Dare to Resist (a Wedding Dare novella) (Entangled Brazen) Read Online Free Page A

couldn’t see Kady putting up with being manhandled and controlled in bed for even one minute.
    “Sonofabitch,” he muttered beneath his breath as he forced his body under control and followed Kady back around the sidewalk to the office. She glanced over her shoulder, a question clear in those beautiful eyes. He hiked his computer case higher on his shoulder and pretended not to notice.
    Inside, Kady marched up to the desk and laid her key on the counter. “Excuse me?”
    “Welcome to paradise,” the old man said. Kady didn’t laugh this time, though she did make an Oh my God, would you get a load of this guy? face over her shoulder at him. “Oh, you again, missy?” Colton smiled to himself as he imagined her reaction if he called her “missy.”
    “Yes, sir. It’s raining in my room. I need another.”
    The man cupped his hand to his ear. “Eh?”
    “It’s raining in my current room,” she said slower and louder. “Can I please get a different room?”
    For a long moment, the old dude just stared at her. No discernible reaction. “Oh, that’s right,” he finally said with a slow nod. “Two has a leak.”
    Colton coughed to hide his laugh and covered his mouth with his fist.
    “Um, with all due respect, sir. It’s raining in room two. As in, actual rain. In the room. On the furniture. On the carpet. On the bed.” She offered a hand motion that was apparently meant to illustrate the point.
    The man stared at her hand like it might reveal the meaning of life and then shrugged when it didn’t. “I just work the desk, but I’ll let ’em know.”
    Kady looked back at Colton with a totally bewildered expression on her face. He gave her a wink.
    “Uh, okay,” she said as she tucked her long, wavy black hair behind her ears. It was longer than when he’d last seen her at Christmas, which made it even sexier. His hand twitched at the memory of how soft and thick her hair was, not to mention the thought of how damn good it would feel fisted in his hand while he—
    “So, have any rooms without a leak?” she asked.
    “O’ course,” the man said, glancing at the television. “Except we don’t have any vacancies.”
    She settled her purse and laptop bag on the counter. “You mean—”
    “Booked,” the guy said, pointing at a long row of empty hooks on the wall above him. Colton hadn’t realized the significance of that emptiness when he’d checked in because it hadn’t mattered then. He glanced out the door and saw the blurred shapes and colors of cars parked here and there along the front of the building. And then he recalled the private who drove them here saying this motel represented the only accommodations in town. His stomach began the long, slow crawl into his shoes.
    “There must be something you can do,” she said, the first real hint of being upset slipping into her voice.
    “Wish there was,” he said.
    Kady’s fists curled around the straps to her bags and she looked down as if collecting herself. “Okay,” she whispered, her shoulders rising and falling as if she’d taken a deep breath. “Thanks, anyway,” she said as she glanced up again. Grabbing her things, she slowly walked across the office. “Well…”
    An idea came to mind, and as revolting as it was, it was miles better than the alternative. “Uh, sir?” Colton asked, approaching the counter. “Can you tell me what room my friend is in? Albert Beckstein?”
    “Seven,” the man said, not looking away from the television.
    Good to know security was rock-solid here. But at least they didn’t have to go knocking. “Come on,” he said to Kady as he hit the door.
    “Wait. You’re gonna—”
    “Bunk with Beckstein. Only reasonable solution,” he said, glad that the narrow sidewalk forced them to walk single file. That way he couldn’t see whatever expression she might be wearing right now. Because anything in the neighborhood of disappointment or disagreement might do very bad things to his self-control.