Dream Girl by Kelly Jamieson Read Free Book Online Page B

mind whirling.
    "I know your last name now,” he pointed out.
    "What are you going to do, stalk me?"
    He grinned, and she melted at that. “No. Hell no. Look, do we have to have this conversation here on the sidewalk? All I want is to take you out for dinner or something. I know that first night maybe we moved a bit fast. All I really wanted was your phone number so I could call and ask you out.” He paused. “Well, I did want more than that,” he admitted, his eyes moving over her, and her tummy fluttered again. “But a phone number would have done. So? Will you have dinner with me?"
    Oh boy, did she ever want to say yes. But this was such a bad idea, on so many levels.
    "Ashlyn?” He looked at her with those hot, dark eyes, and she felt herself soften even more.
    "Okay,” she whispered.
    He grinned and took her hand. “Okay, let's go."
    "Now?” She was stunned. “But ... I thought you meant ... sometime."
    "Sometime when you can manage to run away from me again?"
    "No. That's not what I meant."
    "I'd like to go home and change,” he said. “I hate wearing suits.” He tugged at his collar. “How about you?"
    "Um ... okay. Wh ... where are we going for dinner?"
    "How about Doc McCue's again,” he suggested softly, watching her. “They have great pizza, great beer, and you can try again to beat me at pool."
    That sounded so good. Apart from the beer.
    "Okay,” she agreed. “Um ... I'll meet you there?"
    "No way,” he said, shaking his head. “I'm not letting you out of my sight."
    "But..."
    "We'll go to my place first, so I can change. Where do you live—for real this time?"
    "Bougainvillea Street. Just off Harbor Drive."
    He nodded. “Your place first, then. Mine is closer to Doc McCue's."
    "What about my car?"
    "Hmmm.” He thought about that.
    "You can follow me home,” she offered, still not sure why she was doing this. “I promise I won't disappear."
    He turned to her and looked straight down into her eyes.
    "Really?"
    She tried to hold his gaze. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. “I know you're still wondering why I acted like that, but...” She opened her eyes and met his. “I won't run tonight."
    For a long, heated moment, their gazes met. And held. Then he nodded. “Connor always tells me I'm too trusting. Okay."
    He walked her to her car, parked on the street near his. All the way home, she argued with herself over the wisdom of doing this.
    How could she have made such a stupid mistake? She smacked one hand on her steering wheel, shaking her head as she waited at a red light. When he'd given her the fake name, she hadn't thought anything of it. Yet she knew Connor's bother was his partner in the brewery from the info Jessica had given her, she just hadn't known Zach's name. And she'd never imagined they could look so much alike. And—she had to be honest with herself here—she'd been seriously distracted by the heated attraction she'd felt for him from the moment they'd started talking. Stupid, stupid, stupid ! Anger at her own negligence simmered inside her as she drove home.

    Zach was careful to keep her in sight as they drove, but it was easy. She wasn't trying to escape him. She pulled up in front of a little cottage a couple of streets off the beach. It wasn't anything fancy, with peeling paint and a cracked sidewalk, but cheery pink bougainvillea grew up the side of the small porch.
    She waited for him at the door. “I have two roommates,” she told him. “I don't know if they're home."
    They could hear the shower running in the bathroom and she smiled. “Yup, someone's home,” she said cheerfully. “I'll just be a minute. Have a seat...” She waved at a couch that faced a small brick fireplace and disappeared down the hall.
    He looked around. The house was likely a rental property, which was why it hadn't been well-maintained, but it was spotless and kind of cute. Hardwood floors gleamed and the furnishings, while old and shabby, were comfortable and attractive.
    Only