Free Ice Moon by Lisa Kessler Page A

sounded like…a growl. “Taryn, you can do this. Sherri is staying late tonight with Charlie, and you need to eat anyway.”
    I stared at the ceiling. There was nothing I wanted more than to spend time with him. Not only was he gorgeous with a kiss that lit a fire in me, literally, but he was also kind to my little boy. The memory of Charlie’s smile after helping Jared work on the deck was etched in my mind. I gnawed the inside of my cheek, struggling to raise my emotional barriers, and finally met his eyes.
    “It’s a bad idea.”
    “Then it’s my bad idea.” The corner of his mouth curved, threatening to weaken my resolve.
    “Are you oblivious to the danger you would be in?”
    He shrugged, that lopsided grin setting off a hundred butterflies in my stomach. “Not oblivious, but also not afraid. You shouldn’t be either.”
    “You’re not going to give up, are you?”
    He shook his head, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Not a chance.”
    “I’m only agreeing to one meal.”
    He chuckled. “For now.”
    I raised a brow. “Forever.”
    He rolled his eyes. “You might enjoy yourself.”
    I sighed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
    Before he could say anything else, I walked back to my office. Part of me was still in shock. I was going to dinner with a man. This was crazy. I jumped when I turned around. Jared filled my doorway, but his smile was gone.
    He took a deep breath and looked my way, his brow furrowed. “Who comes in here?”
    Weird question. I hooked my attaché on my shoulder and grabbed my purse. “All my employees and sometimes I have clients in here, why?”
    “Nothing. Curious, I guess.”
    He did not look like it was nothing. I waited for him to head for the front door and followed. After setting the alarm, I locked the glass double doors and started for my Escalade.
    “Wait. Can we take my truck?”
    “Okay.” I looked over at his full-size Ford pick-up. “Are you sure you don’t want to ride in mine? Your tools would probably be safer here…”
    “My tools will be fine, and Tank is with Charlie. I swear it’s clean inside.”
    His truck. All right, I could do this. Jared opened the passenger door and I climbed in before he offered to help. He closed the door and came around to get in the driver’s side.
    The interior cab smelled like him. Suddenly, I wished I could close my eyes and breathe him in, like keeping your first boyfriend’s shirt so you could put it over your pillowcase and drift off to sleep pretending he was beside you. Or maybe I was the only one who did that.
    He drove out of the parking lot carefully, and although the night air was brisk, he kept his window cracked, the cold sting of the wind sending a shiver down my back.
    “My jacket is behind the seat if you need it.”
    “You could roll up your window.”
    He shook his head slowly. “No, I can’t.”
    I wanted to be annoyed, but his profile made it clear he wasn’t being a jerk, he was tense. His hands gripped the wheel like a lifeline, and his eyes never left the road. I reached back and grabbed his coat. It was a leather bomber jacket, and wrapping it around me was as close to being in his arms as I would ever get.
    He pulled into the local pizza joint. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
    Jared jumped out and vanished inside before I could question him further. I sat in the cab of his truck, completely confused, and more than a little curious. Rather than second guess my choice to agree to a meal, I opened the glove box. All the usual paperwork, proof of insurance, registration, and a badge with Tank’s picture. I leaned forward for a closer look.
    A service dog badge. Why would Jared need a service dog?
    He came out with a box and a bag. I quickly closed the glove compartment, feeling guilty for my intrusion.
    Jared handed me the pizza. “Sorry, I should’ve consulted you on the order, but I was pretty sure you’d turn me down tonight, and I figured if by some slim chance you said