Surrender To Sultry Read Online Free PDF

didn’t
     need lust, just the love of a good man, and Ari had offered her that. Loving him back
     should have been safe…but look how that’d turned out.
    Was God trying to tell her she wasn’t forgiven? That even when she settled for less
     than her ideal, she still wasn’t worthy of a family? Or was it just bad luck? She
     didn’t know, but darn it, that chocolate éclair sounded mighty good right now. Her
     eyes darted toward the living room, where the theme song to Monday Morning Ministry played on the television. If she was quiet, she could sneak down to Richman’s and
     be back before Daddy even knew she was gone. The oatmeal needed a few minutes to thicken
     anyway. Wasn’t she entitled to a little splurge? Heck, maybe Daddy too. A few bites
     wouldn’t hurt him.
    Yes! she decided with a nod, turning off the stove with one hand and plucking her purse
     from the countertop with the other. A spoonful of sugar, and all that. Creeping on
     her tiptoes, she crossed the kitchen and slipped on her shoes, then fished her Escalade
     keys from the wall hook beside the back door. She’d just reached for the doorknob
     when three loud knocks sounded from the other side. She flinched back, clapping a
     hand over her heart and dropping her keys in the process.
    “Who is it, Pumpkin?” Daddy called from the front room.
    “Crumbs,” Leah whispered to herself. So much for her sneaky donut run. “I don’t know.”
    She pushed aside the curtain to identify their visitor and came face-to-face with
     a pair of turquoise eyes shaded by a tan Stetson. A flutter tickled Leah’s chest,
     spreading to her stomach when Colton’s full lips curved into a sexy, crooked grin
     and he tipped back his hat with one finger. She dropped the curtain, but the image
     of Colt’s stunning face hovered in the air like a specter. He’d always been a gorgeous
     boy, but time had hardened his features—sharpening the angle of his jaw, strengthening
     his forehead, and drawing out his Cherokee heritage until he’d transformed from gorgeous
     into downright decadent. She hated that he still had the power to give her butterflies,
     but he did all the same.
    She composed herself and opened the door.
    “Hey,” he drawled, slow and deep, leaning against the doorjamb with one booted foot
     crossed over the other. He folded his muscled arms as if he’d come here to shoot the
     breeze with an old friend.
    But they weren’t friends, and she made that clear with a tight nod.
    He glanced over her shoulder into the kitchen. “Somethin’ smells good.”
    “Mmm-hmm.”
    “Gonna invite me in?”
    “Nope.”
    He patted his shirt pocket. “But I’ve got your registration.”
    “Good.” She extended one hand, palm up. “Then give it here.”
    Whatever he wanted from this ridiculous visit, it must’ve occurred to him he wasn’t
     going to get it, because his coy smile faded and he removed his hat, then raked a
     hand through his shoulder-length black hair.
    “I, uh,” he began, “don’t have your license, though. Left it in my office.” He gestured
     to the sheriff’s cruiser parked on the curb. “Why don’t you come with me, and we’ll
     go get it real quick?”
    Leah shook her head at the stone-cold, sneaky son of a motherless dog. She’d dip herself
     in honey and roll in a nest of fire ants before spending one minute alone with him.
     “I’m not going anywhere with you, Colton Bea.”
    “It’ll only take a few—”
    “Never mind,” she interrupted. “Just keep it.” She closed the door and locked the
     deadbolt with extra force, so he’d hear it and get the message.
    To his credit, Colt didn’t linger more than a few seconds. His heavy boots clopped
     slowly down the wooden steps, and soon she detected the sound of his car starting
     and motoring off into the distance.
    “Who was it?” Daddy called again.
    Leah kicked off her shoes, tossed her purse onto the counter, and padded to the stove,
     where she dished up two