Read Online Dirty Little Mistake (Dirty #2) by Amber Rides - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amber Rides
Ads: Link
so I can drive you back to your car.”
“Ridley, I was taking care of myself for a long time before you came along.”
Aha.
There it was. The source of her defensiveness. And it was something I understood. Self-sufficiency was a sore spot for me, too.
“ Brenna, I’m not calling you weak,” I said, making sure there wasn’t an ounce of condescension in my voice. “I have no doubt you’d kick some ass if you had to. Especially in those boots.”
A little smile played across her lips. “Thank you.”
I inhaled. The only sorer spot I had than my pride was the fear that someone I cared about would get hurt when I could’ve stopped it.
“ But if it’s in my power to stop you from having to kick ass, I’m going to do it. And I’m a stubborn jerk.”
“So there’s no point in arguing with you?”
“Exactly.”
Chapter Ten
Brenna
A funny little crease formed between Ridley’s eyebrows as we pulled into the parking lot at Serenity Hotel and Resort.
I wanted to slide across the bench seat to smooth it out with the tips of my fingers. But I was pretty sure it was an unwise idea to make the space between us any smaller than it already was.
It was bad when he’d unbraided my hair. I’d had to fight to keep from closing my eyes and moaning. It was even worse when I draped his jacket across my shoulders and filled my senses with his masculine scent. It was downright terrible when he’d stood up for me in the restaurant and I’d wanted to bury myself in the safe comfort of his arms.
If I moved to touch him…
Risa’s right, I realized. I do want him.
And there was no way in hell I could have him. And no way in hell I could let on that it was true.
Guilt, shame, and sickness made my guts churn.
I shifted a little closer to the door and stared out the window. It took me a moment to realize I was unconsciously resting my hand on my stomach, stroking a spot right below my belly button. Was I comforting myself? Or the unborn baby? I didn’t know.
“Confession time.”
Ridley’s voice cut through my thoughts, making my mouth go dry and making my hand jerk away from my abdomen.
“Confession time?” I repeated.
He grinned. “Hmm. Your squeaky voice tells me you may also have something to share. Which I promise to extract later using any means necessary. But you can relax. This confession’s all mine. My boss? He’s a pretentious ass and he’s not going to just let you in.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want me to —”
Ridley swung open his door before I could finish, slammed it , then ran around to my side of the truck. He reached in and I had no choice but to let him help me out.
“What I want, ” he said. “Is to sneak a hot cowgirl into my kitchen where I can bake her into a pie.”
He threaded his fingers through mine, and thirty seconds later, he was dragging me through the staff entrance to the hotel. Every time someone walked by, Ridley covered my mouth and pulled me out of sight.
On the third time, I peeled his fingers from my face and narrowed my eyes at him.
“ How, exactly, are you going to hide me once we’re in a kitchen full of people?”
He winked. “Just wait.”
He put his finger to his lips and guided me down one last hallway, past a lot of clanging and laughter, and stopped in front of a closed door.
“Go on in,” he prodded.
“It’s awfully quiet in there. Is this where you’re gonna off me?” I joked.
“Off you and then bake you into a pie,” he reminded me.
He unlocked the door and flipped on the lights.
It was a miniature commercial kitchen.
“Oh my God, Ridley. Is this like the Russian nesting dolls of kitchens? Once we get inside, are you going to lead me to another, smaller, door? And then that door will go to an even smaller door?”
Ridley chuckled. “Cute. But no. That boss of mine isn’t just a jackass. He’s a zealously protective jackass. This kitchen is the
“Ridley, I was taking care of myself for a long time before you came along.”
Aha.
There it was. The source of her defensiveness. And it was something I understood. Self-sufficiency was a sore spot for me, too.
“ Brenna, I’m not calling you weak,” I said, making sure there wasn’t an ounce of condescension in my voice. “I have no doubt you’d kick some ass if you had to. Especially in those boots.”
A little smile played across her lips. “Thank you.”
I inhaled. The only sorer spot I had than my pride was the fear that someone I cared about would get hurt when I could’ve stopped it.
“ But if it’s in my power to stop you from having to kick ass, I’m going to do it. And I’m a stubborn jerk.”
“So there’s no point in arguing with you?”
“Exactly.”
Chapter Ten
Brenna
A funny little crease formed between Ridley’s eyebrows as we pulled into the parking lot at Serenity Hotel and Resort.
I wanted to slide across the bench seat to smooth it out with the tips of my fingers. But I was pretty sure it was an unwise idea to make the space between us any smaller than it already was.
It was bad when he’d unbraided my hair. I’d had to fight to keep from closing my eyes and moaning. It was even worse when I draped his jacket across my shoulders and filled my senses with his masculine scent. It was downright terrible when he’d stood up for me in the restaurant and I’d wanted to bury myself in the safe comfort of his arms.
If I moved to touch him…
Risa’s right, I realized. I do want him.
And there was no way in hell I could have him. And no way in hell I could let on that it was true.
Guilt, shame, and sickness made my guts churn.
I shifted a little closer to the door and stared out the window. It took me a moment to realize I was unconsciously resting my hand on my stomach, stroking a spot right below my belly button. Was I comforting myself? Or the unborn baby? I didn’t know.
“Confession time.”
Ridley’s voice cut through my thoughts, making my mouth go dry and making my hand jerk away from my abdomen.
“Confession time?” I repeated.
He grinned. “Hmm. Your squeaky voice tells me you may also have something to share. Which I promise to extract later using any means necessary. But you can relax. This confession’s all mine. My boss? He’s a pretentious ass and he’s not going to just let you in.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want me to —”
Ridley swung open his door before I could finish, slammed it , then ran around to my side of the truck. He reached in and I had no choice but to let him help me out.
“What I want, ” he said. “Is to sneak a hot cowgirl into my kitchen where I can bake her into a pie.”
He threaded his fingers through mine, and thirty seconds later, he was dragging me through the staff entrance to the hotel. Every time someone walked by, Ridley covered my mouth and pulled me out of sight.
On the third time, I peeled his fingers from my face and narrowed my eyes at him.
“ How, exactly, are you going to hide me once we’re in a kitchen full of people?”
He winked. “Just wait.”
He put his finger to his lips and guided me down one last hallway, past a lot of clanging and laughter, and stopped in front of a closed door.
“Go on in,” he prodded.
“It’s awfully quiet in there. Is this where you’re gonna off me?” I joked.
“Off you and then bake you into a pie,” he reminded me.
He unlocked the door and flipped on the lights.
It was a miniature commercial kitchen.
“Oh my God, Ridley. Is this like the Russian nesting dolls of kitchens? Once we get inside, are you going to lead me to another, smaller, door? And then that door will go to an even smaller door?”
Ridley chuckled. “Cute. But no. That boss of mine isn’t just a jackass. He’s a zealously protective jackass. This kitchen is the
Similar Books
