All I Need (Hearts of the South) Read Online Free Page A

whatever?”
    “The Penrod is fine.” Savannah took pity on her. Wow, that had to have been a really bad breakup. She looked Emmett and shrugged. “Unless you wanted to look around?”
    “I’m good.” His muted chuckle bordered on a snort. “I’m a regular at the local library, and I have enough required reading for at least three months.”
    Checking out didn’t take long as Lacey seemed nervous and almost desperate to end the interaction, although Emmett had wandered to the front of the store to browse the nonfiction shelves.
    With her purchase tucked in a brown paper shopping bag, Savannah grinned at him once they were outside. “She’s an ex, right?”
    “Oh, yeah.” He tucked his hand under her elbow and steered her toward the diner and her car. “I mean, sort of. We’d been dating a couple of months when I got shot. The long haul of it was a little more than she could stand.”
    “You’re lucky, then.”
    He glanced at her askance, his palm still a warm contact at her elbow. “That she dumped me?”
    “That she didn’t stay until you were more emotionally invested and then dump you.”
    He laughed, a deep rumble that built in his chest and shook his shoulders. “Thanks.”
    “You don’t seem any the worse for wear, Emmett.” She could feel his laughter through the light connection of his hand. “But I’m serious. Obviously, she wasn’t that invested in the relationship, and she could have stayed out of guilt, which I’ve seen people do when someone is sick or injured. Then, they leave anyway, and the patient is bereft for lack of a better word.”
    “I’m not bereft over Lacey.” A small frown brought his brows together. “I’m not sure I ever was. The only thing that makes it uncomfortable is that the whole town knows, and they all seem to think I should be bereft.”
    “Small towns are the pits.” She used the remote to unlock the car. He opened the driver’s door, waited until she was behind the wheel, then walked around to ease into the passenger seat. She fired the engine and smiled as cool air washed over them. “I’m glad we did this.”
    “Me too.” He shifted sideways in his seat, pale blue gaze holding hers. “This wasn’t a date.”
    Back to uninterested. She reached for the gearshift. “No, it wasn’t.”
    “Too bad.” His warm hand covered hers on the shift lever. Her gaze jerked to his, and a lazy smile quirked at his mouth. “Because I damn sure want to kiss you good night.”

Chapter Two
    “It’s mutual.” Her warm fingers flexed under his on the gearshift, but for once, that perfect mouth didn’t have a smile. “I’m not looking for a traditional dating relationship, Emmett. I’d like to spend time with you, and I’m not averse to exploring the physical side of things.”
    “You’re suggesting we be fuck buddies?”
    “If we decide we’re that attracted, sure.” She shrugged. “If not, we hang out and stay friends.”
    His brain felt somewhat like it was short-circuiting. “That’s a little cold, Savannah.”
    “I don’t want to be emotionally invested.”
    He stared at the sidewalk beyond the windshield. This had to be the oddest relationship conversation he’d ever had with a woman. Usually they wanted hearts and flowers and all the feelings, right up front. The crazy thing was…it wasn’t a bad idea. He hoped to start a new career phase, and he didn’t really have time for a relationship.
    But damn it, he was tired of being alone all the time too. Besides, if it were all about sex and friendship, he didn’t have to worry about her leaving him.
    “There could be another advantage for you.” Savannah’s quiet, even voice interrupted his thoughts. “Our being seen together could dispel the lingering gossip about you and Lacey.”
    “Well, hell, why didn’t you say that sooner?” He gave her a quick grin, but then frowned. “I’ve never done anything like this. Have you?”
    “No. Kind of like you, I haven’t gotten out much