Read Online Flowers and Fangs (Stake and Dust series, Book II) by Karen Michelle Nutt - Free Book Online Page B

doctor's gaze. Guilt rolled
over her and did a good job of slapping her back to reality. She
just kissed this woman's boyfriend. "I'm sorry. I didn't—"
    Mary waved her off and grinned like she'd
just witnessed a miracle. Shouldn't the good doctor want to punch
her in the nose for taking liberties with Derek?
    "Don't be sorry," Mary said. "It looked like
Derek was rather enjoying himself."
    Her gaze riveted to Derek to say something,
but he stood there with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his
jeans as if keeping them there would force him to behave.
    "I just wanted to give you the number to my
backline," Mary said and handed her a slip of paper. "You can call
any time to see how Lad is doing."
    "Thanks." She stuffed the paper into her
jacket pocket and hurried to the car. She slipped inside, shutting
the door behind her. "Can you say: Awkward?" She closed her eyes
and hit her head against the headrest.
    A few seconds later, Derek opened the door to
the driver's side. Once he was buckled in, he turned to look at
her. "Are you okay?"
    "I'm sorry." She tucked her hair behind her
ear. "I didn't mean to cause any problems between you and your
girlfriend."
    "My girlfriend?" Then he chuckled with a
shake of his head. "Mary isn't my girlfriend. She's my cousin."
    "Oh." That tiny bit of knowledge cheered her.
She glanced at his profile and her lips curved before she thought
about what that meant. She kissed him, full on kissed him with
teeth and tongue and she didn't understand why she did. Heck,
technically she still had a boyfriend. For God's sake what did
Derek think of her?
    "Was the kiss that bad?" Amusement danced in
his voice.
    "What?" She met his gaze in confusion.
    He gestured toward her. "You're
frowning."
    She made a conscious effort to smooth her
features. "It's not you. It's just…I don't kiss."
    "Really?" His mouth twitched.
    "I mean I don't go around just kissing
anyone."
    "Good to know, but we've kissed before,
darlin'. I remember." He winked.
    "I mean…I care about Tim," she said more for
her benefit and it didn't sound too convincing.
    He studied her for a long moment. "Are you in
love with him?" There was no teasing now. He really wanted to
know.
    She cared about Tim. Was that love? Until all
this happened, she thought it was a possibility. "Maybe, I could
have been," she said with little conviction.
    He nodded. "I get it, you know. You had a
history with Tim. Sometimes the line between being comfortable and
being in love can become blurred."
    "Yeah." She let out a long sigh. "I wanted it
to work between us. I truly did."
    "You don't have to feel guilty that it
didn't. I admire you."
    "You do?"
    "You took a chance and some of us never gain
the courage to even try."
    He put the key in the ignition and started
the car before he glanced at her again. "Just in case you're
wondering if I have a girlfriend..." His lips curved and for a
moment she thought of the kiss they'd shared. "…I don't," he
finished.
    Her heart stuttered then restarted again. She
didn't know what to say so she didn't say anything. She settled
back in her seat and looked straight ahead as the car sped forward.
She tried not to let his words affect her, but darn it anyway, they
did. Derek didn't have a girlfriend. Despite all that had happened,
she smiled.

Chapter Ten
    He kissed Sloane McBride, and dammit if he
didn't like it way too much. Even more than he had liked
kissing her behind the bleachers in their school auditorium.
However, he would have to put the breaks on the smooching. She was
vulnerable right now and he didn't get involved with chicks on the
rebound. And let's not forget: She might sport fangs in the near
future. Kinda put a damper on the whole relationship
scenario.
    If he believed that load of crap, why did he
tell her he didn't have a girlfriend. He might as well tattooed 'Kiss Me I'm Yours' on his forehead.
    "Derek?"
    His hands tightened on the steering wheel.
"Yeah."
    "I don't understand why I kissed you… I mean
it was