Hope Flames: Hope Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

door.
    “No. Wait.”
    He paused and turned.
    “It’s not you, Luke. It’s nothing about you.”
    “Okay.”
    She shook her head. “It’s . . . nothing. It’s me.” She smiled. “Honestly. I’m just not comfortable around guys.”
    He popped up an eyebrow, then it hit him. “Oh. I get it. Sorry.”
    Her eyes widened. “No. You are not getting it at all. That’s not it.” She took a few seconds. “I’m not explaining myself well. Look. It’s been a long time.”
    He cocked his head to the side. “Huh?”

    “Um, you know.”
    “No. I don’t.”
    She bit down on her lower lip, then said, “First, there was four years of vet school, and after that I had to dive in and work with several doctors at a practice. Getting my feet wet, you know? It was nonstop work. There was no time in my life for the whole dating thing.”
    Now he really did get it. He came toward her. “So, you’re saying you’re . . . rusty?”
    This time, at least, she didn’t back away like he had the plague.
    “Yes. That’s it exactly. I haven’t dated anyone in years.”
    He found that hard to believe. “Years?”
    She tilted her head back and looked up at him. “Yes. Years. It’s a little embarrassing.”
    Up close, she was more than the pretty face he’d first thought. Her eyes were wide pools of whiskey brown, her lashes so long she’d never need makeup, and her lips—damn, she had a sexy mouth. “You need to get back in the game, Emma.”
    She sighed. “Tell me about it.”
    “With someone you can trust.”
    She looked toward the door. “Easier said than done.”
    “Let me take you out.”
    Her head jerked up and her gaze met his. “What?”
    Yeah, what exactly. He couldn’t believe he’d said that. But now that he had . . .
    “You heard me. Let me take you out. We’ll go out somewhere and eat. Use forks and knives. Have a nice conversation and a drink. Then I’ll take you home, walk you to your front door, and call it a night.”
    She had this wary look on her face that would have made him laugh if he wasn’t sure she was taking this so seriously.
    “That’s it?”
    He grinned at her. “Well, that’s not how I usually do it, but for you, sure. That’s it.”
    She frowned. “How do you . . . usually do it?”
    “Look, Emma. I’m not the dating type. But I like you.And I can see you want to ease into this. I want to help. I want to be your friend.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “My friend.”
    “Yeah.”
    “But I’m not your type.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You implied I wasn’t the type of woman you typically did . . . whatever it is you do with women, since you just said you’re not the dating type.”
    He resisted rolling his eyes. This was why he didn’t like having extended conversations with women. It usually led to him getting in trouble for something he said that he didn’t really say, but the woman thought he meant what he didn’t say in the first place.
    Women drove him crazy.
    “I didn’t imply anything. I just asked you out on a date.”
    She crossed her arms, only this time it was in irritation, not defensiveness. “I don’t need a pity date, Luke.”
    Shit. Foot-in-mouth struck again. “I don’t pity you. I like you.”
    “You already said that. As a friend, of course.”
    He clenched his jaw. “Is there something wrong with that?”
    “No. I love being your BFF. It’s exactly how I want you thinking of me. Thanks for the offer, Luke, but I’ll pass. If you have any more problems with Boomer, don’t hesitate to call me.”
    She pushed him toward the door, opened it and herded him out, then locked it behind him.
    With him on the outside and her inside, he could do nothing but stand there and stare at her, struck utterly dumb by whatever the hell had just happened.
    She’d been pissed. Even now, she stared at him as she shuttered the blinds closed, and he could see the hurt in her eyes.
    Women were one fucking mystery after another. His ex-wife had driven him batshit