Saving Laurel Springs Read Online Free PDF Page B

irritating, satisfied smile of his that she came to herself. What the devil had she done? She’d let him slip past her defenses! Let him hold her and touch her again when she’d sworn that would never happen.
    â€œYou don’t hate me, Rhea.” He reached up to trace a finger down her face, his voice husky. “It’s still there between the two of us.”
    He leaned in to kiss her again, but she pushed him away. “There’s always been a little passion between us. Who knows why? But the fact that it ignites—like a sudden brush fire—doesn’t mean I feel differently.”
    She pulled away. “And it doesn’t mean I like you—or could ever trust you or respect you again.” She rubbed her hand across her lips, as if trying to brush away the traces of the kiss. “Nothing’s different because of this little moment, Carter. So don’t think it is.”
    She struggled away from him and around the rock path to her horse. He followed her, trying to reach out to touch her again as she reached Jewel and started to mount.
    â€œDon’t touch me again.” She slapped at him and swung herself up into the saddle. “You keep your hands off me.”
    Rhea paused then, looking down at Carter, who watched her carefully, that smug look still lingering in his eyes.
    Her temper rose again. She wanted to slap his face.
    He’d always been so devastatingly handsome—with such a sexual charisma. Even other girls in school noticed it, from elementary years on. In high school, she fought jealousy often, watching other girls flirt with him . . . sometimes wondering if he was true to her.
    He always teased her about it, telling her there would never be anyone for him but her. Promising no one else held any appeal but her. Obviously, that hadn’t been true.
    She tried to angle Jewel around Carter, wanting to get away.
    Seeming to sense her thoughts, Carter put a hand on her leg and smiled up at her. “See ya later—and love you forever, Rhea Dean.”
    She kicked out at him. “Don’t start telling me your lies again about loving forever, Carter Layman. You married someone else—remember? You have a son. Would you be here flirting with me if she hadn’t died? And next month or next year, if someone else comes along who takes your fancy, will you offer them your sweet talk, too? Touch them and make their blood sing?”
    He raised a knowing eyebrow at her. “Did I make your blood sing, Rhea? You did mine.”
    â€œYou’re impossible!” She reined Jewel around him to start down the trail. “I hope you’re planning to go back home to California soon.”
    â€œAnd what if I’m not?” His voice was soft, and she saw his eyes watching her carefully with a question in them.
    Rhea felt a shiver and paused. “What do you mean?”
    â€œMaybe I’m not planning to go back soon.” He walked toward her, reaching out to take Jewel’s reins in one hand, looking up at her with those dark eyes that always seemed to see far into her soul. “Maybe I’m not planning to go back at all.”
    Her voice came out in a choked whisper. “Why would you stay?”
    â€œThere are some old dreams here unfinished.”
    Irritated, she lifted her chin. “Like what?”
    â€œLaurel Springs. There’s a lot I’d like to do here.”
    She felt her anger rising again. “Laurel Springs has been here for a long time and hasn’t drawn you back through all these years.”
    His eyes flashed. “You don’t know about my life through these years. You don’t know what I’ve been feeling.” He gave her a hard look then. “You wouldn’t even write to me.”
    Rhea rolled her eyes. “You were married. Or don’t you remember that?”
    â€œDon’t get hateful again, Rhea.” He glared at her.
    She jerked Jewel’s reins out of his hand.