Read Online Fan The Flames (Man Of The Month Book 3) by Michele Dunaway - Free Book Online Page A

it.”
    “Good.” Satisfaction filled him. For two years he’d built it with her in mind. Then his brow creased. When put like that, he worried he was obsessive. More stalker than wooer. He stepped toward the back door, needing space. It was one thing to imagine things from afar, to fantasize and dream. To make believe. It was quite another thing to see those plans coming to fruition, to have the reality come true. She was here, and they had a date. What if said reality failed to meet expectations? What if all these feelings were just figments in his mind? A delusion? What then? The large kitchen seemed claustrophobic. “I should go. Dishes are done and it’s late. Call or text me if you need anything.”
    “I don’t want to bother you.” Her smile wavered as he took another step back. Had he sounded cold? Aloof? He hadn’t intended that. Several women had called him an unfeeling bastard, and he knew they were right. He jerked a hand through his hair. He feared he’d hurt Scarlett before they’d even had a chance to really get to know each other, before he had his chance.
    “You could never be a bother. Seriously, call me anytime. If I don’t answer, it means I’m on a fire call and I’ll get back to you right away,” he said.
    She appeared more reassured. “Okay.”
    “Promise me.”
    She smiled then. “Okay. Promise.”
    He let out a whoosh of pent-up breath. “Perfect. You can depend on me. I’m here for you. I want to be here for you.”
    “Thanks. That means a lot.”
    Although deep down Brad knew he wasn’t a knight in any type of shining armor. He moved back into her space then and planted a kiss on her forehead. Her skin was soft and smelled of soap. “Sleep well.” He drew away, grabbed his coat and didn’t look back.
    “Oh, Brad,” she called when he was halfway out the door. A blast of air swirled in.
    “Just so you know, I’m going to find that calendar.” She smirked at him, and something inside him bloomed.
    “Not if you know what’s good for you,” he teased back.
    “How do you know it wouldn’t be?”
    And therein lay the trouble. “Good night, Scarlett.”
    “You too,” Scarlett called, clearly pleased she’d won that round of … could it have been flirtation? Or just fun between platonic friends?
    Brad closed the door behind him, lifted the parka collar to keep out the wind and made his way across the small backyard to his studio. He unlocked his door, went upstairs, turned on a lamp, saw the letters he’d removed from the envelope in his locker now sitting on the table.
    They would have fun, he determined. Because Todd wanted it that way, and Brad owed it to Todd. He also owed it to himself. Finally, once and for all, he needed to either see if his love for her was real, or if it was just something he’d built up in his head. He prayed for the former and feared the latter. Only time would tell.

Chapter Four
    Scarlett bought a new dress. Not that there was anything wrong with her two other gowns. But when she’d taken them out of the storage box and lifted the clear, protective dry-cleaning plastic, her eyes had begun to water. She’d sniffled. Then she’d simply let herself have a short cry, until Colleen had come into the third bedroom and asked, “What’s wrong?”
    Scarlett had wiped away the tears and lied that she’d gotten dust in her eye. Then she’d pulled out the dresses and told Colleen about each of the events she’d attended with Todd. She told her about the delicious food. The dancing. How handsome her daddy had looked in his fancy uniform. She’d even let Colleen step into her glittery sequined heels and trot around, laughing as her daughter clacked on the hardwood floors, her pink painted toes peeking through the hole. Her daughter’s antics always cheered her up, and soon Scarlett stowed the dresses safely back in their plastic wrapping, hung them in the closet and closed the door.
    She gave herself one last look in the mirror. Her mom