Scarlet Read Online Free PDF Page A

hidden beneath that dark beard haunted the backs of my eyelids. The memory of his sandpaper fingertips tracing across my body was so distracting I thought about excusing myself.
    After speaking, Gran offered Beau a slice of the cherry pie, freshly baked by her personal chef. The crimson fruit oozed out of the flaky crust, and I’d taken slow bites, my eyes trained on the soft dip of Beau’s lips as he’d smiled brightly and chatted, exchanging friendly pleasantries with her as he ate the confection.
    But I caught his looks out of the corner of my eye. I caught the wolfish gaze that cut across the table when I’d leaned over to take a bite. The way he’d swallowed as I chewed. The way my body tingled and ached at the memory of his touch, imagining his lips covering me in cherry-scented kisses.
    When Beau finally stood to leave, my body was ablaze with need.  
    I placed a kiss on Gran’s soft cheek as she got up, ready to retire to her room.  
    She’d patted me on the arm, “Such a sweet girl, my Scarlet.” And tears had hovered at the edges of her eyelids. “Isn’t she the sweetest thing on the planet, Beau?” Gran cooed, an innocent smile darting from Beau to me. My cheeks flushed instantly as Beau stepped up.  
    “She’s sweet indeed.” His low voice melted through my veins.
    “Goodnight, Beau.” Gran placed a kiss on his bearded cheek before climbing the stairs.  
    “Give me thirty minutes and I’ll come for you,” Beau whispered at my earlobe and sent a delicious shiver coursing through me.  
    “Okay,” I responded, hardly able to hear my own thoughts over the pounding in my ears.  
    “I thought I told you to change this dress,” he growled and slipped a finger through the flimsy strap. Gran had only just left. What if she turned around? What if she caught us? I quickly backed away, thoughts of my gran catching us raging in my mind.
    “Is something wrong with my dress?” I purred.
    Beau’s eyes narrowed as he assessed me, his eyes finally flashing in warning. “You know exactly what’s wrong with it. Makes every damn man on this property look at you when you walk by. Is that what you want? Every man’s eyes on you?” He leaned in, pressing me against the wall. “Or just mine?”  
    My lungs nearly collapsed when his hands came to my waist, his lips trailing across the hollow of my throat. I couldn’t breathe. He was stealing my oxygen, stealing my sense.  
    “Your eyes only.” A soft hiss escaped my mouth when his lips attacked my throat, and he laved wet kisses across my skin.  
    “Thirty minutes,” he growled as his hand clutched at the soft flesh of my bottom. “Be ready for me.”
    “Should I change?” I whimpered, wishing desperately he wouldn’t leave so soon.
    “No use now.” His eyes gleamed with promise. “Anyway, I want to peel it off you with my teeth.”
    Beau turned and exited through the main door, leaving me weak-kneed and flustered, missing his presence and desperate for his touch again. How could he turn me to silly putty with just a few words?

    After running a brush through my hair and adding a shine of lip gloss in the mirror, I found myself fidgeting and waiting at the edge of the patio.  
    I didn’t know what I was doing or what I was thinking, but I knew I trusted Beau, and I also knew I wanted him like nothing I’d ever wanted in my life.  
    I finally leaped down the few steps, walking confidently towards the orchard. I couldn’t wait anymore. At the very least I could wander through the trees and waste some time as I walked to his cabin. Maybe I would run into him on the way.  
    I wandered down the dark path until I reached the cherry trees, turning down a long row and stretching my fingers out to dust across the shiny skins of the hanging fruit.  
    I sucked in a deep breath, reveling in the sweet scent that clung to the night air. I took a sharp turn down another row, slowly wandering toward the back of the property and Beau.
    A few birds