Run the Risk by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online

physically or otherwise.
    And yet, here she sat. Having pizza. Talking.
    After allowing him to kiss her into oblivion and grope her on
the sofa. She put her head in her hands and fought off a groan.
    Pushing his chair back from the table, his dinner forgotten, he
concentrated on her. “What else?”
    Because it felt as if he might pounce on her at any moment
despite his promise not to rush her, Pepper left her chair and stood behind it.
Judging by the look on his face, he saw it as a defensive move. She knew it was
more a matter of control: around him, she had none.
    Slowly, he stood.
    Before he took a step toward her—and before she pounced on
him—she said, “I barely know you.”
    “Okay.” He held out his arms. “I’m an open book. What do you
want to know?”
    Why do you want me so badly? No,
she couldn’t ask him anything that blunt. “Everything, I guess.”
    “Will you sit down and finish eating while I give you a verbal
resume?”
    Why not? She was still hungry, the pizza still hot. “Okay.” Not
looking at him, she took her seat and again bit into her pizza.
    “Long or short version?”
    Everything, in minute detail. She shook her head. “I don’t mean
to pry exactly—”
    “Long it is.” He smiled, waited until she got a mouthful, then
said, “Never been married, but was engaged once. Have a degree in business, but
haven’t used it because I enjoy the freedom of construction more. I’ve been all
over the country, but prefer the Midwest. I’m thirty-two, love watching all
sports and enjoy playing softball or football. I detest shopping of any kind,
even for groceries, but I’m a fair cook when forced to it. I really like
animals, but don’t have any because, well, living in a place like this, it
wouldn’t be fair to the animal, right? Dogs especially deserve a big backyard.
In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t really trust anyone who doesn’t
like animals, so do you?”
    It took Pepper a moment to realize he’d slipped a question in
there. She swallowed down her bite and nodded. “Yes, but for the same reasons
you just gave—” and many more “—I don’t have any
pets, either.” Someday, in her fantasy future, she’d love to have pets, lots of
them. Kids, too…no, she wouldn’t, couldn’t think that way.
    It’d only depress her.
    “So we have that in common,” Logan said. “My folks have an
ancient German shepherd that loves to swim. I think it’s easier for him than
running, less stress on his hips.”
    Slipping in her own question, she asked, “Why didn’t you
marry?”
    “Haven’t met the right woman, I guess. I want to someday.” He
gestured. “You know, home, hearth, holidays with two kids, a cat and a dog. All
that.”
    “You were engaged?” she prompted.
    “Yeah, for over a year.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It
was all good until she decided I had to take a job with her daddy, and her daddy
was a grade-A prick, so…” He shrugged. “Couldn’t work it out.”
    That sounded like the absolute truth, but could that really be
the whole story? “You don’t sound particularly heartbroken over it.”
    His expression warmed. Belatedly, she decided that prim and
proper Sue Meeks should have reacted some to his language. But, oh, well. Too
late now.
    “Funny thing, that. I never was.” Done eating, he slouched back
in his chair and cradled his beer on his midsection. “I mean, I was pissed.
Maybe even a little…” He searched for a word and settled on, “Disappointed. But
I guess I never really loved her, not the way you should love someone if you’re
going to spend a lifetime together.”
    “How long ago was that?”
    “Few years.” He gave her a searching look. “What about you?
Ever been serious about anyone?”
    “No.”
    Because she’d answered so quickly, he laughed. “Okay.” He
nodded at her empty plate. “All done?”
    Thrown by the change in topic, she looked at her plate and was
surprised that she’d eaten so