Unstoppable (A Country Roads Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation. He hadn’t intended to focus all his attention on Mel. So what if that was what had happened? It didn’t mean anything. He was just doing what felt good, what felt right. And at the moment that was being around Mel.
    He wasn’t doing anything wrong: just dancing with her, and maybe flirting a little bit, and enjoying the feel of her body under his hands. Where was the harm in that? He was an adult, and so was she. They were both capable of making rational decisions and not letting everything complicate matters.
    Shep didn’t need to be worried about it. It wasn’t anything serious. It was…well, he had no idea what it was, and he didn’t need to be worried about that, either.
    *  *  *
    When Bennett came back up to the table he slid another beer in front of Mel. She looked up at him, and he smiled back at her.
    You’re just friends , she reminded herself.
    Harper didn’t know what she was talking about. Bennett wasn’t interested in Mel beyond friendship. So he’d danced with her and bought her a couple of drinks. That didn’t mean anything.
    “Thanks,” she said as she grabbed the beer. “I thought I was getting the next round.”
    He just shrugged as he sat down. “Now I owe you two drinks.”
    “So you do. We’ll just have to figure out how you can pay back your debts.” He smiled as he lifted his beer to his mouth. “I think more dancing might be in order.”
    When they both finished their beers, Bennett and Mel returned to the floor. She wasn’t sure how many songs they stayed out there for, but when they got back to the table, Brendan and Paige were getting ready to go.
    “We’re going to call it a night. Denise has Trevor all night, so we’re going to take advantage of an empty house,” he grinned.
    “Brendan.” Paige blushed as she smacked his chest. “Can you not announce stuff like that?”
    “Stuff like what?” he asked innocently. “I meant we’re going to get a full night’s sleep without a crying baby. What did you think I was talking about? Sex?” He shook his head and tried to look shocked. “Your mind is always in the gutter.”
    “Shut up,” she said, smacking him again. “That wasn’t what you meant and you know it.”
    “I do,” he said, grabbing her hand. “So let’s go and take advantage of every second. Bye, everyone.” He waved as he pulled Paige away from the table.
    “Bye.” Paige laughed and got in a quick wave before Brendan practically dragged her away through the crowd.
    “Harper left, too,” Grace said, as she and Jax got up. “She has an early appointment tomorrow.”
    “Oh.” Mel looked down at her watch to check the time. Jeez, it was past midnight. “Well, can you guys give me a ride home?” she asked, looking at Grace and Jax.
    “I can take you,” Bennett said before either of them had time to respond.
    “Are you sure?” Mel asked, turning to Bennett.
    “Absolutely.”
    *  *  *
    “So how far are you with Lost ?” Bennett asked as he drove toward Mel’s house.
    “Um, well, I might’ve marathon-watched it last weekend, and I watched a lot during the nights this week. That show’s addictive.”
    “It is,” he agreed. He kept his eyes on the road as she shifted in her seat. He might not have looked at her, but he knew her eyes were on him, studying the side of his face before she told him what she was thinking.
    “I only have two episodes left.”
    “Really?” He laughed.
    “Hey, what do you expect? Every single episode ends at a cliffhanger. And they just keep killing everyone off. It’s too much to handle most of the time.”
    “It’s true,” he said, nodding. “Well, if you can’t handle it, maybe I should watch those last two episodes with you. What are you doing tomorrow night?”
    “I don’t have any plans,” she told him. Bennett knew she was smiling—he could hear it in her voice.
    “You want to come over to my house? I can make you dinner.” They might’ve been hanging out a lot