The Bartender's Daughter Read Online Free PDF

that never really got off the ground to start with.
    ****
    His wife was sitting outside on his deck, and he couldn’t get a single coherent word out of his mouth. The woman running toward him this morning was sexy as hell. A tight pink tank top paired with black bike shorts emphasized every curve and dip of her body. He almost didn’t recognize the cute blonde as Sam until he was right on top of her.
    He filled a glass with ice and water and then headed back out to the deck. From the side, he watched her for a few minutes. Her emerald eyes reflected the green depths of the bay in front of her. He wanted to slip the hat off her head and pull the tie from her hair. He wanted to see what she looked like under the shirt and sports bra. He wanted to nip her neck and see if she’d make those little sighs that used to drive him crazy. He was dying to know if the real Sam was still there.
    “ I want the bar, Lee.” She spoke without turning her head, her eyes on the shore.
    He took a long drink of ice water, pretending it could completely stop his thoughts. “The bar?”
    She turned to him as he plopped down on the chaise beside her. “I can’t let it go. It would be against everything he wanted for me.”
    “ What about what you wanted for you? You’re just going to up and leave your life in New York?” And Dylan?
    “ I’ve already called and told the family I worked for that I won’t be coming back. They like the substitute and she’ll be a good fit for them. I haven’t spoken to Serena yet. She’s going to be upset, but it’s not like she needs my share of the rent to keep that apartment. I already have an idea on where I can stay.”
    The sliding of the glass doors had them both turning around to peer at the intruder. His baby sister stepped through in the skimpiest two-piece he ’d ever seen. The need to cover her up and send her back in for a change was almost overwhelming, and he jumped up before he realized what he was about to do.
    “ Joanna, what are you doing up so early?”
    She looked from him to Sam and then back again. Her forehead crinkled in confusion. “I thought I’d get a little sun in before I started on the big job hunt.” She tipped her head toward Sam. “I didn’t know you had a visitor.”
    Sam was already standing. “Actually, I’m just leaving. Lee, I’ll see you at the bar later.” She didn’t look at him or Joanna, and it didn’t take long to realize that she had jumped to the wrong conclusions. Again.
    He had to jog to catch up to her as she skirted around the house. “Sam, you don’t have to go.”
    “ No, I really do. I’ll see you later.” Her eyes looked straight ahead and she kept on walking.
    No matter her reasoning, she ’d spent the last few years with Dylan. There was no need to defend himself.
    The gate creaked as she swung it open. Every emotion of the last few days took over as he circled her wrist and turned her around to him. His body tightened and sparks ran up his spine at her nearness. Her perfect mouth opened to protest, giving him the opportunity to settle his lips on hers. Her body stiffened against his and then slowly melted. A lick on the bottom lip and she was opening to his tongue. He deepened the kiss, indulging in her sweet taste, while using her arm to leverage her up and into him. Her moan vibrated through his chest.
    A wave of need crashed over him. God, he’d missed her. If he was going to fall, she needed to follow him down. He let go of her arm, to reach up for her hair, giving her the freedom to pull away. She stepped back and put a hand to her kiss-swollen lips. “We can’t do this.” Her eyes focused on something behind him, and he knew before she walked away that Joanna had decided to peek.
    “ Sam.”
    She was already halfway down the road and away from him. He didn ’t chase after her. She couldn’t go too far and now they had more than a piece of paper tying them together. The bar would keep her from running away. At least,