Read Online More Than Friends by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Mallery
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scars too deep to ignore. Even so, she wasn’t part of his agenda. He hadn’t come back to stir up old flames—he was damn sure not going to get burned by this one.
Chase sat up, then swung his feet to the floor. The room was cold and he quickly reached for briefs and jeans. Last night he hadn’t bothered to unpack more than what he’d need. A single shirt hung in the small closet. She stored her winter clothes in the cramped space. When he pulled open the door, the scent of cedar crept out to greet him. Underneath was the lingering fragrance of Jenny herself.
Chase caught his breath as the desire throbbed in his groin. He still wanted her. That hadn’t changed. Whereas before, he’d longed for her with the undefined need of an untried boy, now he ached with the hard knowledge of a man. Their embrace last night had shown him that time had filled the lean lines of girlhood to the lush curves of a woman. She was still petite, with tiny bones that made him worry he could crush her without even trying, but the breasts pressing against his chest had been full and warm, straining with promise.
“No!” he growled, pulling out his shirt and tossing it on the bed. When his father was well—he didn’t allow himself to consider the other possibility—he was heading back to Arizona. There was nothing for him in Harrisville.
He’d seen the look on her face when she’d gone on about the mill and the employees. Somehow she’d become a part of the town, even after swearing she’d never allow it to take away her dream. She’d been wrong. Whatever happened, Jenny’s life revolved around Harrisville and her family.
The bathroom door opened and he heard her walk toward the kitchen. Chase gathered up his shaving kit and slipped into the steamy room.
An oversize T-shirt lay crumpled on the floor. A dab of makeup dotted the counter. The air was filled with the scent of soap and perfume and products he couldn’t begin to identify.
It had been a long time since he’d shared close quarters with a woman and he found himself smiling as he spread shaving cream along his jaw.
When he’d finished washing up, Chase strapped on his watch and glanced at the dial. He still had plenty of time before Dr. Martin was due to start on her rounds. He pulled open the bathroom door and walked toward his bedroom.
As he crossed the threshold, a movement in the room caught his attention. Jenny turned swiftly, color flaming across her cheeks as her gaze fell to the floor.
“I was just bringing you coffee,” she said, motioning to the mug perched on top of the dresser.
“Thanks.” Chase tossed his shaving kit on the bed and crossed the hardwood floor.
She stood her ground, tilting her chin to look up at him as he approached. A soft cotton blouse covered but didn’t conceal the fullness of her breasts thrusting forward in female invitation. Jeans, well-worn and faded, clung to her hips, then reached down to emphasize long, curvy legs. He could feel his dark emotions flowing away, diluted by clear, green eyes and a tentative but welcoming smile.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked, her voice lower and slightly husky.
“Yes. And you?”
“Fine.” She licked her bottom lip. He followed the motion, then took that final step and rested his hands on her shoulders.
“Jenny,” he whispered, needing to hear her name as much as needing to feel her in his arms.
Some small sensible portion of his brain called out a warning. Touching Jenny, kissing her, would only lead to trouble. He was here because of his father and nothing else. If he allowed himself to get lost in the past, he might never find his way back. He and Jenny had become too different to connect now. He knew he hadn’t forgiven her. She belonged to the town and the mill; he’d never been welcome in either.
He acknowledged the reasonableness of the argument and started to move back. Then she placed her hand on his bare chest. Her palm burned him as she rubbed against the
Chase sat up, then swung his feet to the floor. The room was cold and he quickly reached for briefs and jeans. Last night he hadn’t bothered to unpack more than what he’d need. A single shirt hung in the small closet. She stored her winter clothes in the cramped space. When he pulled open the door, the scent of cedar crept out to greet him. Underneath was the lingering fragrance of Jenny herself.
Chase caught his breath as the desire throbbed in his groin. He still wanted her. That hadn’t changed. Whereas before, he’d longed for her with the undefined need of an untried boy, now he ached with the hard knowledge of a man. Their embrace last night had shown him that time had filled the lean lines of girlhood to the lush curves of a woman. She was still petite, with tiny bones that made him worry he could crush her without even trying, but the breasts pressing against his chest had been full and warm, straining with promise.
“No!” he growled, pulling out his shirt and tossing it on the bed. When his father was well—he didn’t allow himself to consider the other possibility—he was heading back to Arizona. There was nothing for him in Harrisville.
He’d seen the look on her face when she’d gone on about the mill and the employees. Somehow she’d become a part of the town, even after swearing she’d never allow it to take away her dream. She’d been wrong. Whatever happened, Jenny’s life revolved around Harrisville and her family.
The bathroom door opened and he heard her walk toward the kitchen. Chase gathered up his shaving kit and slipped into the steamy room.
An oversize T-shirt lay crumpled on the floor. A dab of makeup dotted the counter. The air was filled with the scent of soap and perfume and products he couldn’t begin to identify.
It had been a long time since he’d shared close quarters with a woman and he found himself smiling as he spread shaving cream along his jaw.
When he’d finished washing up, Chase strapped on his watch and glanced at the dial. He still had plenty of time before Dr. Martin was due to start on her rounds. He pulled open the bathroom door and walked toward his bedroom.
As he crossed the threshold, a movement in the room caught his attention. Jenny turned swiftly, color flaming across her cheeks as her gaze fell to the floor.
“I was just bringing you coffee,” she said, motioning to the mug perched on top of the dresser.
“Thanks.” Chase tossed his shaving kit on the bed and crossed the hardwood floor.
She stood her ground, tilting her chin to look up at him as he approached. A soft cotton blouse covered but didn’t conceal the fullness of her breasts thrusting forward in female invitation. Jeans, well-worn and faded, clung to her hips, then reached down to emphasize long, curvy legs. He could feel his dark emotions flowing away, diluted by clear, green eyes and a tentative but welcoming smile.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked, her voice lower and slightly husky.
“Yes. And you?”
“Fine.” She licked her bottom lip. He followed the motion, then took that final step and rested his hands on her shoulders.
“Jenny,” he whispered, needing to hear her name as much as needing to feel her in his arms.
Some small sensible portion of his brain called out a warning. Touching Jenny, kissing her, would only lead to trouble. He was here because of his father and nothing else. If he allowed himself to get lost in the past, he might never find his way back. He and Jenny had become too different to connect now. He knew he hadn’t forgiven her. She belonged to the town and the mill; he’d never been welcome in either.
He acknowledged the reasonableness of the argument and started to move back. Then she placed her hand on his bare chest. Her palm burned him as she rubbed against the
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