Read Online Chased by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders): Trish Ryder by Melissa Foster - Free Book Online Page A

lying. You aren’t afraid of anything.”
     Her lips curved up with a gratified smile. “Oh, I have fears. I told you singing isn’t one of them, but I didn’t expect the guy to think that .”
    “He’s a guy. He wasn’t thinking . A savvy woman with five brothers should know that.” They both laughed with the tease.
    “I could have handled myself, you know.”
    “Yeah, I’m sure you could have.”
    She ran her fingertips up the back of his neck, her eyes alit with mischief. “There’s a rule in acting you might not be aware of. Never, ever fall for your co-star.”
    “Considering I’ve never fallen for a woman in my life, I think we’re in the clear.” When the song ended, he splayed his hand on her back, holding her tighter.
    “Stay,” he whispered.
    A curious look washed over her face.
    Another singer took the stage and began singing Blake Shelton’s “Sangria.”
    Trish gazed into his eyes, singing the lyrics as if she meant every word just for him. She was an incredible actress, and though he couldn’t tell if she was acting or not, he ate up every word out of her luscious mouth. Gone was her snarky facade and tough-girl demeanor, replaced with a soft, sexy woman who moved like the music was coming from somewhere deep inside her, which was exactly where he wanted to be.

Chapter Six
    MAYBE THREE BEERS on an empty stomach wasn’t such a good idea after all . Sometime during Trish’s last four dances with Boone she’d gone from clearheaded to pleasantly buzzed. It felt wonderful to be out from under the weight of her thoughts, but she wasn’t used to feeling so uninhibited. Seeing Boone guide that skanky waitress away to talk privately had bugged the heck out of her. And then he’d tried to tell her how much she could drink, like she’d needed a babysitter. She was pissed when he’d come between her and the guy she’d asked to dance, but something in Boone’s eyes told her that he was telling the truth about what he’d overheard.  Trish wasn’t proud of how she’d acted, or that seeing him demand an apology from that other guy had totally turned her on. Knowing he cared enough to stand up for her regardless of how she’d acted endeared him to her, just as every minute they danced together was doing.
    He came across as a hard-ass with walls so thick no one could penetrate them. That probably sent most people—other than groupies—running for the hills, but it made her want to get inside those walls and see what made him tick.
    He held her tight as they danced, even to the fast songs. Every inch of his deliciously hard body pressed against her from thigh to shoulder. His arms enveloped her in a way that felt possessive and intimate, confusing and exciting her at once. She felt safe with him, which was a strange feeling, given that he was about as warm and open as a rock. But there was no denying that right this second, nestled in his arms, with her cheek resting against the sure and steady beat of his heart, she felt safe. She felt special. And, she realized with a little shock, she really liked Boone. He intrigued her, and he was willing to put time into rehearsing and had even made her put more time in than she’d intended. And when he was with the kitten—gosh, that sight gave her the highest high.
    His hand slid beneath her hair, sending shivers of heat down her spine. His thumb brushed the nape of her neck to the rhythm of the music.
    You dance like you speak, a little gruff and controlling, with an alluring challenge of seduction . Okay, that last part might be from the alcohol .
    The song ended, and someone called her name through the microphone.
    “Come on, beautiful. We’re up.” With an arm around her waist, he guided her up to the stage.
    “ Beautiful? ” It took her fuzzy brain a second to remember she’d promised to sing karaoke.
    Boone ignored her question and handed her a mic. “Focus. You’ve got about ten seconds before you need to wow the crowd.”
    She looked