Read Online Never Give You Up by Shady Grace - Free Book Online Page A

shag carpet. I fully expect the bed to vibrate too.” His grin was too cute for words. “But I bought all the necessities for roughing it. I plan on pitching a tent in your yard tomorrow, as long as I can survive the bears, wolves, and mosquitoes.”
    Pitching a tent in your yard . The words sounded so dirty they made her shudder.
    “Then after I cook you an amazing city slicker meal, you’ll have your way with me—because I know you want to. You can tan my hide any day.”
    What the fuck did Gabe tell him? Mary blinked rapidly. Unable to respond to his ridiculous statement, she turned away, completely baffled and flustered, and continued putting items from her list into the cart. Terry followed behind, completely silent, yet she felt his stare as if it lived and breathed on her back.
    She had made it clear to Gabe she did not want Terry here. What was she supposed to do with him now? Maybe she should drop him off at Mima’s doorstep and tamper down the rampant urge to kiss him, to feather her fingers through his hair and demand he make love to her. Stop it!
    “How long do you plan to stay?” She hated how husky her voice sounded, when she should be ushering him out the door and telling him to go home.
    “Maybe a week or two. Thought I’d check out the sights, do some camping, fishing, hiking.”
    She fought to ignore the way his smooth, deep voice slithered along her arms as if he’d licked her with his words. “Well, you’ve come to the right place for that.” And after two weeks you’ll be gone again. Perfect.
    “I hear there’s also a few nice places to eat.”
    She ignored the insinuation in his voice and continued onward. “Yes, there is.” The heat in the shop became unbearable.
    Fifty-thousand dollars.
    “Mary, put the spaghetti sauce down and look at me.”
    She spun around. “What?”
    He eyed her with blue eyes that shouldn’t be so sexy. Shouldn’t make her feel naked and unhinged. She wondered what shade they’d be as he looked into her eyes while he pushed into her body.
    “I’d like to take you to dinner sometime.”
    Mary glanced around the shop then lowered her voice, an immediate chill sweeping through her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Why?” he whispered back and looked around.
    “I can’t be seen having dinner with a strange man. It’s not done around here.”
    Terry looked incredulous before his brows furrowed. “Is somebody giving you a hard time?”
    “No, no.” Mary straightened her shoulders. She certainly didn’t need him terrorizing the town, although the thought of it excited her a little. She imagined it must feel amazing to have a man do something that drastic to please a woman. She pushed the cart closer to the back of the store so Byron wouldn’t hear what she had to say. “Nobody’s said anything to my face, but I see how they look at me. I hear their whispers. They think I had something to do with Tom’s death.”
    Terry moved closer and cupped her shoulder with his big hand then rubbed her back in a slow, torturous fashion. Electricity shot right to her heart—or maybe it was her breast—by his touch. She almost closed her eyes and moaned. Instead she lifted her hand and coughed into her palm, hoping he didn’t notice the effect on her.
    “The fact is, Tom was respected. He donated quite a lot of his earnings from the trapline to charities in town and the surrounding area. He volunteered his time at events, and he always had a fake smile for everyone.” She shrugged, forcing the sting of resentment far away. “I was a loner they knew nothing about who became his wife. Why wouldn’t I be to blame for his death? Tom was invincible.”
    “You are not to blame for anything, okay? I mean it. And who gives a shit what other people think? It’s your life. You’re the one who has to live it.”
    “But I have to live here .”
    He shrugged. “Then move.”
    She released an impatient breath. “It’s not that easy, Terry. I don’t