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

forward to touch the corner of her mouth. ‘If we’re going to travel together with this “thing” between us, why not make it a good thing rather than a problem?’
    ‘Because you don’t mean that.’ She tried to laugh. ‘It’s just a line to get what you want and then move on.’
    He frowned and withdrew his hand. ‘Hey, you were the one pursuing me, remember?’
    Anger threaded through her confusion and arousal. ‘Because I knew sex would get you panting after me. And it worked, didn’t it? Thanks for reminding me, Saint Dakota.’
    ‘But it’s not just about sex . . .’
    She cut through his denial, stepped away from him. ‘Of course it is.’
    ‘But dammit, I like you, Robyn.’
    She pushed past him with the cart and headed for the jeans section. God, he’d made her want to cry again. How long was it since someone had said they liked her without wanting something in return? She stared at the ranks of blue denim, grabbed the first pair of size fours she saw.
    ‘Robyn . . .’
    She swung around to stare at Dakota. He leant against the corner of the display, one hand in his pocket, his eyes full of concern – for her. It was if he saw through her bravado to the scared mixed-up girl at her center.
    ‘It’s OK if you don’t agree with me. I just thought this was a great way for us to meet halfway.’ He shrugged and handed her a wad of folded bills. ‘Obviously I’m an idiot. I’ll meet you at the front of the store when you’re ready, OK? No rush.’
    She watched him walk away, her whole body trembling. Was he right? Was it possible for them to start again, to pretend to have the kind of relationship she’d once dreamt about? Robyn drew in a shaky breath. The trouble was, she wasn’t sure if she was capable of dealing with a hot sexy guy who wanted her. Her therapist always said she’d gotten so used to being in abusive relationships that she unconsciously looked for the kind of men who treated her like shit.
    Dakota wouldn’t treat her like shit.
    She put the jeans into the cart without bothering to try them on and moved toward the sandals. There sure was a lot to think about. It was about time she had a man who treated her nice. And somehow she knew she could at least trust Dakota that far. The rest of her romantic yearnings were just a stupid dream. Robyn forced a smile. Whatever happened she was going to have sex with him and enjoy it.
    She studied the rows of shoes and set off down the first aisle. Dakota had told her to take her time and now she intended to take him at his word.
    Dakota checked his watch for the fifteenth time and sighed. How long did it take to buy a few items of clothing? Obviously hours if you were Robyn, whatever her surname was, Smith. Perhaps he’d scared her off with his stupid idea of them getting it on. But, hell, he couldn’t lie to himself anymore. He was attracted to her. She was such an addictive mix of sex and sass that he just wanted to listen to her rant at him for ever.
    He leant back against the magazine display rack. He wouldn’t mind another look at her breasts either, if he was being honest, or her long legs or her pussy. His cock stirred in his jeans. Damn it had been hard to ride the Ducati with her clinging on to him like a limpet, her hands tantalizingly close to his growing shaft.
    She wouldn’t be easy that was for sure. But that kind of easy had never attracted him anyway. He’d always liked a challenge and beneath that hard shell was a vulnerability that called to his protective nature. He smiled as he saw her emerge from the crowd of shoppers, a determined look on her face. His gut stirred in anticipation. She spotted him and frowned.
    ‘Why didn’t you get in line?’
    He walked across to her. ‘I would’ve been through three times by now, you took so long.’
    ‘You told me to take my time.’
    ‘Yeah, I did, didn’t I?’ He followed her to the shortest line and grinned down at her. He gestured at the cart. ‘So did you