Kade: Armed and Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray Read Free Book Online Page B

her to him... the hammer of his heartbeat against her chest...
     wanting him, so much. Such warmth. Fire, burning her skin wherever his lips trailed.
     Her breasts aching beneath his slow and deliberate touch. Kade’s mouth on her nipples,
     his tongue swirling across one and then the other. His naked body pressed against
     hers, his arousal melting her resolve.
    She surrendered, losing herself-—
    Kelsey woke with a start, her heart pounding an uneven rhythm. She took a deep breath
     and blinked away the sensual dream and stared up at the ceiling. Moonlight and shadows
     flickered and danced across the white textured surface.
    Lose myself. That was exactly what would happen if she surrendered to any man, and exactly why
     she couldn’t allow it to happen with Kade.
    And yet, she wanted more of him.
    Damn. Even her dreams betrayed her.
    Kade’s words whispered through her mind. I’m not lying, and I’m not your ex or your
     father.
    “I can’t believe I slept so late,” Kelsey told Sadie as she sat at the breakfast table
     in the copper and verdigris-green kitchen. The aroma of baked bread and cinnamon met
     her nose, and her stomach growled. “It must have been those allergy pills.”
    “You probably needed the sleep.” Sadie handed Kelsey a glass of orange juice. “Nothing
     like country air to give you a good night’s rest.”
    “Thanks.” Kelsey took a long drink, then set the glass on the table. “Must be true.
     I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed. Where are Kade and Trent?”
    “Kade left early for work.” Sadie grabbed a set of oven mitts, opened the oven door,
     then pulled a shallow pan out of the oven.
    A strange wave of disappointment flowed through Kelsey. Why should she care that Kade
     left before she could see him? She didn’t need an adolescent obsession and she refused
     to think about him another second. Not one.
    “Trent’s feeding the pigs.” Sadie set a pan on the stove and nodded toward the window.
     Kelsey looked out to see the sunshine warming a rose bed and willow branches dancing
     in a breeze.
    Sadie blew a strand of chestnut hair out of her face as she wrapped up a square of
     cooled coffee cake and added it to a growing stack. “Would you like some Polish coffee
     cake?”
    “I’ve never heard of Polish coffee cake, but it looks wonderful.”
    Kelsey’s mouth watered as she breathed in the aroma. “It smells heavenly.”
    Sadie handed her a plate with a thick slice. As soon as Kelsey tasted it, she realized
     it was more than heavenly. Thin yeast bread with anise seeds baked in, then a cinnamon,
     sugar, and butter topping crumbled on top, and another topping drizzled over that.
    “It’s to die for.” Kelsey sighed around a mouthful of the treat. “I’m going to gain
     ten pounds just from the smell of your cooking.”
    Laughing, Sadie whisked off her apron. “I wouldn’t worry about pounds around here.
     Lots of walking. Good for the body—and the mind and soul. What’re your plans for today?”
    Kelsey swallowed a delicious bite before answering. “I’d like to start with interviewing
     you.”
    The woman plopped a wide-brimmed hat on her dark curls. “Let me know when you’re ready.
     I’ll be in the garden.” She grabbed a metal bucket from the counter. “I’m dumping
     these scraps in the compost heap. Nothing goes to waste here, so don’t throw away
     any leftovers.”
    “No danger of a crumb of this going to the compost.” Kelsey smiled and rubbed her
     stomach. “Only problem is, it’ll be going to my waist.”
    “You’ll see how much exercise you get, just hanging around this place.” Sadie laughed
     and headed out the back door with the scrap bucket.
    Kelsey couldn’t help like Sadie, not to mention Chuck and Trent. What a wonderful
     family Kade had.
    Her heart gave a twinge. A family... she’d had a family, too, before her parents and
     sister were taken away. And if Davis loved anyone besides himself she could have had