Silver Bella Read Online Free PDF Page A

loaded, like the calm before an unbroken horse started bucking.
    “I can’t promise you forever.” Not yet, maybe never. He didn’t know what he wanted from her besides time to sate a desire that grew with each passing minute. “But I can promise you it will be worth it.”
    “That was never in question,” she muttered against his chest.
    He hoped it would be enough, because he had to have her. They danced in silence for several songs, his body slowly getting more and more aroused by the sensation of having her so close to him.
    It was a really stupid thing to do.
    How was he supposed to walk back to the table without letting the whole restaurant know what kind of condition he was in? Heck, he didn’t know if he could walk, period.
    He set her about six inches away from him, his hands settled on her waist.
    Her eyes opened, the dark brown irises hazy and unfocused. “What’s the matter?”
    “It’s either carry you out of here over my shoulder and up to my room, or get myself back under control.”
    “I probably wouldn’t fight you if you did the over-your-shoulder thing…” Her voice trailed off, her cheeks staining pink in an unexpected, but charming way.
    He glared at her, though, his libido having gone into nuclear meltdown at her words. “Don’t say things like that.”
    She jerked, her eyes going wide. “I’m sorry.”
    “You’d be sorrier if I took you up on it.”
    “Would I?” Her expression was back to hazy.
    It was all he could do not to curse to hell and back, out of frustration because it was obvious she was turned on just as badly as he was. Only, if he took her to bed tonight, there was no saying she wouldn’t leave Texas in the morning.
    He wanted more than a feverish night of coupling and she deserved more. She was a virgin.
    She’d also as good as admitted she had feelings growing for him besides passion.
    She needed tender taking care of. Not to be the recipient of the result of a build-up of lust gone out of control.
    “Come to my ranch with me.”
    “Christmas is in two weeks.”
    “So? Do you have a lot of Christmas shopping to do yet? I’ll help you.”
    “Seriously?”
    If it meant getting to spend the time with her, he’d go to the next town-council meeting, and those were about the word in boring. “Yes.”
    “I’d really like that, but…”
    “Are you worried about staying at my ranch with me all alone?”
    “I don’t know you well,” she said, hedging.
    “My sister lives with me. Her name is Lise.”
    “Lise Barton , the writer? I love her books!”
    “Yep. Did that tip the invitation in my favor? Because if it did, I can even get you a whole collection of signed copies of her books.”
    “You make it sound tempting.”
    “It’s a cruel blow to a man’s ego for him to take second place as enticement behind a bunch of books.”
    Bella’s expression turned all too serious and vulnerable. “You’re not. You’re too enticing, if you want the truth.”
    “Oh, yes. I always want the truth from you.”
    “Will your sister be there the whole time?”
    “No. She’s there for the next couple of days and then she’s going off on a research trip to Paris.”
    He waited to see if knowing they’d be alone for several days would turn Bella off the idea.
    “I’d like to come.”
    The temptation to pick her up and carry her all the way to his ranch right that minute was so strong he had to force himself to step away from her and let her go completely. “Can you travel early tomorrow morning?”
    She nodded, her eyes mirroring doubts he had no trouble reading.
    “It’s going to be all right.”
    “Yes.”
    “We can’t walk away from this.”
    “I don’t want to.”
    Those four little words had him smiling off and on for the rest of the night.
     
     
    The next morning, Bella climbed into Jake’s big black Suburban. “This thing is huge.”
    “You should see my pickup truck.”
    “You have a truck too?”
    “Of course I do. I run a ranch, but I