All-American Girl Read Online Free PDF

her throat as his hot breath skimmed over her face. His jean-clad thighs brushed against her legs as he glared down at her. Again, her body ached to put distance between them. She couldn’t think; she could hardly take a breath, and when she did, all she could smell was him —the intoxicating scent of steel-hard, rustic man.
    “I know your grandmother, too, Sam.”
    Sam . He dared to call her by that stupid tomboy name. “So?” She reached for the handle to Gram’s room. Lance’s hand clasped hers, big, warm and rough on her skin, filling her head with the memory of it sliding over her body. “Excuse me. I need to see Gram.”
    He leaned closer, and she lost her breath. “Who pissed in your coffee this morning? What’s with the attitude?”
    “Listen, Lance ,” she hissed, arching a stubborn brow. “The last thing I need is you lecturing me about my manners. Last I checked, you didn’t have any of your own. Take it as a lesson learned.”
    He shrugged, his poker face firm. “I guess twelve years in the big city turned you a little sour.” To her surprise and relief, he shifted his body away from her as a look of dismay crossed his features. His right hand came up to the side of her face, and for a split second, she thought he was going to stroke her cheek. That thought evaporated when he reached behind her and gently tugged on her uncomfortably tight ponytail. “That’s too bad, Sam.”
    She yanked her head back and tried to push him out of the way. He stumbled back, a smile curving his lips.
    She could have said something. She should have said something, but her mind was not cooperating at the moment; it was lingering on how his hand had been mere inches from her face.
    “Why did you tell the hospital staff we were married?” she demanded.
    “Someone had to take care of Dorothy.” Anger flashed in his eyes. “Seeing as how her actual family wasn’t around, it was the only way I could get them to talk to me.”
    Infuriated that Lance accused her of abandoning her grandmother—especially because he was right—Samantha tossed her head back. “Well, I guess I owe you something for that—but you didn’t have to lie to them. And what makes you think I can’t take care of Gram?”
    “Because you haven’t in twelve years.”
    A knife went straight through her heart. It didn’t matter that he was right; what mattered was that he was being so damn obnoxious about it. More in tune with her resentment than her need for space, she moved away from the wall and took a step in his direction.
    “I take it back. Don’t for one second think I owe you anything for sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You don’t know me now. She is my grandmother, and I intend to take care of her, starting right now.”
    He shrugged, arrogant eyes focused on her. “It’s a free country, you know. I can help Dorothy if I want.”
    “Thank you for the history lesson. Now, please leave.”
    “What is your problem? This is how you repay me for watching over her? If not for me, she would be in a crappy nursing home. Do you know how long it took me to track you down?”
    “Oh.” She frowned, not really understanding the uncomfortable tightness in her chest. “Well.”
    “Yeah, well . Think about that the next time you decide to go off on someone.”
    She stared at him, speechless.
    “Here.” He shoved a card in her hand. “I also wanted to give you a message.”
    Samantha pulled her eyes away from his glare and looked down at the card.
    “It’s Candice’s phone number. You remember my sister, right?”
    She nodded.
    “If you’re not too busy,” he said harshly before softening his tone, “call her. I’ll bet she’d like to see you.”
    “Um…of course.” Samantha hadn’t spoken to Candice in almost a decade. Not only that, but she was still reeling from being yelled at and didn’t like the agitation and shame it produced. And she certainly didn’t like the sudden need she felt to apologize for