Chasing Second Chances by Shelly Logan Read Free Book Online Page B

something.”
    “It must be all this stress,” she said, lying back down. “And the rain.”
    “The rain?”
    Out of nowhere, the memory of the passionate kiss she had shared with Lloyd popped into her mind, and she quickly pushed it away, though not quickly enough to prevent a blush from coating her cheeks, which she hoped he did not notice. He didn’t have to know about it. He couldn’t. True, she had not meant to kiss Lloyd back and had only done so because her emotions had suddenly gone out of control but still, she knew it would hurt him. The guilt that was beginning to gnaw at her now was nothing compared to the pain she would feel if he found out.
    “It was raining in Rapid City?” Bryan asked.
    Kate nodded, remembering his question. “There was a squall just as we were leaving.” She turned towards him and placed her head on his lap. “Oh, Bryan. I felt so terrible.”
    “What happened exactly?”
    “It turns out that Ms. Singer was not as sane as she seemed to be. Either that or her vision was just plain horrible. The kids she had seen were the niece and nephew of a neighbor. They were staying there for a while because their parents had to go on a trip. They’re the same age as Lena and Jack but they certainly are not my kids.”
    “Well, perhaps it was a honest mistake.”
    “It was a hurtful mistake,” she said. “I should have listened to Lloyd and never had gone there.”
    “You needed to know whether it was true or not for yourself,” Bryan said. “If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have believed.”
    She looked up at him. “I’m that stubborn, huh?”
    “Stubbornness isn’t always a bad thing,” he told her as he ran his fingers through her hair. “In this case, being stubborn is a good thing, but you also have to have caution so you don’t end up hurting yourself more. I don’t like seeing you get hurt.”
    She nodded. “I’ll try.”
    He placed his hand on her forehead. “Your fever seems to have gone down a bit.”
    “I feel a little better,” she told him. “But still under the weather.”
    “You should take care of yourself a bit more.”
    “Yes, doctor.”
    “Then again, I can just take care of you. What good is being a doctor, anyway, if you can’t take care of the person you love the most?”
    She grinned.
    “And guess what? I can really take care of you from now on because I managed to find someone to fill in for me.”
    Her eyes widened. “You didn’t.”
    “I did.”
    She placed her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well, I’m glad.”
    “I’m gladder.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. “I may not be a millionaire, Kate, and I may not know people in high places but what I am is yours. I want you to know that I’m here for you and I’ll do everything I can to get you through this.”
    She wrapped her arms even tighter around him. “I’m so glad I have you.”
    She lifted her head, presenting her lips to him. He sealed them, holding her close. Again, the memory of the kiss she had shared with Lloyd crossed her mind and again, she set it aside, her lips parting so Bryan could deepen the kiss and make her forget all else.
    He took her cue, his tongue plunging inside her mouth to explore and then mingle with her own tongue, and she moaned. As always, Bryan was an amazing kisser, but it was not enough. She wanted more, wanted him to claim her and leave his mark on her so that she could feel completely his, just as she should be.
    She ran her fingers down the muscles of his chest and abdomen, reaching for the bulge that she knew would be there in his crotch, but just as her fingers brushed against him, he grabbed her hand and broke the kiss.
    “You’re not well, Kate,” he told her. “You should rest.”
    “I think I’m running a different fever at the moment.” She batted her eyelashes seductively.
    He gave her another kiss on the forehead. “I want you just as much, Kate, but you really need to rest.”
    She sighed, giving up.