Changing Lanes (The Lone Stars Book 3) by Katie Graykowski Read Free Book Online Page A

happened?”
    “A little grease fire. I was finishing the ribs off in the oven and they caught fire. I was busy and didn’t notice. No big deal.” She sounded so calm. He was a nervous wreck, but for her, it was business as usual.
    “Whew … okay.” His pulse was starting to head back to its normal level.
    “It was quite a shock when the fire department pulled up and caught me and Reynaldo skinny dipping in your pool.” His mother laughed.
    “Better them than me. So long as you’re safe.” He let out a long slow, breath. “I’ll call you later.”
    “Kitchen fire?” With a handful of paper napkins, Laney wiped furiously at the pizza sauce running down her legs.
    “I’m so sorry, I forgot.” He whipped off his shirt and wiped at her backside. This evening had so many lows that it was hard to pick just one.
    Once they’d gotten most of the pizza off of her, she scooted down and out of the back of the SUV. He followed.
    “I’m willing to admit defeat. You need to be with your mother right now, and I should be getting home.” Laney smiled kindly. “I have sprints at five in the morning and still need to finish some charts from today’s rounds. How about we call it an evening before something else happens.”
    She didn’t sound mad, just resigned.
    He really needed to check on his mother, but he didn’t want to leave things like they were. “Can I see you again? How about breakfast tomorrow?”
    Laney shoulders shook with laughter. “Why not? This is more fun and humiliation than I’ve had in years.”
    They drove back to Dell Children’s Medical Center in silence. She’d insisted on sitting on the pizza box instead of his jacket, which he’d gladly offered. It was on the tip of his tongue to apologize again, but she didn’t seem mad only thoughtful.
    After she directed him to the staff parking lot and to her car, he pulled up next to it and put the Escalade in park.
    “If you’re serious about going out again, hand me your phone.”
    He picked up his iPhone and handed it to her.
    She thumb typed and then handed it back. “My numbers. Call me if you’re serious about breakfast.”
    He wanted to touch her again … kiss her once more, but before he could make his move, she’d opened the passenger door. Lightning fast, he was out of his own door, taking her keys, and opening her car door.
    “Manners.” She nodded. “They’re nice.”
    “That’s what my mother is always saying.”
    She smiled and waited.
    As crazy as it sounded, he was nervous to move in for the kiss. What with the pizza, the fire, and her cracked forehead which he’d noticed under the dome light in his car, was going to leave a bruise, he needed to work up a little courage to kiss her.
    “You know, this would be a great time to kiss me.” She winked. “Just FYI.”
    “I was working up the nerve.” He smiled down at her. He liked that she was only a couple of inches shorter than him. Even fourteen years ago, she’d fit nicely against him and now, she fit perfectly.
    He combed his hands through her soft hair. “Hair the color of peanut butter and eyes Caribbean blue.”
    He kissed her softly at first, and then his tongue darted inside her mouth. He loved her. It didn’t make sense, but he had always loved her. All the years of wondering and longing both ended and began again. He pulled back and stroked her cheek. He wanted so badly to tell her how he felt, but even he knew it was too soon.
    “Wow. Where did you learn to kiss like that?” Laney, dazed and breathing heavily, shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Duh, you’re a professional football player. Are you that good in bed?”
    Her eyes turned huge like she’d just realized what she’d said. She opened her mouth to say something else and then shut it again. She sucked on the inside of her cheek. “Could you pretend that I didn’t just say that?”
    “Not a chance.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll dream about you tonight.”
    He held her door