, even though he should still be pissed at her, he found her attractive. Her amber eyes gleamed with mischief and desire. Despite his failure last night, she wanted him. And he wanted her. More than he wanted his herd to live, he wanted this woman. What was it about Vonda that turned him on, that made him forget his anger?
    “It’s my sexy good looks.” She smiled at him, wiggling