Precious Embrace (Embrace Series) by Dana Mason Read Free Book Online

up her life’s experience in so few words.
    He ran a finger across her cheek bone. “I am quite happy to be one of the three.”
    She leaned away, ignoring the tingling left behind by his touch. “I guess I’ve thrown mystery out the window.”
    “True, you do suck at mysterious.” He chuckled, making Micah jump. “Oh, sorry, little guy.” He kissed the top of Micah’s fuzzy head.

    Ali helped Johnny unpack the living room. After the sun set, they ate leftover Chinese food together on the couch and continued to talk about the house, their jobs, and her kids. She thought just maybe they could be friends. They’d had a nice evening and she stayed until she was yawning out her sentences.
    She let Johnny carry Micah and the car seat out to the car for her and he waited for her to strap him into the backseat. She tightened the belts and turned to find him standing too close. She tried to dodge him, but his hands circled her upper arms.
    Ali froze, wishing she didn’t want him so badly. His hands inched up, his fingers threading through her hair and cradling her head, before bringing her mouth to his. Ali’s protests faded away as his tongue slipped between her lips. She should’ve pushed him away, but she gripped the front of his shirt, holding him close.
    “I can’t help myself.” His words came out in pants and he pinned her to the car, arching against her, oh how she wanted him even closer.
    “Damn it all to hell, Ali.” He moved his hands to her face and cupped her chin
    “Johnny…” She sounded tearful, something she absolutely didn’t want him to hear.
    He withdrew from the kiss and propped his forehead against hers. “Do you really want to know when I decided to move to Santa Rosa?”
    She didn’t respond, scared to death of his answer.
    “It was while still inside you, watching the Maui sunrise.” He rested his lips on her temple before pulling away to see her eyes. “And I don’t regret the decision.”
    Ali released his shirt and wrapped her hands around his neck fighting not to cry. Shaking her head, she slid her hands down to push on his chest. “I’m sorry.”
    She dropped into the driver’s seat and closed the door before he could object.

Chapter Six

    Two full days, that’s long enough… right? Not pushy, but still showing interest. Johnny turned into her neighborhood and his pulse kicked up a bit. He felt like a kid, nervous, with stupid butterflies in his stomach. He snickered, knowing that even though she kept pushing him away, she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
    The house came into view, and so did she, tossing a garbage bag into the back of a pick-up truck. He parked and walked up, surprising her. “Hey, sunshine.”
    She jerked her head up to look at him. “Johnny, hi, what are you doing here?”
    “Why do you always ask me that?”
    “What? —oh, sorry,” she said. “How are you?”
    “Spring cleaning?” He peeked into the back of the truck. “What is all this stuff?”
    “Carl’s.” Her eyes darted back to the garbage bag in her hand as she threw it into the back of the truck. “He signed the divorce papers.” She turned away and stepped back toward the house.
    “Hey!”
    She stopped at the front door and glanced at him over her shoulder.
    “Are you okay?”
    She nodded and continued back into the house.
    He followed her in and when she grabbed another garbage bag, he picked one up too. “Where’s Micah?”
    “He’s with Mother. I have to drop this stuff off in Napa.”
    “I’ll tag along.”
    She shook her head and carried the bag outside. “No, I’m fine on my own.”
    “You shouldn’t do this by yourself.” He couldn’t believe the straight look on her face. No emotion, no tears, and no sign of sadness or relief. It wasn’t real, Ali was a passionate woman. He’d experienced her passion first hand. Seeing that dead look in her eyes and her hard expression chilled him, and he wouldn’t just leave and let her deal on her own.