Read Online Dangerous by Suzannah Daniels - Free Book Online Page B

to my touch. She was sweet, gentle, and passionate, but she was also trusting and naïve. Other than her relationship with Chance, I didn’t think she had much experience with guys. And while I hadn’t questioned her about Chance, I knew enough to know that I was nothing like him, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing for her.
    It was almost closing time, and sales had been good today. I should have been relieved, but my thoughts were never far from Dara. And that was my problem, one that would have to be rectified.
    I locked the store and was just about to put on my helmet when I saw it—a white piece of paper rolled up and tucked between the handlebar and the clutch.
    I snatched it up and unrolled it, bringing the typed letters into view. Stay away from Dara.
    I had actually planned on staying away from her, but that was when it was on my terms. I’d be damned if Chance Murray was going to keep me away from her. Coward. If he wanted to deliver a message, he should’ve said it to my face.
    I crammed the note into the front pocket of my jeans and pushed the helmet on my head. I stood still a moment, gulping in the humid, late-afternoon air, trying desperately to abate the anger that was rapidly seething through my veins. Things never went well when I lost my temper. I breathed deeply, willing myself to calm down. Right now, I needed to go home and take a hot shower, allowing some of my fury to roll off my back along with the water. I needed to keep my cool and think. The only way I was going to be successful was if I was alone.
    As my bike hummed along the road, I wondered why Chance would be so brazen as to order me to stay away from her. She wasn’t his property. They were no longer together, and that made her fair game for the taking. Why did it even matter? Hadn’t I been telling myself that I needed to let it end, to let the one memorable afternoon we had together be the extent of our relationship? I didn’t want to get serious with a girl like Dara. Chance would be doing me a favor if he got back together with her.
    When I thought about it rationally, I agreed with him. So why had I just decided to go find her?

    Dara

    I could feel Chance looking at me as I stared at my hands in my lap.
    “Well, tell us,” Chance prodded.
    “Oh, it’s nothing,” I said, waving my hand in the air, as if that would make the whole conversation go away. I had no intention of rubbing my kiss with Stone in Chance’s face.
    “No, I want to hear what’s been going on with my best girl,” he continued.
    The awkwardness was so thick I thought I was going to choke. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, Stone walked up to our booth.
    Crimson’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head and skitter across the table. A nervous giggle escaped my lips, and Scarlet proved her intelligence by being the only female at the table who had enough wits about her to actually speak. “Hello, Stone.”
    He gave her a charming smile and nodded in greeting. “Ladies, you all look lovely tonight. Especially you, Dara.”
    My eyes flew to his, and he had me pinned to the booth seat with his smoldering gaze. I glanced at Chance. His lips were drawn into a tight, thin line, making it obvious that he was unhappy with the current circumstances.
    I cleared my throat. “Thank you.” It came out little more than a whisper.
    Chance had been my only serious boyfriend, and I had no experience to draw on that might assist me in handling this situation tactfully.
    Luckily, Scarlet came to my rescue once again.
    “Chance, would you do me a favor and order me a strawberry shake at the counter? I haven’t seen our server in a while, and I’m going to turn into a beast if I don’t get my strawberry fix soon.” She handed him a five-dollar bill.
    He looked at her outstretched hand and reluctantly took it. His eyes found mine and lingered a moment before he shot a frown in Stone’s direction and excused himself.
    Stone