Collide by Juliana Stone Read Free Book Online Page B

advice. No
words to make her feel better. And as her eyes strayed to the bed
once more, her gut rolled and she thought she was going to be sick.
Had she slept with Shane last night? Would she be that stupid?
    I just walked out on the man who could
have given me everything and I’m asking myself if I’m stupid or
not ?
    “What are you going to do?” Billie prodded
gently.
    Bobbi took a moment. She forced her stomach
to settle and tucked her wild hair behind her ears. She licked her
dry lips and shrugged. “I have no idea. I have to make things right
with Gerald.”
    “And that’s what you want.”
    “Yes,” she exhaled. “It’s what I want.”
    But I have to find Shane first .
    Carefully she let herself out of the bedroom
and stepped into an open concept loft. Shane rented the old
carriage house on Logan Forest’s property—she knew this—but Bobbi
was surprised at how warm and welcoming the place was. Large
windows let in an abundance of natural light, emphasizing the warm
oak floors, and dark leather furniture.
    A large table to the right caught her
attention and her fingers trailed over it as she walked by. It
looked like teak, maybe? But the design was simple. Sturdy.
    And expensive looking.
    Her brow furled. How in the hell was Shane
able to afford something like this? It must have cost a small
fortune. As far as she knew he’d never made amends with his father,
so she was fairly certain Shane’s dad wasn’t funneling Gallagher
family money into his home.
    She glanced around the large, open, space
once more, taking in the muted palette of moss green, rich oak and
black. It was masculine and yet elegant. Everything about the room
was so well put together that she had to wonder…was Shane involved
with someone? Was this the work of a woman’s touch?
    Pia barked twice and Bobbi jumped, her heart
taking off like a rocket as she whirled around—a little too
fast—and she clutched her head and groaned.
    Where was Shane?
    She spied the dog near the stairs and watched
the little fireball disappear down them and it was then that she
realized he must be below. For a few seconds she was frozen in her
spot, but then she gave herself a mental shake down and forced
herself to move.
    “Just get it over with,” she muttered.
    Bobbi made her way over to the stairs and
peered down. Her feet were still bare and she wrinkled her toes
against the cool floor boards, as she inhaled a host of scents that
seemed out of place. Wood. Oils. Sharp and metallic scents.
    Carefully she made her way down, though she
hesitated on the last step, her heart in her chest, her skin cold
and clammy.
    For one brief moment she thought of running
back upstairs. Of hiding beneath the tangled mess of blankets on
the bed. Of closing her eyes and doing her best to forget
everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.
    But then the damn dog appeared at her feet
and outed her with one yelp. Before she lost her nerve, Bobbi
stepped off and turned the corner.
    She could say that her heart nearly fell out
of her chest because she was damn surprised at what she found—it
looked like a freaking furniture store, and the paintings…the
paintings were incredible. Vivid. Bleak. Raw.
    But, they only held her attention for a
moment because her hungry eyes found Shane seconds later and her
entire body felt as if it had been dipped in hot, electric,
water.
    He was bent over a long piece of wood,
running a sander over the dark lines. Slowly. Back and forth. The
muscles in his arms and shoulders drew her attention—pretty hard
not to, when he wore nothing but a pair of faded jeans that hung
dangerously low on his hips. His feet were bare and as her gaze
traveled up his back, she rested her eyes on the intricate tattoo
that adorned the back of his left shoulder.
    It was new and she wondered if he still had the one . That special one on his left bicep. A sheen of
sweat covered his skin as he worked the sander in slow, methodic
strokes.
    He turned