Lost in You: Petal, Georgia, Book 2 by Lauren Dane Read Free Book Online Page A

grinned. “Love you too, goofus. See you three tomorrow night.” She turned to Joe, who led the way out, his hand on the small of her back.
    His truck was at the curb. “I was hoping for the bike.”
    “You like motorcycles?”
    “I’ve never ridden on one.”
    He looked shocked. “Get out of town.”
    “I’m serious.”
    He opened her door, and she hopped up into the cab, waiting for him to come around the other side.
    “Riding on a motorcycle is one of life’s greatest pleasures, Beth.”
    “I’m on Maple. Just go up here and hang that first left.” He followed her directions. “Then to 4th, go right and right again on Maple. So you should take me then.”
    “Huh?” He’d imagined taking her a few dozen different ways over the last few weeks. And then he realized she meant the motorcycle. “Oh for a ride?”
    “Yes.”
    She smiled, and it made him all sweaty, both the good and bad kind. She was the wiliest female he’d ever met. And she was beautiful. And she had the most awesome boobs he’d beheld in several years.
    “I’m the blue townhouse. The driveway on the right is mine.”
    He pulled up and turned the engine off, and she reached for the door handle.
    “Don’t you think about touching that door.” He got out and moved around to her side to open the door for her. She hopped down.
    “Look at you with your manners and everything. I should let you know, however, that I totally have opening doors down. It’s a skill I’ve had mastered for many years now.” She fluttered her lashes.
    He snorted. “Look here, we may come from the crappy side of town, but I know how to open a lady’s door. And I’m going to walk you inside too.”
    They walked to her front door and she unlocked it. He went in first and turned to leave, but she closed the door, backing against it.
    She smiled that smile of hers, the one that made him sweaty.
    “How about you and me make a deal?”
    “I know I’m going to be sorry for asking, but I can’t help myself. What deal would that be?”
    “I was going to invite you to share a beer or two with me. But Buck is at home all alone so we can’t have that. So. Why don’t you run home, grab Buck and come back over? Then you can enjoy a beer and Buck won’t be lonely. Really, Joe, it’s the neighborly thing to do. Otherwise you’d be rude. That would suck.”
    He couldn’t help it, he laughed, he was so charmed. Damn it.
    But. She was a temptation. A big one. He shouldn’t have volunteered to drive her home in the first place, and yet, he’d jumped at the chance when he got it.
    This was dangerous ground. But he had no energy to stop himself from going down a path that would end in kissing those damned lips of hers.
    “You’re fascinating to watch.”
    “Huh?”
    She walked to where he stood. He told himself he didn’t move because the hall was narrow and she was between him and the door.
    She put a hand on his chest as she took him in. “Every emotion is all over your face. But I won’t poke at you just now. A man can only take so much. Or so I’m told. Go get your dog. I’ll be waiting for you.” She stepped aside, and he sucked in a breath that was heavy with her scent.
    He started to argue.
    She rolled her eyes. “Really? You know you want to. So go on now. Buck will like the company.”
    He huffed a sigh. “Probably. He likes company. Beth, you know this can’t be more than friends.”
    She raised a brow. “Oh good Lord. You’re here in my house. Not because we’re friends. You’re going to run and grab your adorable dog to bring him back here, not because he likes company. You want to be with me. You want to get to know me not as William’s sister. You’re a grown-ass man. I don’t play games. Life’s too short.”
    He stared at her. She wore a short-sleeved dress with a collar that should have made her look matronly but instead only made her look better. More feminine. Her legs were long and sun-kissed.
    Beth Murphy was flat-out