Riding the Line by Kate Pearce Read Free Book Online Page A

the brakes on. ‘I have money.’
    He raised his eyebrows. ‘I hadn’t noticed.’
    Her cheeks heated at his candid appraisal. ‘I have, just not on me right now.’ She sighed. ‘Look, I can’t keep taking stufffrom you.’
    ‘Why? Do you think that makes you beholden to me or something?’ He shrugged. ‘It’s just money. I’ll lend you a couple hundred bucks, OK? That should be enough to get you a change of clothes and all the other stuffwomen seem to think necessary to survive. You can pay me back when we get to LA.’
    He placed his hand in the small of her back and maneuvered her into the store. It was busy as hell: kids everywhere and parents shouting commands that no one appeared to listen to. Dakota grabbed a cart from an ancient greeter and headed for the ladies’ aisles. Robyn followed slowly along behind.
    ‘Don’t you have to go do something manly like look at guns or fishing tackle and bait?’ she asked.
    ‘Nope. I’d much rather help you choose new panties.’
    Dubiously Robyn scanned the rows of lingerie. Had she ever been in a Wal-Mart before? God, everything was so cheap! She fingered a pair of pink and black lace panties. She was used to wearing Chanterelle or Agent Provocateur which cost hundreds of dollars just for the basics. Perhaps Dakota was right and she would be able to find herself a whole outfit.
    ‘I like these.’
    She turned to find Dakota right behind her. He dangled a tiny scrap of black lace on the tip of his finger.
    ‘You would. I’m not buying them.’
    ‘Maybe I’ll buy them for myself then.’
    She studied his groin. ‘I’m not sure they do them in men’s sizes. You’d only need a small.’
    His slow appreciative grin made her feel all warm inside like pulled taffy. She struggled not to smile back.
    ‘Now, honey, you know that just ain’t true,’ he said.
    ‘I don’t.’
    He considered her. Something in his smile made her skin tingle with anticipation. He moved closer and lowered his voice. ‘Well, I suppose it was dark when you sucked me off, but I’m sure you got a good feel for me.’
    She fought a blush as he took her hand and kissed her fingers. Why did he have to be the one man who attracted her so deeply? What was it about him that made her want to fall into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted to her?
    ‘I thought we were supposed to be buying clothes for me, not listening to you bragging again.’
    He squeezed her fingers and then released them. ‘I’m not bragging, lady.’
    She grabbed the cart and walked blindly forward. The trouble was she knew he wasn’t. A searing memory of his cock filling her mouth made her swallow hard. Their relationship was so awkward. Her all too intimate knowledge of him and that tantalizing spark of unsatisfied lust that burnt between them made it way too difficult to think straight.
    He caught up with her as she was choosing a pack of black T-shirts.
    ‘Robyn, I don’t know how to say this . . .’ He sighed. ‘Damn, this is hard.’
    She glanced down at his jeans. ‘According to you it’s always hard, so what?’
    He shoved his fingers through his dark hair. ‘Will you just listen? I’m kind of out of my depth here. We’ve practically had sex and yet I don’t know you at all.’
    ‘So?’
    ‘So I know I should keep away from you, but I just get this sense of unfinished business, that if we did make love the sheets would go up in flames.’
    She stared into his intent hazel eyes, unable to look away. So he felt it too, then, the frisson of sexual excitement every time they touched. She dropped the T-shirts into the cart and folded her arms across her chest.
    ‘So what?’
    He smiled slowly. Of course, close up, the laughter lines around his eyes only made him more attractive. ‘So how about we start again? Take it slow, see what happens along the way.’
    ‘You’re courting me now?’
    ‘Could you just be serious for one second?’
    She bit her lip. ‘I don’t know.’
    He reached