It Had to Be Love (An It Had to Be Novel) by Tamra Baumann Read Free Book Online

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    She backed up to put a little distance between them until her lower back hit the kitchen island. “Your home is stunning, Ryan. I’m impressed.”
    “Thanks.” He held out his palm. “Can I see your right hand, please?”
    “I’m fine. Are you hungry?”
    Ryan took a small step closer and her blood pressure spiked. But then he stopped, with his hand still held out, waiting for her to comply.
    He wasn’t taking no for an answer, apparently.
    She slowly moved closer and laid her hand in his big, rough one. “It’s nothing compared to your nose. I’m still just sick about that.”
    When his thumb slowly, and ever so gently, swept across her bruised palm, it sent a sensual shiver up her spine. Not so different from how her stomach reacted when he smiled at her. Why did she have to be so attracted to someone she needed to avoid? Had he noticed her mixed reaction to him?
    His slowly growing mischievous grin answered that question. Now she was back to being mortified again.
    He stared into her eyes as his thumb continued to caress her palm. “How about I promise to stop sneaking up on you, and you promise you’ll refrain from beating me up?” His grin turned into a wide smile and her traitorous lips couldn’t help but follow suit.
    She nodded as she gazed into his eyes that shone with amusement. Her sensible side told her to leave and never look back, but his touch felt really . . . nice. “Deal—”
    The screen door banged and a little voice called out, “Uncle Ryan?”
    Ryan gave Tara’s hand a gentle squeeze before he released it. He spun around and caught Meg’s daughter, who had launched herself at him. “Hey there.”
    Blonde, adorable Haley patted his chest. “You don’t have your police shirt on. So no candy for me?”
    Meg walked in carrying a bag slung over her wrist and a big pot in her hands. “It’s too close to dinnertime for a Life Saver anyway, Haley.” Meg put the pot on Ryan’s eight-burner stove and tossed the grocery bag on the counter by the built-in double fridge. “Hey, Tara.”
    “Hi, Meg.” So Ryan kept candy for Haley in his uniform pocket? How adorable was that? “Do you need a hand?”
    “Nope, I got it. Just going to put some stuff in the fridge while I finish getting dinner ready. Josh and Eric will be here in a minute. You should stay.”
    Eric was Tara’s puppy walker, and a sweet kid Meg and Josh were adopting. Eric had saved the puppies and their mother from starvation on the boys’ ranch where he’d been living before Josh brought him and the dogs to live in Anderson Butte. Eric loved the dogs but couldn’t keep them all, so she’d happily taken Sherlock.
    She loved Eric and would have liked to stay because of him. But Josh was a former FBI agent who probably sensed she was lying too. She’d better go.
    While Meg’s back was turned, Ryan opened a cookie jar on the counter and pulled out a pack of cherry Life Savers, then slipped one to Haley. When she squealed, he tapped his finger against his lips, then put her down. Haley grinned as she ran toward the couch and the television’s remote.
    With her back still to them, Meg called out, “You’re supposed to be an adult and setting a good example for your niece. Not sneaking her candy behind my back. You’re paying Tara’s dental bill if Haley gets a cavity!”
    Ryan’s answer was a smug smirk.
    Sounded like they’d had that discussion a time or two before.
    Tara walked to the living room and grabbed her purse. Then she picked up her to-go meal, leaving Ryan’s boxes behind. “Bye, Haley.”
    Haley sent her a sweet grin and a wave before her attention went straight back to some Disney princess on the screen. Haley was almost three and about the cutest little girl Tara had ever known.
    A pang shot straight to her heart. Spencer had stolen that from her too. The ability to ever have a little Haley of her own.
    Ryan appeared by her side. “You’re not staying?”
    “I’d better get home and