Once Written, Twice Shy (The Broken Men Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

ferocity that my ears were
still ringing long after her cries had subsided.
    Gauging her stability, I turned her around and
devoured her mouth as I turned the water off.
    “What do you think of brunch?” I asked as I slid
the shower door open and reached for the two hanging towels.  “That shower
scheme of yours took away from our time to cook.
    She dabbed the terrycloth sheet to dry her skin
then wrapped it around herself.  “I think you might be on to something.”  She
eyed my still dripping body with a fiery gaze.  “Cover up, will you or we’ll
never leave this place.”
    “I think you might be right.”
    ***
    I was itching to see her reaction with what I had
in store for us so when Alissa said she was finished eating, I left money on
the table that would cover both the bill and leave our waitress with a hefty
tip.  I grabbed Alissa’s hand and rushed us out to my SUV and drove us to a
ranch on the outskirts of town, thankful that no one was home when we arrived.
    She looked around after I’d helped her out of my
car.  “Where are we?”
    Her eyes were fixed on the fields of wild flowers. 
“You like?”  She nodded.  “It’s my parents’ place.  I brought you here because we
needed to pick up a more suitable ride for what we’re about to do, so come on.” 
I grabbed her hand and led her behind the barn.
    “What are you up to, Paxton Lowell?”
    I pushed the two heavy sliding doors sideways to
reveal a four-wheeler.
    “Your chariot awaits, madam,” I said and broke
down laughing at her wide-eyed look and the grin that followed it.
    “It explains why you told me not to wear anything nice. 
Let’s go!”  She jumped up and hugged me with a light giggle.  “I haven’t been
on one of these in ages.”
    The notion of two thirty-something’s behaving like
kids for a day was ridiculous but it was well worth it to see the bright smile
on Alissa’s face.  A smile I might add that had yet to disappear as we jumped
on the machine and sped off through the fields.
    I drove on until we reached the edge of the forest
and stopped where the bush trail started.  “I hope you’re okay with getting messy.” 
I grinned over my shoulder.  “It’s been raining a lot up until this week so I
can promise that things are far from dry in there.”
    Her laugh was filled with mischief as she rubbed
her hands together.  “Do I look like I’m afraid of a little bit of dirt?  The
dirtier, the better!”
    “I was hoping you’d say that.”
     
    A while later, we hit a slight snag; we’d reached
the bottom of the gully but it proved a little deeper than I had remembered.  My
old Honda was stuck in the mud for the lack of a better description and I
cursed selecting my old trail.
    “Don’t laugh or you’re walking back,” I said to a
giggling Alissa.  She kept laughing despite my warning while I got us to try
and rock the wheeler back and forth to see if I could get enough traction to
get us out.  If anything, I made more of a mess which seemed to add to the
hilarity of our situation.  Despite my annoyance at our conundrum, I couldn’t
hide the smile on my face.  It was hard to stay frustrated with Alissa looking
like she was having a ball.
    “You take the wheel while I push,” I said and moved
to step into the massive mud hole.  “When I tell you, ease onto the gas.  Don’t
hit it too hard or else you’ll guarantee that we’re both walking back.”  She
nodded and I braced myself onto the rear rack.  “Now!”
    Underestimating the touchiness of the throttle,
the tires spun and the machine’s ass end sunk.  We were as good as pedestrians. 
There was no way we were getting that thing out of there until things dried up.
    She turned and broke out into hysterical laugher. 
“Oh, crap, Pax!”  She clutched at her stomach.  I was covered from head to toe
in mud, thanks to her.  “I’m sorry.”
    “No you’re not,” I said but couldn’t contain my
smirk before I allowed a