Her Dakota Summer by Dahlia DeWinters Read Free Book Online Page A

this?”
    Celeste spun around, her keys biting into her hand. “Not like it’s any business of yours, but he’s my nanny.”
    Michael snorted. “A male nanny? First time I’ve ever seen one. Couldn’t get a real job, son?”
    “That’s not your concern.” Dakota made as if to close the door, but Celeste stopped him.
    “Don’t call me again. Being friends is off the table.” She let Dakota close the door then.
     
    * * * *
     
    Dakota turned off the porch light. The man could make his way to his car in the dark. His primary concern was Celeste.
    Celeste sat on the sofa, her purse clutched in her lap. He switched on a low table lamp and sat beside her.
    “Are you all right?”
    Nodding, she took a deep breath. “Just getting it together before I go up to see Jackson.”
    “Jackson’s asleep.” He wanted to bury his nose in that special place at the bend of her neck, inhale her smell so that she would be with him forever. His dick began to swell, rising and pressing against the fabric of his shorts. He shifted on the sofa, glad of the low lamp light.
    Celeste turned to him, a glint of suspicion in her gaze. “Then why did you say…”
    “It was the least obtrusive thing I could say to defuse the situation,” he said. “I didn’t know what the guy was going to do next and I wanted to get you into the house as quickly as I could. I’m sorry for the lie.”
    Her full lips curled into a half-smile. “Well,” she said. “You are a good attorney, aren’t you?”
    “Except for the ‘I’m sorry for the lie’ part.” He touched her arm again, this time letting his fingers rest against her velvety soft skin. Her lips were begging to be kissed and her warm, sugary fragrance was drawing him closer. “You won’t be seeing him again.” He meant to phrase it as a question, but it came out between a statement and a command.
    Celeste raised her delicate eyebrows. “How much of the conversation did you hear?”
    “Enough,” he admitted. “But not so much.”
    This time, she laughed. “Another lawyerly answer.” She tossed her purse onto the coffee table, yawned. “I guess I’d better get to bed.” She shook her head, but made no move to get up. “What a way to end the night.”
    They sat there side by side. Adrenaline mixed with arousal flowed through his body and he decided, now or never. He had waited over three weeks for this and didn’t have the patience to wait any longer.
    “Let me make it better for you.” He kissed her full lips and pulled her body against his. She tasted both tangy and darkly sweet, the flavors mingling and fueling his ardor.
    “Dakota.” She exhaled and up at him. “I don’t think…”
    “Hold that thought.” In answer, he kissed her again, and it was better than the first time. He prolonged the kiss, stroking her tongue with his own until she responded by sliding her arms around his neck and pulling him against her.
    Dakota strained toward her, every cell in his body wanting, needing her, but she pulled away and slid toward the end of the couch.
    “Celeste…” He reached for her, but she got up and crossed the room, away from him. His erection still stood at the ready and he was disoriented and trembling with desire. “Come back. It’s all right.”
    Celeste shook her head, hugging her elbows. “There was nothing right about what we just did.”
    “What do you mean? It wasn’t okay? You didn’t want me to kiss you?” Dakota felt as if he were being scolded for reaching into the cookie jar, which only made him want the sweet treasures inside more. Her breasts swelled over the low neckline of the sundress and he ached to touch the soft flesh. Instead he balled his hands into fists and squeezed them tightly.
    “It’s not that, Dakota, but…” She shook her head again and brought her hand to her mouth. The image of her touching the lips he’d just kissed was more than he could bear and it was only the force of will that kept him seated. To chase after