Over the Line by Emmy Curtis Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers under her chin and made her eyes meet his. Then he leaned forward to kiss her gently on the lips, smoothing the hair off her face. “I’m sorry about that. But I saw you, and you looked so beautiful. I thought about doing that all the time we were downrange together. I want to see where this goes. You have to admit our chemistry is insane.”
    She looked into his eyes and he wondered what she saw there. “I don’t know. I mean yes, of course we have chemistry. I just have no interest in a relationship, so I don’t do… this.” A small line furrowed her brow. “I don’t want to deploy and leave someone at home. I don’t want the stress, the wondering what he’s doing, who he’s with. I need a clean mind when I go. You should understand that.”
    Fuck. His heart shrunk in his chest as disappointment rushed through him as quickly as desire had. “Sure I do.” He nearly choked on the words. What was up with her? Had someone done the dirty on her while she was deployed? He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “Whatever you need. And speaking of that…” He gestured with both hands toward her and the rail of clothes and the various bits of underwear that were draped over the chaise and the rail. “Just tell her we’ll take everything, and we’ll sort it all out later.”
    She nodded as he stepped away from her and moved toward the door. Every bone in his body ached for her again. He paused to look at her, sexy with her newly mussed hair. And then he remembered his recent errand and delved into his pocket.
    “I nearly forgot. You gave me a great idea in the car.” He tossed her a ring box in Tiffany’s signature blue. “Marry me? I figured we may as well draw a line under our relationship. Show people, especially my parents, they can’t mess with us this weekend.”
    She laughed uncertainly as she opened the box. Her hand flew to her throat in surprise, and then her expression turned wistful. “Oh, it’s beautiful.” She dragged her gaze from it and said with a frown, “For God’s sake, don’t lose the receipt!”
    “I’ll see you outside.” And against every impulse in his body, he closed the door behind him, and on his every fantasy of actually being in a relationship with her.

Chapter Six
    As the shopping assistant was scanning the labels on the clothes, they argued over who was paying. “I’m not letting you buy clothes for me—it’s weird.”
    “Look. You’re doing me this favor, so I’m paying. Also, I don’t just have a Senior’s salary. I have a trust fund, too.”
    She eyed him accusingly. “Wait a minute. You’ll avoid your family, but still take money from your trust fund? That’s kind of low.”
    “The trust fund is from my grandmother, who spent way more time with me than my parents did when I was a kid. And for your information, I absolutely only touch it when I’m trying to buy a lady’s affection. Or buy an Audi.” He shrugged fake-casually. “Mostly, those are the only times I use it anyway.”
    She didn’t bat an eye. “Still, there’s no way you’re buying shit for me. Let it go.”
    “That comes to twelve thousand, three hundred and twenty-six dollars, fifteen cents. Will that be on your Nordstrom card?” the disapproving assistant said.
    Beth froze.
    “Still want to pay?” he asked fake-innocently.
    “Not even slightly. You go ahead.” Damn. Could she feel any more like Julia freaking Roberts right now?
    He laughed at her. “As I thought.”
    She punched him on his arm as he turned to pass his black metal card across the counter. Holy hell. All those clothes. All those Jimmy Choos. She was going to hell.
    At least she’d be well-dressed for the devil.
    Her brand new ring flashed on her hand. She’d never thought she was the type to wear diamonds. Or maybe she never expected to inspire a man to want to give her diamonds. But this ring was the most incredible one she’d ever seen. Instead of a traditional diamond on a band, the ring was