The Promise of Love Read Online Free

now, he knows what he’s doing. Come over here and we’ll see what Will finds out.”
    She nodded and backed over next to him then did the oddest thing. She gave him a head to toe glance, shaking her head. “You two are really tall, aren’t you?”
    Will snorted but shot her a smile—something his buddy hadn’t done much in the past few years. “It helps being guys, you know?”
    She nodded seriously, as if that made sense to her.
    David had the irresistible urge to hug her. He shoved his hands into his parka to keep them off her. For some insane reason when she did that he wanted to haul her in close. Maybe because she was so damn cute taking Will seriously.
    “You’re in the service?” she asked. “American military?”
    “We were,” he told her, because Will was already tinkering with the engine, clearly only half listening. If David had to guess, Will would not only fix the car, he’d make it run like new—all to impress one little blonde they’d just met. Or maybe her friend—David considered recalling how intense Will had checked out the other girl.
    “Yes, that would help, wouldn’t it? Being so…” She tilted her head to examine them again. “Big.”
    “Not always. Some of the other guys are bigger. I’m only six-three. Will’s what? Six-one?”
    Will nodded.
    “Well, compared to five-two that’s pretty tall,” Paris offered.
    “Yeah, well, size doesn’t always matter.” The comment went completely over her head.
    Will shot him a cool-it frown. Since neither of them were lacking in that department, he couldn’t offer to see if the saying was true or not.
    “Besides, I know a woman that can hold her own in anything and she’s about the same size as you,” he admitted.
    “Really?” she asked, sounding interested.
    “Absolutely.” Will stood. “It’s a belt. We can get one in town. I should have you back on the road tomorrow. Do you want us to take you somewhere? Home?”
    “Oh,” Paris murmured, shifting her feet again. “I don’t live here, but yes, if you don’t mind, I rented a hotel room in town. I could use a ride, and I guess you two are safe enough,” she teased.
    David ducked his head to hide the rush of anticipation he experienced. Would he be able to interest her in more? He wanted more. He wanted a lot more and he knew, without asking him, his buddy would be on board as well. Again, David felt a rush of anxiety at the thought of sharing her, but more, his brain seemed to spin on the possibility of there not being a chance at more after the heat settled. What if I go for sex and that is all I get from her? Sex.
    Why does that bother me? Isn’t sex the goal?
    It was always the goal when it had been this long without it. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his jacket sleeve and thought about that. Hell, that made him sound like some guy only after a girl for one thing, like Walters. He wasn’t that kind of man, but when he met someone he was interested in, he pursued. It might not be for more than a brief time, a few weeks, maybe longer, but sometimes he was too engaged in a mission to offer more.
    Suddenly that didn’t sit well. And it wouldn’t work with her—Paris.
    What the hell is wrong with me? Now, out in the middle of the freezing wilderness, I’m getting a conscience about sleeping with women—women who only want to sleep with me?
    “ We can take you into town, no problem,” he offered, trying to dislodge the misgivings.
    “That’s right,” Will said, shutting the hood. “You’re never gonna be safer, right, Jansen?”
    David swallowed and got his head back on straight. She would be safe. He’d never pushed a woman into anything, no matter that he suddenly felt wrong about never having had a real relationship with one. Paris wouldn’t be safer, and for some reason he wanted to be the man who made sure of that.
    The thought had him staring at her, trying to figure out what it was about Paris that made his head spin faster than any jump from