Read Online Racing to Love: Eli's Honor by Amy Gregory - Free Book Online Page A

Otherwise, the momma bear in her would just pull Dallas to her tightly, give a polite no-thank you, and shut the door to the whole situation.
    “Think about it, okay? I’ll call you when I get off work. See what’s going on then.”
    “’Kay.” Honor answered with an unsure smile.
    Finishing the chore of tea making, taking three times the length of time it normally took, she listened as Mac said his goodbyes, and then the screen door softly closed behind him. She turned with the fresh pitcher as Dallas came bounding into the kitchen, skidding to a stop on the linoleum before bumping into her. She took a step back to help avoid the collision, the tea sloshing side-to-side.
    “Hey, Mom, Eli asked if I could show him some stuff, is that okay?”
    “What happened to Mr. Hunter?” Honor raised her eyebrow, but couldn’t help but smile at his hopeful face. “Sure, sweetie. Do you have time for that, Mr. Hunter?” She asked quietly, her chin tilted, not expecting him to have any time to spare. Or maybe hoping he didn’t.
    Eli winked at her, his mouth forming a smile that was sinful. Thank God, she had her hands full or she’d be fidgeting. At least she could pretend she was halfway cool, calm and collected.
    “To be honest, if it’s all right with you, I’d really like to see him ride in person. And Honor…it’s Eli. Please.” He replied gently, reaching his fingertips out to her wrist, hovering momentarily, only to pull back at the last second.
    He had all the ease and confidence of a celebrity, but the gentleness of a man raised with manners. A southern girl by location and heart, Honor could appreciate that. Realizing she had been studying Eli’s face a moment too long, she snapped her attention back to Dallas’s question.
    “Sure, son. Show him what you got, buddy.” Honor glanced at the clock on the wall, and with a timid smile, she turned back to Eli. “Would you…um, like to stay for dinner?”
    His answer was quick. The grin tugging at one side of his mouth almost made it appear as if he hoped she’d ask.
    “I’d love to. Thank you, Honor.”
    What the hell did I just do?
    She stayed silent, only nodded to respond, but watched as the two walked through the door that led to the garage. If she had turned away, she could have pretended the feeling was one-sided, she could have told herself she was imagining his subtle flirtations, but she hadn’t moved.
    Instead, she had stayed, rooted in place, watching him. When he turned and winked a second time…she melted.
    As soon as the door to the house shut, she rushed to the counter, setting down the pitcher before she dropped it on her freshly mopped floor. When she heard the door from the garage to the backyard open and shut, it was only then that she let out the audible breath.
    She might be a simple woman from a rural town, but she had big dreams once. Ones that involved New York City, ones that needed street smarts, dreams that required brains before beauty. She wasn’t raised to turn into a giggly little girl at a boy’s smile, or to raise her skirt when the prom king asked her to dance. No, her mother had been very clear in her life’s lessons. Honor was to need no one, nor to want anyone. The attentions of men only left a girl broken or broken-hearted. Sometimes both.
    Honor had followed the rules to a T .
    However, Honor’s mother hadn’t taught her what to do when she was at the lowest point in her life with no one to turn to. That lesson she learned all on her own.
    Eli Hunter was an amazing man, here to help her son. That was all. No more, no less. And at the end of the day, Dallas would be a better rider because of it, and her heart would still be intact.

    Honor watched Eli and Dallas from her kitchen window as she stood at the sink peeling the last of the potatoes. From where the two stood on the bank of the north corner she could see their smiling faces, hear the laughter through the screen window. Dallas was happy. In turn, she was