Dream Shadow by Mary Wine Read Free Book Online Page B

some unspoken need for her clothing to simply be discarded. Her breasts were straining against the sports bra she had on and she couldn’t ever remember the garment being so uncomfortable. Pulling a deep breath into her lungs, she felt the heat move into her core to set off a pulse that she felt directly in her sex.
    Grace ground her teeth together in anger. The pulse of arousal was unmistakable and she hated it. Being at the mercy of her body was annoying as hell . She pressed her thighs together as she tried to clear her mind.
    Control returned by slow measures. The explosive discharge of a weapon reached her ears. Any topic was welcome if it meant the end of her awareness of Brice’s kiss.
    The rifle discharged again. Grace stepped out on to the back patio and watched as Brice lowered it to begin the process of reloading. He lifted a powder horn to the muzzle and poured a measure of the black powder into the barrel of the gun. Next went a ball and then he used a long rod to pack it all firmly into the barrel of the gun.
    Brice handed the weapon off to Jacobs, issuing careful instructions to him. Grace watched as Jacobs pulled the trigger mechanism. The rifle discharged with a cloud of smoke.
    “Where do you fire this thing off at?”
    “We have an historical group that gets together once a month. Mock battle and a dance. You should come by this weekend. It’s one of the local ways of unwinding in Benton.”
    The invitation might sound innocent to Jacobs, but Grace found Brice’s steady gaze settled on her as he issued it. Alarm raced along her nerve endings as she considered the idea of finding herself in his company yet again.
    “If you like the rifle, you should try the cannon.”
    Jacobs’s face split into a grin. “You’ve got a cannon?”
    “Not me.” Brice held his hands up in innocence. “But my group has eight of them, and they could use a man big enough to handle those ladies.”
    Brice disappeared into the kitchen. Jacobs turned his attention on her and Grace struggled to keep her emotions buried. Instead, Grace noticed the plush porch furniture, a sofa and chairs all with thick padding. There were candle lanterns burning on the small coffee table along with napkins and a salt-and-pepper shaker.
    A small smile of relief crossed her face. Dinner wasn’t going to require her to sit in the house. Dropping into one of the chairs, Grace stretched her neck as she tried to loosen the tight muscles. The air was cool and crisp but wonderfully fresh with the scent of the forest.
    Brice returned and handed a plate of food to her. Grace gaped at the amount of food that was on it. How much did the man think she ate anyway?
    “Let me know when you’re ready for seconds, darling.”
    She glared in response to his endearment but he seemed to enjoy her temper. Setting her eyes onto her meal, she lifted her fork with rapid movements. If cleaning her plate would bring an end to their evening, she was willing to cooperate. It was time to see just what Brice Campbell wanted from her. The poor wording of that thought brought a blush to her checks. Jesus! What the hell is wrong with me tonight?
    Men, emotions, kissing… It was enough to drive her insane. Letting her eyes roam over Brice, she watched the simple way he was conducting a conversation with Jacobs. His brown eyes locked with hers. Heat immediately surfaced in her face again.
    That was it.
    Dropping her fork, Grace jumped from her chair and used the porch’s railing to climb into the branches of a pine tree. Turning her eyes at both of them, she propped her body against the trunk of the tree.
    Lifting her chin, Grace let the scent of the forest drive away the distracting emotions of society. The two men were welcome to each other; she wanted the companionship of the night.
    Jacobs was just trying to rattle her chain by dragging her along to dinner. The problem was, it was working. Her head was throbbing with the tangle of feelings. Thrusting aside emotions