Her Dakota Summer Read Online Free PDF Page A

Plus, she had to check to see if the boys had taken their wet bathing suits downstairs.
    With these thoughts on her mind, she exited the kitchen, rounded the corner of the hallway and bumped smack into Dakota.
    “Whoa,” he said and grabbed her by the arms.
    A bolt of hot desire rushed through her that was so strong it left her shaken. “Excuse me,” she gasped and grabbed the edge of the doorway to steady herself. His hands were surprisingly warm and gentle.
    “You okay?” He held her arms until she nodded then released her. “Now I see where Jackson gets it from. You move fast, Celeste.”
    Ears buzzing, Celeste took a deep breath, wondering if it were possible for her to be having a heart attack. She was certainly in that age range, and the health program she’d watched last week had said women often have no symptoms. Passing out would be the frosting on the cake. She could see it now—passed out on the hallway rug, Dakota giving her mouth to mouth. Maybe he would have to open her shirt to make sure she was still breathing, because at this moment in time she wasn’t sure herself.
    “Celeste?” Dakota touched her wrist. “That was a joke.”
    The touch was supposed to reassure her, but it served only to accelerate the racing of her blood through her veins. Hot flashes. I’m just having a hot flash .
    “I’m fine.” She gave him a smile that felt like more of a baring of teeth than an actual expression of happiness. “Totally fine.” Making an abrupt about-face, she forced her trembling legs to take her back to the kitchen, all thoughts of the laundry room forgotten.
    Dakota trailed behind her. “Sit down,” he said, guiding her to a seat. “Relax for a minute.” He filled a glass from the water pitcher and pushed it toward her.
    Celeste took a small sip and looked across the table at him. The water kicked her mind back in gear. “You need to wear a bell around your neck,” she said, only half-joking.
    “If that’s what you like.” He gave her a wicked grin.
    Before she could react to that, a dry Jackson, clad in shirt and shorts, bounced into the kitchen, tugged open the refrigerator and pulled out two juice boxes. “Mommy, we’re going to play downstairs.” He left the kitchen without looking at the two of them.
    “I need to get this dinner done, once and for all.”
    “I’ll go down and check on the crew, make sure they haven’t unlocked the movie channels yet.”
    Malcolm had a skill for guessing her passwords. She was glad that with Dakota there, he wouldn't be tempted to try.
    “Of course.” Celeste got up from the table and went to carve up a final carrot that had somehow eluded her knife. But her hands were shaking and the blade slipped, slicing her finger. “Oh,” she said in a quiet voice as the blood dripped into the sink. Of all the silly things to do. She frowned at her cut finger, at a loss at what to do. She couldn’t reach the paper towels from where she stood and she didn’t want to smear blood all over the kitchen.
    Behind her, she heard Dakota’s voice as he came back into the kitchen and over to the cabinet next to the sink. “I’m just going to get them some— What happened?” He snatched a paper towel off the decorative holder. Turning on the cold water with one hand, with the other he thrust her bleeding finger under the chilly flow. The pain hit her and she pressed her lips together to keep from crying out.
    “I just need a bandage, that’s all.”
    Dakota gave her a grim smile. “You need a little more than just a bandage. First we have to stop the bleeding and see what we’re working with here.”
    The cold water stemmed the flow of blood and Dakota wrapped the paper towel around her finger. “Sit.” He guided her back to the table and sat her down, then left the kitchen.
    Celeste sat and stared at the white paper towel wound around her finger. If she could dig a hole and crawl into it, she would. She heard him call down to the boys, checking on