Read Online Driven to Distraction (Silhouette Desire S.) by Sheri Whitefeather, Dixie Browning - Free Book Online Page B

considered quite good if you like realism—and lots of people do,” said Ann, who seemed surprisingly knowledgeable considering she’d skipped most of the day’s classes.
    Maggie was about to mention a certain calendar in her father’s office that reminded her of Perry’s work when Suzy held up a hand. “Save it, we’ve got incoming.”
    He came up behind Maggie’s chair. She didn’t have to look around. Couldn’t if she’d wanted to, not without brushing against him. Seated, her head was at belt level—or slightly lower.
    â€œHi,” drawled Suzy. “You know everybody here, don’t you, Ben? Ann, this is Ben—Ben, Ann. She came in late yesterday.”
    â€œWe’ve met, thanks.” Ben touched Maggie on the shoulder and she stopped breathing. “Got a minute? Something I’d like to talk over with you, if you’ll excuse us.”
    Ann said, “Sure.”
    Suzy smirked.
    Maggie was having trouble regulating her air intake, but she raked back her chair and followed him out onto the porch.
    Fool, fool, fool!

Five
    T here was still enough of an afterglow from the spectacular sunset to cast shadows. “This really is a beautiful place,” Maggie said brightly. She was nervous. Maggie was never nervous.
    â€œYeah, it’s kind of pretty. Green, at least. Big change from where I came from.” Ben sounded oddly distracted. He wasn’t looking at the scenery, he was looking at Maggie.
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œHmm? Oh—West Texas. Little town nobody ever heard of. It’s pretty much flat if you don’t count the anthills.”
    If anything could make her clumsier than she already was, it was feeling self-conscious, and the intent way he was staring at her made her wonder if the label at the back of her neck was sticking out. “I’m sure it’s lovely,” she murmured.
    What she was sure of was that Ben hadn’t brought her out here to talk about geography, his or hers. Why had he brought her outside? What could he possibly have to say to her that couldn’t be said in front of the others?
    â€œMaggie?” Was it her imagination, or did he sound as if he had a sore throat? He lifted his hands and dropped them.
    She stopped breathing.
    He lifted them again, and this time they made it all the way up to her face. Clasping her cheeks, he tilted her face up and lowered his own. Her eyes remained open until he went out of focus, and then all she was conscious of was the incredibly soft feel of his lips on hers.
    Soft, warm, moist, they moved over her mouth, back and forth—undemanding. He didn’t try to taste her, to involve her in anything more than a simple kiss.
    Never— ever —had anything so simple been so complex.
    He lifted his head and she wanted to pull him back, to lick his lips and then go from there—to follow this crazy thing that had blossomed inside her to wherever it might lead.
    He cleared his throat. His hands rested loosely on her shoulders and his eyes, those warm whiskey-brown eyes, looked dark as night under his half-lowered lids. She couldn’t have spoken if her life depended on it.
    â€œHow about you and me teaming up?” he rasped.
    She blinked in confusion. It was the last thing she expected to hear. “You mean—cooking?”
    He laughed, and it was as if someone had trailed a feather duster from the sole of her foot to the tip of her ear. “No, not cooking, although if you insist, we might give that a shot, too.”
    Omigod, he really was hitting on her. Teaming up. Was he talking switching roommates or…or something more permanent? “I’m not sure what kind of team you’re talking about,” she said cautiously, her head already reeling with possibilities. Would she or wouldn’t she?
    Well, of course she wouldn’t. Where could they go for privacy? Besides, even without Mary Rose’s example she