Read Online Her Outlaw by Geralyn Dawson - Free Book Online Page A

was it about this man in particular? Why was she like a moth to his flame? He was nothing like Casey—lighthearted of manner and demeanor. Dair MacRae was dark and tempting and represented everything that she was not. Her father would detest him on sight. She knew next to nothing about him. Yet, there was something in his eyes. Something wild and excited. Something wicked.
    Something wicked. Yes, that’s what she couldn’t resist.
    Emma sucked in a deep breath, then said, “I’m a McBride Menace, sir. I was born bold.”
    A devilish twinkle lit those silver eyes. He extended his hand, gesturing for her to precede him into the maze. Emma stepped forward and excitement sizzled through her.
    It was like another world. The scent of honeysuckle hung heavy on the air. A sparrow flitted from its perch atop an elaborate iron bench while a squirrel scampered along the path. “Should I follow him?” Emma asked.
    “Is that a request for a hint?”
    Now that she’d given herself permission to be bad, the need to play—to tease him and tantalize him and make him ache with wanting—rose within her. “Hmm…perhaps.”
    He took a step toward her.
    She placed her hand against his chest and pushed gently. “Perhaps not.”
    “Hmm.” He clasped his hands behind his back, the twinkle in his eyes deepening to impure amusement.
    Emma lifted her chin and boldly chose the path to her left, purposely taking big steps that caused her hips to swing. A few steps later, the path dead-ended.
    Dair made a show of checking his watch, and Emma’s competitive nature was sparked. She wanted her kiss—oh, she truly did. However, McBride Menaces never backed down from a challenge.
    She lifted her hem and retraced her steps. Her second try appeared more successful. She sent him a sly smile and sashayed forward. Dair sauntered behind her, whistling.
    Then Emma hit another dead end. Hmm. Maybe now?
    But when she turned, he checked his watch again.
    No, not now. Emma turned around and walked past him, brushing up against him as she turned a corner, into another hedge wall. Drat.
    “Let me help you, Emma.”
    He was staring at her mouth, his eyes narrowed and intense. Hot. Now, whispered the Menace in her. Let him help you. You know you want it. “Which way do I go, Dair?”
    He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles one by one, staring deeply into her eyes as he did so. Anticipation sizzled through her. Then he turned her hand over and his lips caressed the very center of her palm. “Turn left, Texas.”
    Then, he dropped her hand and stepped away.
    Emma’s spine stiffened. Aha. So that’s his game, is it? He thinks to tease me, too. Well, he’s got another think coming, doesn’t he? Two of us are playing here, and I always play to win .
    She slowly licked her lips. “Well, then. Left it is.”
    Was that a chuckle she heard from the maddening man?
    In less than a minute, she found her way blocked once again. This time she didn’t hesitate. “Right or left?”
    Again, he brought her hand to his lips, kissed her knuckles, then her palm. This time, though, he went a little farther. With clever fingers, he loosened the buttons at the cuff of her sleeve. Emma shivered as his lips found the sensitive skin at the inside of her wrist. She shuddered when his teeth tenderly scraped her skin. “Right.”
    That’s more like it.
    When he stepped back, she lifted the hand he’d kissed to her chest where she played with the ribbon at her collar. As expected, his eyes followed her every movement. Emma grinned with satisfaction as she took the right turn he’d indicated to continue through the maze, her awareness of the man walking a half step behind her increasing as the seconds ticked by. He moved with an animal’s grace.
    Apparently, she made some good choices because she went for quite a ways before encountering another dead end. Her heartbeat racing, she turned to Dair. “Help?”
    Slowly, the wolf smile stretched across his