Worth the Drive by Mara Jacobs Read Free Book Online Page A

decided to call it. He smiled at her. It was a soft smile, full of concern, and made her feel as warm as the sun had earlier in the day. It rushed throu gh her body like the tequila . “Are you going to be okay?” he asked her.
    Good question. She certainly didn’t feel okay. Her mind was still a little fuzzy, but slowly coming back into focus.
    This was so unlike her. She hardly ever drank, and when she did, it was alwa ys just one with the girls. But Lizzie had said that these two days were about getting away from everything, and she was determined to do that. She just hadn’t thought she’d do it with alcohol. Oh well… spilt milk. Or spilt tequila in this case.
    He asked if she was going to be okay. She didn’t have the answer, but she nodded at Darío anyway. “Sorry I fell asleep.”
    He shrugged, seemingly not put off by either her inebriated state or her falling asleep. Maybe it was something he was used to. Binky certainly seemed no stranger to the bottle.
    “Why is Binky staying here? How come he’s not at the Imperial?” she asked.
    Darío kept his eye on the road as he answered, “The caddies don’t stay where the players stay. It’ s too expensive for them. They usually stay at a cheap er place.”
    Katie nodded. That made sense. They slowed, then stopped at a red light, and Darío turned to her. He studied her face with that same look of concern. She knew the moment the l ook changed from concern to desire . She thought it would startle her, even shock her, but it didn’t. It made her tingle.
    Of course, that could just be the residual effects of the Margaritas, but she didn’t think so. It had been a long time since she’d seen a man show that kind of want in his eyes.
    Sure, she intercepted lecherous looks all the time. And nice gazes, ones of appreciation, that she returned with a soft, asexual, smile. But to be this close to a man who was looking at her like he’d like to have her for dinner? It had been an awfully long time. And it felt…nice. More than nice, she realized as Darío moved a hand to her face.
    He was going to kiss her! The thought literally made her toes curl and the straps of her sandals dug into the tops of her feet. God, she wished she had a mint.
    His hand drew nearer. She could see it clearly from the streetlight. A strong, calloused hand, the indentation of the tape he’d worn earlier still evident. This one much lighter than the one still resting on the steering wheel due to wearing a golf glove so much of the time. She followed the hand down to his wrist and to his forearm. His shirtsleeve rolled nearly to the elbo w gave her a clear view of that lovely arm . Which she couldn’t take her eyes off of all day. The one he would surely anchor behind her neck and pull him to her for a scorching kiss.
    But no, the hand went to her mouth, and she found she liked the thought of that even better. A little nibbling on his finger as he outlined her mouth? She and Ron had been past the point of seduction years ago.
    Just a little bit more and he’d be touching her. Yes, that’s it. He brought his thumb to the corner of her mouth. But instead of the gentle caress she’d been expecting, it was a rough draw across her mouth and cheek. She then watched as he took his hand away and wiped his thumb on his pants.
    Oh , God! She had drooled while she’d slept and it was so obvious, he’d felt the need to wipe it off himself. The warm feeling running through her turned to a chill. His look wasn’t desire, she decided, but disgust. If she’d had any idea where in the world they were, she might have just jumped out of the car right then and there and walked back to the hotel .
    She was saved from having to say anything – and making a dash for it – by the car behind them honking. Katie didn’t know how long the light had been green, but the cars behind them were not happy. The entrance for the expressway was just beyond and Darío turned his attention to the road.
    They rode