Free To Live by Dori Lavelle

think? Do you think that's true?"
    Kelsey swallowed her carrot. "I don't know you... not really. You don't say much about yourself." She held her breath. Having him so close was making her dizzy.
    Shaun dipped a finger into the dip and lifted it to her lips. She hesitated for a moment, but then parted her lips and allowed his finger to slip in. She sucked the dip off quickly and turned her head. Why in the world did she do that? Now there was a tingling between her legs she was finding hard to ignore.
    "Looks like you're enjoying the dip," Shaun whispered, a note of humor in his voice.
    Kelsey blushed. "I... yes. It's great." Oh God, what was he doing to her?
    Shaun moved closer until his lips were only a whisper from hers. "Kelsey, I haven't slept with every woman in this town... yet. And I don't break women's hearts. They do it to themselves." His voice was raw now. "I'm always honest about what I want and don't want. Many choose to ignore that." He stood and returned to the stove, putting his focus back on the meal he was preparing.
    Kelsey didn't know what to say to that.
    "Ready to eat?" he asked a few minutes later. The man she'd had a sneak peek of a few minutes ago was gone, and the friendly neighbor was back.
    They ate mostly in silence. Though the fish and vegetable stir fry was delicious, Kelsey was unable to concentrate on her food. Her emotions were all over the place; she thought of his finger inside her mouth, the passionate look in his eyes when he'd made his confession about loving women. He was bad news, even if he was magnetic. If she got entangled with him, she'd get hurt. He'd pretty much made it clear he wasn't interested in more than sex.
    There was only one thing for her to do. She had to take a step back. She couldn't risk her heart for a one-night stand.
    ***
    After Kelsey left, Shaun opened the dishwasher. He had just started to rinse the plates when his cell phone rang. He wiped his hands with a dishcloth and picked up, frowning.
    "Shaun, Branna here. Where are you? I thought you were coming over tonight. I can also come to your place, if you like."
    Shaun massaged his left temple. He had completely forgotten about her. "Actually," he said, "Tonight won't be possible. Something came up. I was just about to call you." It was a lie.
    There was a pause on the other end, but when Branna spoke, her voice was hopeful. "Okay, that's fine. How about tomorrow? I have the day off. I could cook you dinner."
    "No." Shaun leaned against the table. "I'm afraid this whole week will be crazy for me. I have a lot of writing to do." This was exactly why he made it a point to never sleep with the same woman more than once. Branna was a waitress at Conaire's Corner, with red hair and a great body. He'd broken his own rule and slept with her twice. Now she was going on as if they were a couple. He had to put an end to it now before it became too complicated. He inhaled sharply. "Look, Branna, you're great. And it was fun, but—"
    "Are you dumping me?" Her voice was a faint squeak. "I thought..."
    Shaun gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry, I don't do this. I don't date. I did tell you, remember? I was up-front with you."
    "I thought you were joking."
    "I don't joke about things like that."
    Well," Branna's voice had transformed into a thin razorblade, "fuck you." The phone went dead.
    Shaun raked a hand through his hair and swore under his breath. Kelsey was to blame for this mess. Since the day he met her, he'd found it hard to focus on other women. The second time he had sex with Branna, a few days ago, it had been Kelsey he’d made love to.
    But Kelsey was the one woman he didn't want to get involved with. If he touched her, he'd end up breaking all his rules.

Chapter Ten
    "Door's open," Sarah called from inside their cottage.
    Kelsey moved the basket to her left hand and pushed the door open. It still amazed her how people in Dreara didn't think twice about leaving their doors unlocked. That would never happen in