Read Online Bonds Of The Heart by Maryann Morris - Free Book Online

her and start on that manuscript. She was so caught in her own thoughts, it took her a bit to realize they weren’t heading to her house.
                  “Where are we going? This isn’t the way to my house.”
                  “We’re going to mine.”
                  “Why?”
                  “So I can change before we go out to dinner.” She snapped her head around so fast Blake was surprised it didn’t fly off and hit him square between the eyes.
                  “I told you I was busy.”
                  “Yeah, you said.” He pulled into the driveway. “I’ll be right back.”
                  Blake took the keys from the ignition as he exited the truck. For the second time that day, he left her annoyed and unable to fight back. Well , Erika thought, when he gets back he’ll get what’s coming to him . She folded her arms across her chest in a huff and turned away from the house. She didn’t notice the dog tags hanging from the rearview mirror.
                  She smelled like vanilla, Blake thought as he changed out of his work jeans for a clean pair. Dragging a clean shirt over his head, he laughed at the anger in her eyes as he left her sitting in the truck. He’d wanted a taste of her since that first day he helped her with her Jeep in the rain, yet he still couldn’t figure out why. Just a taste, one kiss. If things went as planned he’d have that taste and then be satisfied, and let it—and Erika—go. He had wondered what she tasted like, if she tasted like the vanilla perfume she wore—sweet and soft. Or perhaps she was all spice to match her stubborn personality.             
                  When Blake finally returned to the truck, Erika made no movement to acknowledge him. She’d be silent the entire night. If Blake wanted her company, he’d get it on her terms.
                  “Do you want to change before we go?”
                  Narrowing her eyes at her reflection in the glass, she didn’t want to answer him. “No.”
                  “Suit yourself.” He shrugged and placed the key in the ignition.
                  Rolling her eyes, she turned to him. “Where are you taking me?”
                  “Out to dinner.”
                  He had changed into clean jeans, boots, and an oxford dress shirt that didn’t fit the small town. She sat in the dirty truck in barely-there shorts, a too snug t-shirt, and an old hoodie. “And you won’t tell me where?”
                  “You like Italian?”
                  Erika didn’t want to admit to him that she loved Italian because her father would take her and her mom out every Sunday for large helpings of spaghetti and meatballs since she was a little girl. It was part of her plan to surprise her dad when he returned. But he never did . “It’s okay.”
                  “Good. You still don’t want to change?” He gave her another chance, though he’d enjoy seeing her sashay around anywhere in those shorts.
                  “I guess I have no choice, do I?”
                  Blake leaned in so that they were inches apart. “You always have a choice, Erika.”
                  The closeness didn’t scare her. The intense look in Blake’s eyes didn’t frighten her. Not even the way her name sounded on his lips. What terrified her were the feelings they stirred inside of her. The breath she didn’t know she was holding released slowly without a sound. She tried to get her heart to slow. She struggled to find words. Her mouth was too dry. With just a few words, he had managed to get under her skin. There was no way she could let him stay there.
                  By the time they reached her house, she had managed to regain some of her senses. Blake