Playing for Keeps Read Online Free Page B

sticks. I tried to convince her we could come here on weekends, but I think she knew I'd want to stay once I got here."
    "Y ou got a divorce because of that?"
    He shook his head. "Dee and I were never married. We met in college at O-State, dated around a little bit, and by the time she went off to law school in Kansas we were pretty serious."
    " Oh my, law school in Kansas, huh?" Maddie smiled.
    He shrugged. "It's a good law school, and it was close to home. Are you a snob when it comes to things like that?"
    She chuckled. "No. Just a jab at Dionne. I was already thinking she must not be very bright if she let you slip through her hands."
    He laughed and pushed his plate aside. He leaned back on the blanket to stare up at the sky. "We tried. We really did. Sophie was a surprise, sort of threw a kink in our plans, but she's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
    Maddie loved the way Rob's face lit up when he talked about his daughter. "So, was Dionne finished with law school?"
    " Just barely. She had to push back her bar exam, but she eventually took it and passed on the first try. She got a job right away. I was working for my father at his feed and grain supply. I told him I wanted to work outside, and he thought that's what I meant. I thought it was the most boring thing I've ever done in my life."
    " Feed and grain, eh?" Maddie pondered that as she lay back next to him. "Sounds truly Oklahoman."
    He looked at her. "You, on the other hand, do not. Tell me, where are you from?"
    " What makes you think I'm not from Oklahoma?"
    He grinned. "You offered me a 'soda'. We call it 'pop' around here."
    " Damn." She snapped her fingers. "I've got to remember that."
    Rob rolled up on his side next to her. All the picnic stuff was between them, so he wasn 't too close. "Spill it. Where are you from?"
    Maddie stared at the sky as she answered , "Hartford. Insurance Capital of the world."
    " Connecticut?" He seemed surprised.
    " Only Insurance Capital of the world I know of. Unless someone is trying to sneak in on our territory."
    " How the hell did you wind up in Meridan, Oklahoma?"
    Maddie rolled over to face him. "It's a fascinating story, and I promise to tell you every word. But first I would truly love one kiss."
    He looked at her skeptically. "Were you so tipsy that you don't remember where our 'one kiss' was leading last night?"
    She smiled. "Oh, I remember."
    "We agreed to take our time and get to know each other." He stopped short when she placed two fingers on his lips.
    "I heard what you said, and I appreciate it. I'd been thinking something along those same lines . But I was also thinking we're both adults. What better way to get to know each other?"
    He touched her face. "Only if you're sure. I respect you too much to do anything that might make you uncomfortable, Maddie."
    " Thank you. I just couldn't handle a one night stand then have to see you at work every day."
    He caressed her cheek. "We are not going to have a one night stand. Truth be told, I hoped this would happen when I invited you for lunch today. Sophie's gone for thirty more hours. I'd like to spend the better part of that making love to you."
    A shiver ran down Maddie 's spine and she nodded.
    " But we're going to do this right. Let's get this stuff back to the house. I want to take you to my bed."
    She patted the blanket beneath them . "This is pretty cozy, right here."
    Leaning in to whisper in her ear, he said , "Our first time is going to be a lot of things, but 'cozy' is not high on my list."
    " Whatever you want."
    He nibbled her earlobe. "You know what I want. You, naked, with plenty of time and privacy to act out all the fantasies I've had this week."
    Maddie was instantly aroused by the pure lust she heard in his words. "Let's get going, then."
    They shoved the remnants of the picnic back into the basket, and the trash into another bag. Rob folded the blanket, and they walked hand in hand to his house. "Hey, Bo," he said to the big Golden