Desire (Montana Dreams Book 3) by Cait Jarrod Read Free Book Online Page A

to her eyes. That wasn’t true. Why did he think so poorly of her? “Jerk,” stayed on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t utter the insult. She’d belittled their night together. With him having every right at a comeback, she still didn’t expect his snip retort. His words hit their target—her heart, her conscious. They burned, stung, and tortured. Despite the false accusation, denying it wouldn’t make a difference. Her behavior showed the opposite.
    Admittedly, before their night together, she did sleep with more guys than she’d care to count. After him, she didn’t have the itch to fill the void. Even after she kicked him out of her life, in the back of her mind, she knew he was always there. She prayed he didn’t disown her after she spilled the rest of the story. Although he probably already had after her snappy remark. Bradley didn’t pity fuck her. In her heart, she knew it, but listening to him talk to his sister and downplaying their attraction hurt.
    Cadence flashed back to the hours leading up to the accident. Matt had seen an engagement ring on Trina’s finger. Though Cadence begged Trina not to wear the present from the man her parents forced on her. Her friend did so with the intentions of giving it back to the guy later that day. The idea seemed harmless until Matt surprised Trina, saw the ring, and not knowing that her parents had manipulated her into accepting the symbol, he had stormed away. Her friend was in such a state that Cadence didn’t have the heart to tell her she was pregnant and they’d gone to one of their favorite hangouts.
    One bad decision after another, lead to another. On vacation, the resort doctor didn’t say the baby was harmed when she admitted to having a few drinks, so why not a couple more? Besides Trina would have thought something was up if she hadn’t. Telling her friend that night she was pregnant would have brought more anguish to Trina’s already upset world.
    Cadence sucked in an exasperated breath. Her actions had caused more grief. If only , she could do it all again…
    Guilt piggybacked with grief and sliced through her. Her head felt woozy, and her body went weak. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t confess. Bracing a hand on the back of the chair Trina vacated, she plastered on a fake I-have-it-all-together expression. “Then you know to stay away.”
    For several long beats, they stared at each other. His internal battles revealed in his etched expression, no different from what hers would reflect look like—sadness, hurt, regret. She longed to reach out to him, to touch his skin and relive the tingles that would no doubt cover her skin.
    His rock hard body stiffened and all thoughts of closing the gap for physical contact vanished. Thoughts of doing or saying anything evaporated as if an industrial-size vacuum made a pass through the open barn, taking the energy and the air. She had to get out of there, get away from him and his air-sucking presence. She spun on her heels fast, too fast, and stumbled backwards.
    Warm hands, strong arms, and a firm body engulfed her. Lord help her. She moaned and relished in the body contact, his heat easing her rattled nerves. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, next to her ear. “That was out of line.”
    “It’s the truth,” she managed to say, though the intensity in her voice dwindled. “No need for an apology.”
    He didn’t reply, didn’t move, just held her close. A soothing feeling sparked her insides, stimulating her libido and exciting her. She relaxed more fully against him, giving him her full weight. With an arm under her legs and one around her waist, he carried her to the front of a large, round hay bale where he lowered to the ground and rested her in his lap. He didn’t speak, didn’t try to kiss her, just held her close and tight. His compassion, his toasty body, and his security oozed a welcoming invitation, and she burrowed into him. Her libido would have to wait; she needed this, wanted