Nan Ryan

Nan Ryan by Kathleens Surrender Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Nan Ryan by Kathleens Surrender Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kathleens Surrender
room just as Kathleen was smiling at Dan Logan and Dan was pulling her closer. He wore a relaxed, lazy smile. When the music stopped, Dan walked Kathleen back to Dawson and said, “She’s a marvelous dancer, Dawson, and she’s a real beauty, too.”
    “Yes, she is,” Dawson smiled down at her. “I think we’d better be going, dear, it’s getting late.”
    “All right,” she said and they went to get their wraps.
    When the big front doors closed behind the departing couple, the smile left Dawson’s face and his eyes turned cold. He took Kathleen’s elbow without a word and pulled her down the long walk. His grip was so tight it hurt her arm. She looked up and saw the strange expression on his face and was puzzled. “Dawson, you’re hurting me,” she said. He gave no answer and didn’t loosen his grip on her arm. He shoved her up into the carriage and climbed in beside her.
    “What’s wrong?” she said, cringing at the look on his face. He didn’t turn his head to look at her. “Dawson, look at me. What is wrong with you? You’re acting so strange, you frighten me. I’ve never seen you like this.”
    He turned at last and snarled at her, “You know very well what’s wrong, so stop acting coy.” He turned and stared straight ahead.
    Stunned and confused, she reached up and put her fingers to his face. He drew her hand away and placed it in her lap. “Dawson, please,” she begged, “tell me what has happened. Did the man you had a meeting with give you some bad news or did …”
    All at once, Dawson whirled on her. “I leave your side for five minutes and you’re in some other man’s arms. And you’re smiling up at him and flirting and …”
    “Dawson, the man’s your friend. You took me to the party, remember? He asked me to dance and I accepted because he is your friend. Why are you mad at me? I didn’t do anything wrong, I didn’t.” She started crying, tears overflowing from the hurt blue eyes.
    He saw the tears and it touched his heart; he was immediately sorry for making her cry. His dark eyes softened and his arm came around her and pulled her to him. He put his fingers under her chin and raised her face to his. Sad tears streamed down the fresh young cheeks and he wanted to bite off his tongue for hurting her. “Oh, darling, I’m so sorry. Please don’t cry. I’m so mean and selfish, it’s just, well, when I saw you in Dan’s arms, I couldn’t stand it. I wanted to run to you and tear him away from you. I’m a jealous fool, but I can’t help it. I can’t stand any man’s hands on you but mine. Please forgive me.” He wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned down to kiss the trembling lips. Her arms came around his neck and she whispered, “You frightened me, Dawson, you looked so mean and I didn’t know …”
    “Oh, darling, I know and I’m sorry. I don’t ever want to frighten you, I would never, ever hurt you, you know that.”
    “Well, I just don’t understand why …”
    “Because, Kathleen Diana Beauregard, I lose all logic when you are around. I’m crazy about you, honey, and I can’t stand to share you with anyone else. The thought of another man touching you makes me insanely jealous.” Dawson lowered his voice to a faint whisper and put his lips to her ear. “You see, darling, I’m completely obsessed with you. You’re all I ever think of, all I ever want. The only reason I take you out to parties is because you’re young and pretty and I know you like to dress up and go out where there’s fun and gaiety. If I had my way, I’d never share you. I’d take you to my big house where there would never be anyone to dance with but me.” His lips dropped from her ear to the pulse in her neck. He softly kissed the faint throbbing there and felt it speed up. “I’m sorry I scared you, honey, I promise I never will again,” and his mouth stayed on her neck.
    Softly, she sighed and murmured, “Oh, Dawson, it’s all right. I wasn’t really

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