Where Their Hearts Collide: Wardham Book #2 by Zoe York Read Free Book Online Page B

that, and he couldn’t help but return the grin. Even if he hadn’t remembered her name, this girl was a prime example of just how nice the people of Wardham could be. That made him think of the nicest member of the Chamber of Commerce, and he spun on his stool to look for Karen. He found her quickly. Too quickly. She was leaning against the back wall, being talked at by the blond farmer, but her gaze was firmly pinned on Paul, and she didn’t look pleased.
    He wrinkled his brow, asking the obvious question. Her sweeping look at Stella, then back to him, made the disapproval obvious. He chuckled. Oh, she was too cute. The warmth of a few beers had eased his usual tight rein, and after watching her flirt all night, he was done with being restrained.
    “ I’m heading out.” He left his beer bottle on the bar and tapped the intern on her shoulder. “See you next week.”
    He took his time standing up, enjoying the play of emotions dance across Karen’s face. Without breaking eye contact, he strolled across the pub. When he reached her, he stretched his hand out to the farmer with a terse introduction, but kept his attention focused on his neighbour. His beautiful, jealous neighbour.
     
    “I thought I’d head home, wanted to see if you’d like some company for the walk.” His voice was low, meant for her ears only, and the rich timbre rubbed into her heart like a soothing balm.
    A balm she’d do her best to resist. What on earth was he thinking, chatting up a woman a dozen years his junior? When he’d made it crystal clear that he wasn’t interested in dating.
    Unless that was a lie, and it was just her he didn’t want to date. The thought slipped out of her mind and wrapped itself around her throat. He wouldn’t do that. Would he? She really didn’t know him. Frankly, she was pretty sure she knew his daughter better. Megan wouldn’t deceive someone to spare their feelings. God love ten year olds and their straightforward approach to life.
    “You’re doing that thing again, thinking on your face.” He ducked his head, bringing his lips to her ears. “I’d love to see what that looks like when you’re turned on.”
    She jerked away, bumping into the wall behind her. “You’re drunk.”
    “Little bit. Will you be my safety walk home?” He glanced to the man at her left. She’d dated Blake for five minutes a decade earlier, before he moved on to Portia Wilkins. He was still fun to hang out with at Danny’s, but there was zero chemistry. In both directions, which was the story of her life. Paul didn’t need to know that, though.
    “I don’t know if I can, we were just...” Crap on a stick. She couldn’t play that game. “You know what? Yes. I’d like to walk home with you.”
    Blake headed to a table at the back with a shrug and she grabbed her sweater.
    They were almost to the end of the main drag before either of them spoke. The silence was nice, and Karen wasn’t sure how much talking she wanted a tipsy Paul to do. On the one hand, she really wanted him to whisper more in her ear about sex. On the other, he would regret it in the morning, and go back to pretending he liked being celibate.
    “You don’t have anything to be jealous about,” he said, as they turned the corner to their street. The entire town was quiet. It wasn’t late, probably only nine o’clock, but there was enough of a nip in the air that anyone who could be was inside, curled up on a couch.
    “I wasn’t —”
    “ —yeah, you were. Your face, remember?” She would have argued again, but the words stilled on the tip of her tongue as he slipped his hand around hers. Good lord, holding hands with him made her twitchy with want.
    “ Stella’s quite young. And you work with her.”
    “I know. And I know. I wasn’t flirting with her, I promise. She’s one of the few people I kn ow here, that’s all.”
    “You don’t need to promise me anything.” It sounded false even as she said it. He didn’t owe her