Badland Bride (Book 2 - Dakota Hearts) by Lisa Mondello Read Free Book Online

“I don’t like to get involved—”
    “You don’t like complicated. Well, I mean to change that.”
    He slowly lowered her so her feet were on the ground, but he kept his arm around her and pulled her closer with the other arm.
    “I want to kiss you.”
    “Are you always this direct?”
    With his hand, he pushed aside the hair the wind blew in her face, and bent his head so that his mouth was only inches from hers. “Only when I want something very badly.”
    And then his warm mouth was against hers, and to her surprise, Regis didn’t protest. Instead, she melted into the warmth that Keith provided, both in body and spirit. His hands were in her hair, pulling her closer as his mouth devoured hers. And she gave back what was given and wanted more.
    She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so completely undone by a man with just a touch or a look or a kiss. Keith’s kisses weren’t anything like she’d felt before. He wasn’t a man like anyone she’d ever known before.
    And it scared her to death and excited every single bit of her at the same time.
    He pulled away slowly, with his mouth still just inches from hers.
    “I could use a whole lot more of these,” he said. Even as the night grew darker, she could see his lips curled into a pleasing smile.
    “I don’t think that was such a hot idea.”
    “Regis, I’m plenty hot right now and I think the idea of kissing the woman who got me there is just fine.”
    She drew in a slow breath and took a step back, out of his arms. And he let her. He didn’t try to keep her where she didn’t want to be. Except, she’d liked it a whole lot better when Keith’s arms were wrapped around her. And that was just the problem.
    “What do you want from me, Keith? This can’t go anywhere good.”
    She couldn’t see his eyes or his expression in the darkness, but she could see his frown.
    “I don’t have a crystal ball. But I do know that I like you. And that hasn’t happened for me in a very long time.”
    Her heart melted with his words. It was as if he were reading her mind.
    “I know the feeling.”
    “Then don’t we owe it to ourselves to at least find out what this is?”
    Regis had a feeling she’d regret any answer she gave him.
    * * *
    “It’s only dinner,” she mumbled to herself as she drove to the clinic. Regis had managed to get some sleep, and work a full day setting up her space on a table in the large meeting room at the Senior Center next to the FEMA representatives and a number of other insurance adjusters who were in town to help. Despite having a full day of work, she was surprisingly energetic and decided all this energy was the lingering adrenaline rush after the kiss three days ago.
    She still couldn’t believe she’d kissed Keith. And then actually agreed to have dinner with him tonight, breaking the first rule of being on the road. Of course, he was probably the most persistent man she’d ever met. In the days since they’d kissed at the mill, Keith had made it a point to stop by and see her at the motel to check on her. He never stayed long. He didn’t talk about the kiss they’d shared. He just spent time with her and then always asked her to dinner. And she’d always say no. Until last night.
    She liked him. Regis couldn’t deny it. And he said he felt the same way about her. In fact, Regis really liked the way Keith was not at all shy about admitting his feelings. She’d never been that open with a man before. And while it caught her off guard…she liked it.
    “You’re such an idiot, Reggie,” she mumbled as she pulled into the parking lot of the clinic next to his truck. Disgusted with herself, she killed the engine and sat in the car looking at the clinic. The light was on inside and she could see through the window that Nancy was standing inside the waiting room talking to someone. She had her heavy winter coat wrapped around her and her purse hiked up on her shoulder.
    “It’s just pizza. Even you can