Dark Moon Magic by Jerri Drennen Read Free Book Online

all over you?”
    Trace smirked. “You clearly don’t know the woman. My having a date wouldn’t stop her from clinging, or any other single woman in Groves. Believe me.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “You sure have a high opinion of yourself.”
    “No. It’s just the way it is. If you don’t believe me, watch tomorrow night.” He issued the challenge more to keep her from backing out on their date than to prove a point. He didn’t need to. He knew exactly what would happen when he showed up at the hall. The single women would flock to him like bees to a hive, along with a few of the married ones, and he’d be sidestepping them all—the only dance maneuver he’d be doing tomorrow evening.

 
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Regina glanced one last time at herself in the full-length mirror, then went to find her purse. Trace said it wasn’t a date, and that made her less nervous about the whole affair. If it had been an actual one, she’d have to spend the night trying to keep her distance and hope he didn’t expect a kiss or maybe even more. This was the best of both worlds. She’d get to go out, enjoy a night of dancing, and not be pressured into anything.
    Regina jumped when the doorbell rang. She glanced at her watch. Eight o’clock on the dot. She had to give the man props for punctuality.
    She walked to the door. Before turning the knob, she sucked in a cleansing breath and released it.
    It isn’t a date. Just two people going to a dance together .
    She opened the door, and all her calm thoughts flew straight into the night. Trace looked good enough to eat in his white button-down shirt and well-worn jeans sporting a slightly frayed area above one knee. His hair appeared as if he’d tried to get control of it, but it still stuck up in the front, and the tantalizing, spicy scent of him floated about, stirring her senses.
    “Ready to go?” His deep voice sent a tingle up her spine.
    “Yes.”Regina walked out, her arm brushing against his as she passed, the tingle shooting to her toes. She scolded herself and closed the door.
    “Did Ron show up?” he asked as they started down the steps.
    “Yes. According to him, the kitten is a little underweight but healthy. He’s a boy by the way.”
    “Did you give him a name, yet?”
    “As a matter of fact, I did.”
    He arched a brow. “And?”
    “Isis.”
    “I like it. Oh, did you get a chance to look around your place to see if anything’s missing?”
    “I didn’t notice anything. I’ll look more thoroughly on Sunday when I have time.”
    At the entrance of the legion hall, Trace handed two tickets to the man at the door, who seemed shocked to see the sheriff.
    “Let’s grab a table.” Trace took hold of her hand and pulled her along with him through a crowd of people. His roughened palm sent a jolt of charged energy up her arm. The man was literally a walking current.
    He stopped at a small table in the back and pulled a chair out for Regina.
    She sat, adjusting the skirt of her dress before looking up at him.
    “What do you want to drink?”
    “I’ll take a tonic water with a twist of lime if they have it.”
    “Okay. I’ll be right back.” He made his way to the bar, and Regina glanced around, noting a handful of women giving her the evil eye.
    She swallowed and turned away, fiddling with her purse on the table. Regina returned her attention to the bar, where three women now surrounded her date. She had assumed Trace was conceited when he’d told her ladies would be all over him, and now she saw he’d been telling the truth.
    Somehow he managed to get their drinks, dodge the three women, and return to the table.
    “Do you come to events like these often?” she asked once he’d placed the drinks down and was seated.
    “Never.” He scoped out the room, then looked at her again.
    “Is this town hurting for available men?”
    He shook his head. “Not really.”
    “Then why?”
    “What? You mean all the attention?”
    Regina gave him a