Read Online Broken Promises (The Brianna Lane Series) by Belinda Boring - Free Book Online Page B

skin as he spoke the words of the hero—my favorite scene unfolding. He must’ve skimmed ahead because he swiftly began choking, his face turning a startling shade of red. His wide-eyed expression was priceless.
    I gently retrieved the book from his hands, crouching to pick up the others. He stood still, his expression flooded with desire and it stirred something deep inside me.
    “Did you enjoy what you read? See anything you like?” I asked sweetly, giving what I hoped was a look of pure innocence. His Adam’s apple bobbed and I laughed, letting him off the hook. “Here’s a word of warning,” I whispered, moving in closer. “Never mess with a woman whose obsession is romance novels.”
    I rose on my tiptoes and bravely grazed my lips over his cheek. “You never stood a chance, but nice try.” I patted his chest, ignoring how hard his muscles felt. “It was nice to meet you.”
    I turned toward the cashiers, my heart beating fast as excitement washed over me. Even though it had started off embarrassing, it was worth the empowered feeling stirring within me. Walking away, I added a little sway to my hips.
    “You don’t think we’re finished here, do you?” His voice called out, putting a smile on my face as I twirled around.
    “Did you want to read more?” I replied, holding the book out.
    He crossed the distance between us and took hold of my elbow. His fingers felt hot through my long-sleeved sweater, but I didn’t move a muscle. I could smell his cologne, the minty gum he was chewing, and I was intrigued with what he had planned. Glancing down at his hand, he appeared bashful before he released me.
    “Well for starters, you can take my number and promise you’ll call me. I’d love to take you to dinner . . . talk more about books and such.” I looked at him confused. Although I hadn’t dated recently, it was pretty much a given that the guy asked for the woman’s number. “This way you don’t have to worry that some psycho stalker has your number. You call the shots,” he added.
    His considerate offer touched me, and I entered his number into my phone. I told him I’d call him later that night and we parted ways—me to the checkout stations and him behind a nearby shelf. Just when I thought our encounter was over, I heard him call my name again in a voice that carried over the store.
    “Here’s something for you to think about too. See those covers?” I nodded, unsure where he was heading.
    “If you play your cards right and treat me nice, I might let you see how I compare to those guys with my shirt off.” Quiet laughter broke out throughout the store and a blush hotter than before crossed my face. Adding his own swagger, Quinn laughed and winked. “Hope I hear from you soon, Brianna.” He disappeared behind the stack.
    The strength of the memory made what was happening even more tragic as it was just one of hundreds we’d shared together. We’d been dating for almost a year, loving each other completely, and now it was all slipping away—lost.
     
     
    My fist missed his jaw completely. The ring on my hand grazed his chin leaving a slight scrape that raised a few tiny beads of blood. I’d failed, and now I was going to die.
    Feeling myself fall deeper into darkness, I almost missed Quinn loosening his grip and him lowering me to the ground. The pressure on my throat lessened before disappearing completely—a signal I could breathe again.
    I pulled huge, greedy gulps of cold air into my lungs, sagging against the wall. My legs were like jelly, and my head spun as my vision slowly began clearing. I fought to regain control over my body, not understanding why he’d stopped. He’d gone quiet again and wore a look of complete devastation.
    Unsure what game he was playing, I held myself back from throwing myself into his arms—refusing to be fooled twice. My focus narrowed on his stare, my heart sinking with relief. His eyes were brown.
    “You did it. You fought it!” I crashed