Read Online Running by Calle J. Brookes - Free Book Online

couldn’t do that for him.
    Everyone who mattered to
her was in St. Louis. She wouldn’t leave them again; not after
almost losing them at the end of last year. A move just wasn’t
worth it. And she wouldn’t risk that with a man like Seth Lorcan. A
man she’d known less than fourteen hours—it just wasn’t worth the
risk.
    No, when she did find
someone to attempt a relationship with it would be with someone
solid, grounded, and stable. Not some crazy whirlwind like this
guy. Solid, grounded, stable. Realistic.
    She’d just have to stick to
her guns on this. Even if there was a possibility of something being there,
she wouldn’t risk it.
    And there was the niggling
doubt about why he’d kissed her. Men had kissed her out of opportunity and
proximity before—because she was there and pretty and men tended to
think with their glands when she was around.
    Al definitely wanted more
than that .
    If she was going to risk
upsetting— changing— her entire life to have a relationship with a man, it would
be with a man who wanted more than just an opportunity lay. She
wanted someone who’d see inside her, rather than the outer trappings.
    The way Sebastian had
Carrie. He loved her friend, all Carrie’s quirks
included.
    Maybe that was Seth’s draw? A part of
her was expressing deeper feelings than she should because Seth was
so much like a man Al already cared about? He looked like
Sebastian, so a part of her expected him to act like his
brother?
    That was as stupid as
assuming Mick would act like Mal because they were brothers.
    She would not let herself
be stupid over this man. She wouldn’t.
    ***
    Seth was whistling as he
crossed the parking lot toward Walmart. It was still snowing—enough
to effect visibility—and that was to their advantage. Not many
people wanted to venture out in the snow. Which meant a lot less
chance of him being recognized. Still, he pulled the knit hat he’d
found in his brother’s trunk down lower over his ears and tightened
the strings on the hooded sweatshirt further around his
neck.
    He hopefully would just
look like another random guy in Walmart buying a winter coat. And
food. The woman wanted food and chocolate. And he’d probably pick
up some condoms. Just to be on the safe side.
    Because even though she’d
brushed him off this time, he strongly suspected there would be a
next. He fought a smile. Yeah, she’d enjoyed kissing him as much as
he’d enjoyed kissing her. And they’d be spending a lot more time
alone…
    Might as well be prepared
if something did happen.
    He got what he needed in
the store in under twenty minutes. Surely she’d had time to take
her shower and escape him for a while by now? He understood the
value of a strategic retreat with a female like her. If something
did happen between them, it had to be her
decision or he’d pay for it
later.
    No sense pissing off
Blondie over sex. Even if he knew it would be good sex, probably
the best sex he’d had in a long, long time.
    He put her chocolate on the
bed, and then waited for the bathroom door to open. She had to come
out sometime, right?
    He underestimated that. She
didn’t make a reappearance until the delivery guy knocked on the
door. She came out dressed in sweat pants that were a bit too big
for her and another hooded sweatshirt. Apparently Red had favored
hoodies—there had been several in a range of colors in the back of
the Escape.
    Even in the shapeless
clothes there was no mistaking the fact that this woman was hotter
than hell.
    Seth blocked the pizza
guy’s view of his female companion. The less eyes on her, the less
chance they’d be recognized. He got that—women stood out more than
men. Especially women like his Blondie.
    He waited until she was
settled at the cheap plastic table before opening the pizza box.
“Dig in, toots.”
    “ Gee, thanks. Great date
you make.”
    “ Charming, aren’t
I?”
    “ You do think so, don’t
you?” But her snark was ruined by the pizza in her