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

“Ali, stop.” He grabbed her arm and spun her around to look at him.
    “What?”
    “Sweetheart, what are you doing?”
    “I told you, I have to drop this stuff off…Johnny, I don’t have time to—”
    “Stop and take a breath.” He released his grip and rubbed her arms with his palms. “Do you think running on autopilot is gonna make this easier?”
    “I’m just trying to get it over with. If you’re waiting for me to fall apart, you’re wasting your time.”
    Johnny leaned in and kissed her with more force and heat than he had intended, but he needed to get her blood running again.
    “What are you doing?” She broke free from him. “I don’t have time for this.”
    The swell of her lips and the new color on her cheeks was the sexiest damn thing he’d ever seen. Yep, she was still alive. “I wanted to make sure your heart was still beating and you still have air in your lungs.” He’d stirred her alright, tension and anxiety flared from her like fire. “I’m coming with you.”
    She glared at him. “This isn’t a pleasure trip. I’ll have to see Carl and you being there—”
    He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I am coming with you.” His tone was gentler this time, not wanting it to sound like a demand.
    When she nodded, he leaned in and kissed her again. She pulled away, her eyebrows drawn together, and a frown tugging at her lips. “The drive will give us time to talk about this.”
    “Talking is overrated,” he said with a playful grin.
    Johnny went back inside to finish loading. When he picked up a box it chattered like broken glass. “Um…something might be broken in this box.” He lifted the lid and found several broken framed photos.
    “Don’t worry about it. Some things didn’t survive my packing.”
    Johnny grinned, yep, there’s the Ali he was looking for. 

    After placing the last couple of boxes in the truck, he tied down the load while Ali went inside to change her clothes. Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the house looking dangerously hot in a flowing bronze and beige summer dress and a pair of sexy sandals.
    “Nice…” he said looking her up and down. Ali gave him a quick smile and tugged on a light sweater to cover her shoulders. When she pulled the keys out of her purse, Johnny reached out and took them from her, and laid his hand on her elbow to lead her to the passenger seat.
    “I can drive,” Ali said.
    “No, I’ll drive—you navigate.”
    She stared at him for a long moment then nodded and let him lead her to the truck.
    When Johnny pulled out of the neighborhood, she directed him to the freeway before sucker punching him with ‘the talk’ .
    “I meant what I said before, Johnny. I’m not capable of any kind of a relationship with you…I like you…”
    “But?”
    “But I need to concentrate on my kids and going back to work. I thought I explained all this at your house the other day.”
    “Maybe I’m not willing to walk away so easily?”
    “You don’t have a choice.”
    “How can you say that after…” he glanced over at her, “after spending that night in Maui together? I know you felt everything I felt.”
    “It was the wedding—seeing Mark and Sarah so happy. It made me feel lonely.” Her tone changed to breezy and she said, “This isn’t about you. It’s about me…and my kids.”
    He closed his eyes for a second and tried not to take that personal. “You know…” He exhaled, fighting for objectivity. “You don’t have to be lonely, Ali.”
    “If you knew me better you wouldn’t be interested in pursuing this anyway.”
    “Do you think I’ll judge you for cheating on Mark?”
    She rolled her eyes. “You should, I would.”
    Johnny reached over and grabbed her hand. “I don’t like the way you talk about yourself. We all make mistakes. You were in a loveless marriage—one that started when you were too young.”
    She pulled her hand out of his grip. “That doesn’t make any of it okay.”
    “How