Resisting Her by Kendall Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

better paying job, but swore he’d come
back for her. Despite Savannah’s platonic-only feelings for him, he
was convinced they’d get married someday. He brushed off her
hesitations, telling her they were meant to be together and he was
going to take care of her.
    Cole turned to her and took her hands,
holding them in between his palms. “Listen. He’s not going to find
you here. You’re safe. Okay?”
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    After breakfast Cole announced he was going
to the grocery store. “Is there anything you’d like? You could make
a list,” he encouraged, sliding his wallet into the back pocket of
his jeans.
    “Oh no, you get what you like. I don’t want
to be a pest.”
    “Savannah, you’re not.” His look of sincerity
stopped any further arguments from her, but she didn’t provide him
with a list. He didn’t want to press it, because even after setting
a pad of paper and a pen on the counter, Savannah solemnly shook
her head. He didn’t know if her refusal was because she really felt
like she was overstepping her bounds, or if perhaps she couldn’t
write; so he let it drop.
    At the grocery store his usual routine was to
grab just the essentials and juggle everything in his arms. This
time though, he wandered down each aisle and practically got one of
everything, throwing things into the cart at will. He ventured to
the carpeted section of the superstore where there were racks of
clothing. Savannah probably needed a few essentials, but he didn’t
know her size, or what she might like, so he kept walking. He stood
in an aisle, looking at the plastic packages of underpants. But
damn, buying her panties seemed too forward. He fled, feeling odd
even standing in the aisle.
    He knew that if she stayed longer, they’d
have to cross that bridge and get her more clothes, but not today.
Not by himself. He’d have to bring her along next time so she could
tell him her size. He didn’t allow lovers to stay over, so he
didn’t have so much as a spare toothbrush in his guest bathroom, so
he settled on picking up a toothbrush—something practical, yet
still impersonal. He also tossed pink bottles of shampoo and
conditioner into his cart before heading for the checkout
lanes.
    When he got home Savannah was nowhere to be
found. Her bedroom door was closed, so he went to work putting away
all the groceries, finding that the cabinets were fuller than they
had ever been.
    When Savannah emerged fifteen minutes later,
showered, and once again dressed in the sweats and T-shirt he’d
given her last night, he regretted not buying her any clothes. He
wondered if she even had panties or a bra under them. He watched
her move towards the kitchen and peek inside the cabinets and
fridge.
    “How’d I do?” he asked, coming up behind her,
but bracing himself against the island to keep a physical barrier
between them.
    “Quite well. I can make lasagna, pot pie, do
some baking. This is perfect.”
    Cole smiled, glad that he had pleased her. “I
got these for you too.” He pushed the toothbrush, shampoo and
conditioner toward her.
    Savannah’s eyes lit up as she took the
bottles in her hands. “Thank you.” You would have thought he’d
given her some elaborate gift. Sure, he splurged a little and
bought a brand more expensive than his own cheap shampoo, but he
figured she deserved some basic comforts right now. Her whole life
had just been turned upside down.
    ***
    Savannah watched Cole from the corner of her
eye, trying to figure out his motivation. He only wants you for
what’s between your legs. Jacob’s gruff voice in her head was
unwelcome, yet familiar at the same time. What did Cole want with
her? Thoughts like that had swirled through her mind since she’d
first arrived here. Did he want to touch her? Would he be rough
about it, or whisper and caress her sweetly as he touched her?
Would she stop him if he tried? Scream and kick and run from the
apartment? What would she do then? Maybe she would just let