FUEL (DirtSlap Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

face. Her cheeks were pink as she cut her gaze to him.
    “It’s sure good to see you, Cas.”
    She leaned into the crook of his shoulder and draped his arm over her, like she always used to do, and played with his hand. Her fingers traced patterns in his palm as she put her feet up on the bench. But she didn’t answer him. Just looked out toward the scenery.
    He put his chin on her head and inhaled a hint of citrus. She was the same but not. Her hand had done this so many times in years past, but now there was an awareness of every shift of her body that wasn’t there before. Her light touch made his heart beat faster and ratcheted up his pulse. He couldn’t stop imagining her silky hair against his naked skin.
    “Your fingers are thicker than they were,” she said. “More calloused. You play a lot more than you did.”
    “Have to when your livelihood depends on it.”
    Cassie considered him. “Pretty great you make a living doing what you love.”
    He met her gaze. “It sure is.”
    Looking down at her made his heart thump a little harder, and he had a difficult time remembering she was Cam’s sister. When her lashes lowered and she bit her lower lip his thoughts screeched to a halt. He clenched his jaw. She would welcome his kiss. He saw it in the way her eyes slanted at him, the way her face flushed and the flutter of her pulse at her throat.
    He pushed her up and stood.
    “Hungry?”
    “Sure,” she replied, with a slight pout.
    Thrand turned and motioned for her to follow. “I know a great burger place.”
    He had to get some space. There wasn’t enough room in his head for the woman she was and the girl she had been.
    *
    There wasn’t anything Cassie liked more than holding on to Thrand, but riding his motorcycle had to be a close second. It was thrilling and freeing and, as soon as she could, she vowed she’d get her own bike.
    The wind rushed by making her feel alive. Free. The rumble of the engine vibrated through her body and she understood why people loved it so much.
    They parked with a bunch of other bikes and she was mesmerized. One in particular caught her eye. An understated matte black Harley. She stopped to stare at it and slowly smiled.
    Thrand stood beside her and smirked. “Like it, do you?”
    “I’ll own one of these some day.”
    He chuckled. “Really? Like the ride that much?”
    She shoved at him playfully. “Damn right.”
    “I can see you on it. Come on.”
    He took her hand and a little thrill shot up her spine. She was pretty sure she would follow him just about anywhere when he laced his fingers with hers. Until she saw the sign of the burger place.
    “Toad Suck Park Burgers? You can’t be serious.”
    He turned so he was walking backwards, leading her in. He’d cocked his head, lips tugging up slightly, and she was right. She would follow him anywhere.
    The place was decorated like a bad trailer park, complete with scarred cheap booths and plastic flamingos. The bar next-door had live music and was so loud they heard it clearly as the walls vibrated with the beat.
    When the waitress plopped their baskets of burgers and fries on the table, the girl ignored her and smiled at Thrand. Good on him, he acted like he didn’t notice.
    She threw a fry at him. “Didn’t want her number?”
    He tossed a fry back at her and frowned. “Why would I want her number?”
    “’Cause she would have given it to you.” She laughed, then took a bite of a burger so big there was no way she would ever eat it all. “Oh, wow. This is really good.”
    “Told ya.” He winked. “And no, she wouldn’t.”
    “Right.”
    Her heart tripped as reality sank in. She never had to step foot inside her hometown again. Ever. And the man she’d missed as much as Cam was back in her life. It was surreal. Then he looked at her, and she had to keep herself from falling into those damn gray eyes.
    “This place is so great,” she said as much to him as to herself.
    “Nothing like Woodbridge