Read Online Haunted by Cheryl Douglas - Free Book Online Page B

singles she
had, she would always be at the mercy of record executives and country radio.
    “I love that you feel that way,” Caleb
said, kissing the crown of her head. “You know how many people seem satisfied
to just go through the motions? It’s sad.” He moved her hair aside to drop a
kiss on her neck. “I think that’s why I’m so drawn to you. There’s something
special about a woman who’s found her place in the world, who’s writing her own
ticket without relying on anyone else.” He brushed his lips against her
collarbone, making her shudder. “I think it’s sexy as hell.”
    Elle closed her eyes, leaning into him. She
loved earning his respect, but not as much as she reveled in turning him on.
The breeze was picking up and giving the air a decided chill, but she barely
felt it when his hand slipped under the blanket to caress her stomach.
    “I’m so glad you’re here with me.” He
tipped her head back so he could kiss her lips. “I haven’t been here in a
while, and having you share this with me just reminds me why I fell in love
with this place.”
    She could understand why he felt that way.
She’d only been here a short time and already she questioned how she would
leave. “Thank you for bringing me. I really needed this.”
    He pulled her into his lap, positioning her
so she was facing him with her legs straddling his waist. “I’m also glad you
came into my life, Elle. I haven’t thought about finding love in a long time,
but I’m beginning to think it may have found me.”
    Love? Is
that what this was? It seemed too soon, yet it felt so right.
    “Don’t look so scared,” he said, looking
amused. “I’m not trying to rush you into anything, but I know we don’t have a
lot of time together before you have to head out on the road. I don’t want to
let you go before I tell you… and show you… how I feel about you.”
    Now that was a game of show-and-tell
Elle would love to play. “When I think of you, I smile.”
    That seemed like a simple thing, hardly the
kind of statement to instill confidence in a man, but Elle hoped Caleb
understood how much it meant to her. He made her happy when she thought of him,
and that hadn’t happened in a long time. Her relationships were usually plagued
with fear and uncertainty. So being with a man who made her feel secure was a
welcome relief.
    “You’re the kind of man a woman can count
on, the kind of man I wasn’t sure existed.” She smiled wistfully as she framed
his handsome face with her hands. “I knew great guys are out there, men like
Drake and Evan and Ryan, but I never thought I’d find someone like that for
myself.” She dipped her head, feeling shy and uncertain about how much she
should reveal.
    “Go on,” he whispered.
    “I love knowing you’re the kind of man who
wants to take care of his parents, to show your gratitude for the sacrifices
they’ve made for you.” She kissed him gently to punctuate her point. “I love
that you would do a friend a favor even though you probably had better things
to do than babysit me when Drake asked you to.”
    “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
He winked.
    She slid her hands over his cropped dark
hair. “I appreciate that you’re a self-made man. You know how hard it is to
make it, and you’ve done it all on your own. I not only like you, I respect
you, and that’s the highest compliment I can pay you.”
    “You could tell me you think I’m hot and
it’s taking everything in you not to tear my clothes off right now.”
    She threw her head back and laughed. The
roar of the ocean carried away the sound of her joy. “And you make me laugh
just because you’re being you. It’s effortless.”
    “That’s the way being with you feels.” He
guided his hands up her back as he pulled her closer. “Effortless. Like it’s
almost too easy. I’m used to drama in relationships. I don’t think I’ve ever
been with someone who’s made it so easy to fall in love