Hidden Moon (Hot Moon Rising #4) by Afton Locke Read Free Book Online Page B

And his jeans. She couldn’t even look at
    them without wanting to brush against his narrow hips and muscular thighs. They fit in
    here better than the dumb business getup he’d worn the day he’d arrived. He even had a
    black bandana tied around his head.
    He stood so close to her his scent—hot and dangerous—weakened her knees. Why
    had she stayed with Curtis so long when she’d never wanted him half this much?
    “More oranges?” He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t understand how people here go
    through so many of them.”
    “Don’t you like them?” she asked.
    “Not really.”
    “Use these up first. They’re riper. I have tomatoes and cucumbers in the truck, too.”
    He carried the crate into the storeroom, and she followed him to the refrigerator.
    When his hand accidentally brushed hers, she died inside because the touch reminded
    her of everything she’d never have—with him or anyone else.
    “You look beat,” she said. “Yesterday was rough, wasn’t it?”
    “I’ve never been so tired in my life.” He rolled his eyes. “I hadn’t realized running a
    restaurant was so hard.”
    “You did a good job. The food tasted good and the waiting times weren’t too long.”
    “I couldn’t have done it without your help,” he said.
    “We make a good team,” she couldn’t help saying. “Is Don home resting?”
    Alan nodded. “I nearly had to tie him down. He didn’t like my decision.”
    Her fingers froze around an orange. “What decision?”
    “To sell the diner.”
    “Oh, Alan, no.”
    His dark gaze hardened. “I told you I can’t stay.”
    “Why not?” she demanded. “Do you have wild parties every night up there? A million
    friends?”
    “No. I live alone and do my job, which is all I need.”
    It sounded like a lonely, unhappy existence to her. “The pack needs you.” I need you.
    “Yeah, right.” He tossed an orange so hard it bounced inside the fridge. “They need
    me like a hole in the head.”
    33

    “Careful. The ripe ones bruise more easily.” Like her heart. She grabbed his wrist,
    overwhelmed by the electric tingles shooting up her arm. “They don’t know it yet, but I
    sense danger to the pack.”
    “I live alone because I like it,” he said. “It also gives me some peace and dignity. Most
    of all, I’m less likely to accidentally kill somebody.”
    “How sad for you,” she said in a small voice.
    He stood abruptly, letting her hand fall. “I’ll grab the other crates of vegetables. Are
    they in the back of your truck?”
    A ball of fire bloomed in her abdomen. If she couldn’t talk him into staying, there was
    only one other way, and it happened to be something she really wanted. She stood, too,
    and closed the refrigerator door.
    “The vegetables can wait.” She brushed the orange across her breasts, raising the
    nipples through the fabric of her pink shirt. “I can’t.”
    “Jesus, Shelley. What are you trying to do?” His gaze rested on her chest, heavy as a
    hand, and his aroused scent charged the air.
    “Leave if you have to.” She dropped her hand, feeling silly for acting like a seductress.
    “I just ask one thing before you go. Make love with me.”
    “That would be a very bad idea.” But his voice had a big crack in it.
    “Just once,” she amended. “I’ll never be with another man.”
    “You should marry Curtis. You know him a lot better than you do me.”
    “You’ve got that right. I don’t know you at all.” She turned her back on him. “Get the
    damn crates.”
    As soon as he left, she tore a hunk of skin off the orange she held and took a messy
    bite of it. Tears spattered her cheeks, but the scents of citrus and salt couldn’t cleanse
    away Alan’s. Need, male and raw, hung in the air, tormenting her. If she wasn’t his cup
    of tea, she could accept that, but they were mates. Why did he have to be so logical?
    When he came back, he dropped the crates on the counter. His muscular arms
    glistened with sweat from carrying