Read Online Brush of Shade by Jan Harman - Free Book Online Page B

guy who happened to be an excellent
kisser, I thought, melting into the seat.
    Kisses trailed
down my neck while his fingers slid fabric off my shoulder. I pressed my hands
against his chest. “It’s getting late and this is new for my aunt.” And for me.
    “It’s early. You
don’t really want me to stop.” Twin beams of light shone into the car. Trent’s
head jerked up. “Ass.” He flipped Shade off, and then
lowered his head for another kiss.
    Headlights
flicked to high beams.
    Trent punched
the headrest. “Just who does he think he is?”
    “Let it go.”
    “Tomorrow, after
the game, there’s a celebration party at my place,” he said by way of asking me
on a second date. “I’ll pick you up at the gym’s street entrance.”
    The moment he
opened my door, I tried to slip past, anxious to be out of the middle of
whatever drove him to aggravate Shade. Trent caught me about the waist and
maneuvered me against the car, cradling my neck, drawing me in tight for a last
kiss.
    “That’ll give
him something to think about,” he announced after several last kisses.
    I pushed his
hands down. “Is that what this was all about, Shade’s response?”
    “Just telling him to stay away.”
    “And me?”
    “I think I’ve
shown you how close we’re going to be,” he answered very low in my ear.
    “Your ego is
working overtime.”
    “I’ve got to
stake my claim before someone else does.”
    “I’m not a gold
mine,” I said, my tone as hard as the stone that came out of the ground.
     “Now don’t
get testy. This is just a thing guys do.”
    “Until you can
prove yourself, this mine is closed. I’ll let you know tomorrow about the
party,” I said, determined not to feed his ego. When he opened his mouth to try
another line, I lied. “My aunt is at the window. I’ve got to go.”
    I waited outside
until both vehicles had backed out of the drive. Lights were still on in the
living room. I groaned. Facing Aunt Claire while my cheeks were flushed would
raise more parenting conversations and quite possibly new rules. Dry leaves
crunched as I paced along the edge of the drive, making sure to stay in the
shadows.
    “Before you go
in, you might want to do something with your hair,” a voice said unexpectedly
at my side.
    I whirled on
Shade with a hand pressed to my chest. “Are you trying to give me a heart
attack? It would serve you right if my aunt came charging out here with her
shotgun.”
    “Your aunt has a
shotgun?” he asked, sounding amused by the concept.
    “What are you
doing here?”
    “A tone like
that after what I did for you? How ungrateful.”
    “Sneak up on me
again, and you’ll get more than tone.”
    “I’m intrigued.
Shall I call your bluff?”
    I got the
impression that beneath his light teasing that he was hurt. Did he honestly
come here expecting to be thanked for stepping in? It had all been harmless
fun. Sure, delude yourself, I told myself. Not one moment of hyperventilating
and paralyzing fear had been fun. I set the crutch in a chipmunk hole. Strong
hands caught me about my waist and pulled me tight against his side. A tingling
sensation danced up my arms. Tension drained from my body as though he gave off
a soothing vibe. Maybe I should cut out the chick flicks.
    “Perhaps we
could continue our conversation from the safety of your porch and its comfy
swing. Not that I’m complaining. I’m happy to be of service as your handy post
or whatever else you might require,” he said in his deep drawl straight out of
a classic western film.
    Had I honestly
just thought that? He was angling us towards the porch. Bad
idea. The anonymity of the shadows was safer.
    Without missing
a beat, he turned just as abruptly as I, matching his long strides to my
awkward gait as we headed back up the drive. I had this insane image of us
snuggling close together. My crutch left behind on the porch, an unnecessary
support when I had his strong arms to make me feel feather light. Now whose