Fringe Benefits by Sandy James Read Free Book Online

full.”
    “You’re not?”
    She shrugged.
    “You never cease to amaze me,” he said, meaning every word.
    “Because I eat like a real person and not a rabbit?”
    “That, among other things. You’re just not like other women. In a good way.”
    Over Dani’s protests, he paid their check and they headed to the parking lot. It wasn’t until he was opening the car door that he realized he was missing what might be his last chance to have her alone, away from the small-town prying eyes.
    Nate laid a hand on her shoulder, turning her gently to face him. “Wait.”
    *   *   *
    Dani knew better. She did. But the plea in Nate’s voice was her undoing.
    Instead of shaking her head, getting in the car, and hightailing her ass back to Cloverleaf—away from temptation—she did the stupidest thing she could think of. She put her arms around his waist and pressed her lips to his, knowing she would savor his surprised expression for a good, long while.
    His lips were soft, his breath sweet. His kiss gentle. Until he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him as he thrust his tongue between her lips. The kiss he gave her was anything but gentle.
    Heart pounding, Dani fisted her hands in the back of his shirt and let go of her tight self-control, if only for that moment. She was rewarded with the kind of kiss she’d always dreamed of, one that seemed to suspend the laws of time and space and made her wish for one of those impossible happily-ever-afters.
    Her common sense returned in a rush, making her turn her head and ease her hands between them.
    Nate resisted her push against his chest for a moment; then, with a sigh, he released her.
    “We should get back.” Her voice was husky and full of need she hoped he couldn’t hear.
    With a nod, he let her into the car and shut the door. Moments later, they were on the road back to Cloverleaf.
    Nate slid her a glance. “So have we solved the problem?”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “The ‘you’re my boss’ problem. Have we solved it?”
    Dani understood exactly what he was asking, but it was easier to play dumb. “It was just a kiss, Nate. Just one stupid kiss. Nothing special.” The hangdog look on his face made her regret the lie. “We’re colleagues. Friends. Can’t we just leave it at that?”
    His sigh hung heavy in the air, but he never answered her.
    It wasn’t until they were back at Douglas to pick up her car that she spoke again. “Look, how about you come to a cookout this weekend?”
    “I thought you said we weren’t—”
    She dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. “Not as a
date.
It’s just the Ladies having a relaxing Saturday together. It’ll give you a chance to get to know Mallory and Beth. They are teachers at our school, after all.”
    “Fine. When and where?”
    “Just like that?”
    “Just like that.”

Chapter Six
    “Wow. What a cutie.” Bethany nudged Dani with her elbow. “I see why you brought him today. Makes a great first date with so many guys for him to talk to.”
    “It’s not a
date
,” Dani insisted. She smoothed her hand down her white capris and adjusted the spaghetti strap of her purple top since it kept dropping to one side. “The poor guy was just shell-shocked after the first weeks at school, and he needed a place to relax. He doesn’t know too many people in town.” She shrugged, causing the strap to fall against her upper arm again. “I’m just being nice.”
    Juliana sat down on one of the seats in the new gazebo Robert had recently completed. She popped open her Diet Coke as Mallory took the opposite side. Both were dressed as casually as Dani, probably to avoid the heat. Beth wore a pink sundress that suited her dark hair and complexion.
    The manny was inside the house with the Wilson twins and Beth’s daughter, Emma. They’d exhausted themselves on the enormous jungle gym and were all napping in earnest. Made for a nice, quiet, and rather lazy afternoon.
    “Did you card