Running Wilde (The Winnie Wilde Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

stop?”
    “Probably Florida to see my mother.” She wrapped her hands around her warm coffee mug, wondering if she should asked the question on her mind. She barged ahead. “Was it a coincidence that you showed up on my doorstep today?” she asked.
    Ben picked up his coffee and took a long drink before answering. “Yes and no,” he finally said. “It was a coincidence that you called Church Construction, but no coincidence that I took the job. Dad was going do this himself since it’s on the small side, but when I saw the name on the job, I asked if I could do it, saying I might be able to get it done faster.”
    “But I never told you my name.” Winnie slowly got up from the table and stepped behind the kitchen island, putting it between her and Ben. She grabbed the glass coffee pot as if to provide refills, when she was really thinking of it as a weapon.
    “No, you didn’t,” Ben admitted, “but your keys did, at least your first name. When I saw the name Winifred Wilde on the job order, I asked my father what you looked like. I mean, Winnie is usually short for Winifred, isn’t it?”
    Winnie spotted her car keys on the counter and picked them up. It was a new key chain with a large sterling silver butterfly charm on which was engraved Winnie . Kathy had given it to her to celebrate her name change and escape from her long-time cocoon. On the backside of the charm was engraved, Spread your wings. She nodded to him. “Yes, my first name is Winifred.”
    “After Dad described our new client, I figured it had to be you.” He gave her a slow, easy grin. “Unless there’s more than one beautiful woman with curly silver hair running around with the name Winnie.”
    Remembering she had the coffee pot in her hand, she asked, “More coffee?”
    He got up from the table and came to her. He stood directly in front of her with only the coffee pot between them. “Would you be more comfortable if my father handled this job?” he asked.
    He was giving her a way out, and she knew from the sincerity in his voice, if she said yes, he’d leave and never come back, changing places with Don at the other job. “No,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please stay.”
    In response, Ben lifted a strand of her hair and twirled it around a finger. “I love your hair. You always wear it pulled back when you run.”
    “Yes,” she said. Her voice remained barely audible as his touch sent a signal south, travelling from the pit of her stomach to a warm damp place between her legs, surprising her with its insistence. “It can get very unruly if I don’t tame it.”
    “Wild beautiful things should never be tamed.” He wound his fingers deeper into her hair. With his other hand he took the coffee pot from her and placed it on the counter. She didn’t protest.
    She also didn’t protest when his mouth came down on her neck, softly tracing it from where it joined her shoulder up to her ear. He cupped the small of her back bringing her closer while the fingers of his other hand delved deeper into her hair, pushing it back so his mouth had better access to her ear. He nuzzled and kissed it. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to moan. The tingling between her legs intensified. It had been so long since a man had touched her with such a mixture of tenderness and desire. So long. Long before Edward had left her. She worried she would climax right there into a puddle of desperation.
    The thought of Edward caused her to stiffen. It reminded her of her children. Of Emily. Ben sensed her brakes. “What’s the matter?” he asked, whispering into her ear.
    She pulled back. He dropped the hand from her hair, resting it on her hip. He placed his other hand on her other hip. “I’m a grandmother,” she announced, snapping the words like dry sticks.
    Ben took a deep breath but didn’t move away. After taking a second breath, he looked deep into her eyes. “So? I’m a grandson. More importantly, I’m not yours.