Read Online Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B

to be.”
    â€œI’m not a family kind of guy.”
    â€œYou don’t know that. You’ve been on your own since you were fourteen. Maybe you should give this a try.”
    He poured her more wine. “Because you’re so concerned about my well-being?”
    â€œNot really, but if you do start to think about them as your sisters, you’ll stop attacking them. And that’swhat I want. You know they’re innocent in all this. Admit it. Move on.”
    â€œThey’re lucky to have you.”
    â€œAnd I’m lucky to have them.”
    And with those words once again came the reminder that Garth had no one. He faced his demons alone. Fate and Jed Titan had conspired against him, leaving him solitary and angry.
    â€œI should go,” she said, pushing away from the table and standing.
    She expected him to make a joke about her staying again, but he didn’t. Which was how she wanted things—at least that’s what she told herself.
    He followed her to the front door, then shifted so he was between her and the handle. She found herself staring into his eyes.
    He was taller than her, with broader shoulders and plenty of muscle. Intensely male. If she had to overpower him, she would need surprise on her side, and possibly a solid two-by-four.
    â€œI, ah, thanks for dinner,” she murmured, feeling uncomfortable. This felt way too much like a date, which it wasn’t.
    â€œYou’re welcome. Tex-Mex next time?”
    â€œSure.”
    She tried to inch around him, but he wasn’t moving. And she couldn’t seem to push him out of the way. Well, she could, of course, but it would be awkward, especially if he resisted. She should just say goodnight then stand there looking expectant. He would figure it out and move aside.
    But as she opened her mouth to speak, he took a step toward her. Before she could move back, he reached up and lightly stroked the side of her face with the back of his fingers.
    The unexpected contact glued her to the floor. She couldn’t run, couldn’t turn, couldn’t do anything but stand there feeling helpless and exposed. As if he had the power to control her.
    She told herself he didn’t. He would never hurt her and should he try, she could nail him in the balls, draw her gun and change him from a stallion to a gelding in two seconds.
    If she had to.
    His dark eyes stared into hers. She had no idea what he saw there, but she hoped it wasn’t anything he could use against her. Despite his slow, gentle touch, she felt tense inside. What was he doing and why?
    She told herself to step away, to push past him and get the hell out. But her body didn’t respond to the command and then he said the most extraordinary thing.
    â€œYour mouth drives me crazy.”
    She’d barely had time to absorb the words before he lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers.
    The good news was he stopped touching her face. The bad news was they were kissing.
    The second she felt his lips on hers, it was as ifsomeone had set the world on fire. There was heat and need and fiery sparks she could see even with her eyes closed. There was no contact anywhere else, which was fine with her. This was enough. Actually it was too much.
    Her skin practically sizzled. She would swear she could hear music and feel the floor tilting. She wanted to throw her arms around him, pull him against her and shove her tongue in his mouth. She wanted to be naked, pressed up against the wall, being taken hard and fast until she screamed her surrender.
    Dana reached out both hands, shoved him back and sucked in a breath. She’d never screamed in her life. She barely allowed herself to breathe hard. What the hell was going on?
    Not that she planned to find out. She ducked around him, heading for the door, only Garth got there first. He grabbed her arm and held her still. She could have broken free easily, only she didn’t and that scared her more than