Read Redemption: Reckless Desires (Blue Moon Saloon Book 3) for Free Online Page A

stood blinking for a second in surprise.
    “Sorry,” Soren rumbled. He’d been coming the other way, and now he was holding her by both arms while she recovered her balance.
    Fiery tingles ran up her arms, divided into little lightning bolts, and short-circuited every nerve in her body.
    His eyes sparkled as she leaned in out of habit — or instinct or sheer stupidity. A good thing she hit the brakes before she got up on the balls of her feet and planted a good-morning kiss on his lips.
    Not the good old days any more, Sarah,
she reminded herself, rocking back.
    Soren’s jaw hardened. A muscle in his cheek twitched, and she could swear he was reminding himself of the same thing.
    She closed her eyes for a minute, fighting a losing battle to sweet memories of mornings not too different than this. Summer mornings when she woke slowly in his arms, feeling warm and secure. Memories of Soren nuzzling her, all along one side of her neck and face, then all the way down the other. Of weaving her fingers in and out of his huge, callused hands. Of Soren looking at her with the kind of wonder usually reserved for the most stunning sunrises and sunsets.
    She gulped away the lump in her throat and forced her chin up. “Sorry.”
    He smelled of pine and fresh air, like he’d been out all night. And if she felt refreshed after a solid night’s sleep, he had dark circles under his eyes and a haggard expression on his face. An expression that asked,
Why did I ever let you go?
    She stared at him. His face held a trace of anger and bitterness, too, but neither was aimed at her. For a split second, she wondered if something had forced him to let her go.
    Soren nodded slowly and relaxed his firm grip, though his thumbs stroked her skin one more time before releasing her.
    “No problem,” he said, all low and husky now.
    His eyes were as mournful as a basset hound’s, and she was sure they followed her all the way down the steps. Three strides later, she made it out the back door and stood panting for a minute. Which was crazy — it wasn’t as if she’d nearly been hit by a truck. All she’d done was touch Soren.
    But for a brief instant within that touch, he’d been hers, and when they slipped apart, it was like losing him all over again. Just like that day almost a year ago when he’d told her it was over, right before he left Montana. Just like when he lit up all over upon seeing her the day before, only to storm out the second he’d noticed the baby bump.
    She ran both hands over her stomach. Yes, it was over, all right.
    A good thing Jessica pushed the adjoining back door to the café open, waved her in, and put her to work.
    “You’re our cashier. Okay?” Jessica speed-walked through a kitchen thick with the tempting scent of berries, cream, and vanilla. Racks and racks of muffins stood steaming on the counters, and a timer dinged.
    “Wow. What time did you get up?” Sarah asked as Jessica led her to the front room.
    “Four,” Jessica said without a hint of complaint in her voice. If anything, she seemed elated. Excited. Ready for the big day, as Janna had said. “You should have heard Simon grumble about it.”
    Sarah let a smile slip out. Soren was exactly the same way.
    “Not morning people, those bear—” Jessica stuttered then hurried on. “Those brothers.” She patted the cushion on a tall stool by the register. “If you need a break, just let me know, and we’ll cover for you.”
    Sarah nearly laughed. Sitting on a stool was a lot better than some of the jobs she’d worked in the past few months to scrape together a few dollars.
    “I’ll make sandwiches, Janna will work the tables, and Emma will help you at the counter.”
    “Emma?”
    “Another wol—” Jessica coughed, then barked out the next word. “Woman. Another woman we know.”
    The bell over the front door chimed, and a young woman with a long, dark braid stepped in. “Hope I’m not late.”
    “Emma, meet Sarah. Sarah, meet