Free Caroline's Seduction (Montgomery Family and Friends) by Iris Abbott Page B

watched Kyle hold open the door and followed Sarah inside the restaurant.  Kyle came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder.  “Don’t get any ideas,” he whispered.   “We’re only here because it’s one of Sarah’s favorites and it was close by.  I’m not trying to recreate our first date or anything like that.”
    Caroline gave him a bitter look.  “Kyle, trust me when I say that thought never crossed my mind.  The very last thing I want is to “ recreate” anything with you.”  She shook off his hand and picked up her pace so that she could catch up with Sarah and the maître d’.  He pulled the chair out for her and Caroline was thankful he was the one to seat her and not Kyle.  She didn’t plan to let him get within touching distance of her again.  If she’d ever needed a reminder of what Kyle had put her through four years before, she had it and she wasn’t about to forget again.
    Sarah spent most of the dinner trying to explain some of the dresses she’d tried on and discarded.  “Thank goodness Caroline was there.  She was a really big help.  And wait till you see the dress she picked out.  She’s always pretty, but she’s a definite knockout in that dress.  I just hope it doesn’t cause a riot at the dance.”
    Kyle changed the subject real quick.  Being this close to Caroline was having an unwanted effect on his senses.  The last thing he needed to be doing right now was imaging her in a sexy evening gown.  The thought of other men ogling her at the upcoming dance did not sit well with him either.  “I’m sure Caroline wouldn’t wear anything inappropritate.  Have you made carpool arrangements with Mrs. Blake?”
    Sarah nodded.  “Yes she is going to drop Jay and me off at the dance and you’re supposed to pick us up.  Don’t forget the dance ends at midnight.  I know you won’t have any meetings that time of night, so don’t be late.”
    Caroline let out an inner sigh of relief.  If Abigail was dropping Sarah and Jay off at the dance the chances of running into Kyle were slim to none.  Since he had pickup duty, he’d probably just wait in the car and let the teens find him when they were ready to leave.  She hadn’t thought he would be the kind to volunteer as a chaperone for the dance.  Thank goodness she’d just been proved right.  It would be torture trying to stay out of his way for the entire dance.  And if he happened to dance with someone other than Sarah, Caroline gave a little shudder.  She didn’t even want to think about that.
    Kyle broke into her thougths.  “What’s wrong Caroline?  Are you cold?  I think we’re all finshed anyway.”  He raised his hand to summon the waiter and the check.
    Caroline wisely kept her thoughts to herself and grabbed at the excuse Kyle offered.  “It is a little chilly in here,” she agreed with a half smile.  And she decided that was actually true in more ways than one.
    Caroline wanted to avoid tedious conversation on the way home.  She let out a smothered yawn and curled her body into the door.  It worked.  No one disturbed her and the smooth rocking of the vehicle along with the comfortable and soothing sounds of classic rock soon lulled her into a sound sleep.
    Caroline was so deep in slumber, she didn’t even wake when the motion of the car stopped.  Sarah looked at her dad.  “I don’t think she gets enough rest.  She works almost as many hours as you do, dad.”
    Kyle got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, where a sleeping Caroline was waiting for him.  He carefully opened the door and lightly shook her shoulder. “Caroline we’re home.  It’s time to wake up now.”
    Caroline didn’t want to leave the warm comfort of slumber that enclosed her.  She mumbled an incoherent answer to the voice bugging her and snuggled deeper into the warmth on her right side.
    Kyle felt her snuggle closer to him and let out a pentup sigh of frustration.  He gave