Carried Away: A Small Town Romance (The Moore Brothers Book 2) Read Online Free

Her heart started pounding and she paused, trying to remember if she’d left him on his back or his side. What if he’d thrown up while he was sleeping and choked to death?
    Her stomach flip-flopped around with worry while her head was busy admonishing herself for stressing unnecessarily. James was a big boy. He could take care of himself.
    She instantly flashed back to having his body pressed against hers. Hell yeah, he’s a big boy. She was still grinning when her ‘time to open the joint’ alarm went off. She swiped away the alarm and went to unlock the doors and flip the sign so it read open. It wasn’t long before she was lost in a swarm of customers and friendly conversation. Ellie made it her business to get to know her regulars and make new customers want to come back. She memorized orders and life details and asked questions about important stuff in people’s lives when they came in. It wasn’t just a smart business tactic, it was just the way she was wired.
    Just as the morning rush started to die down, the doors jangled open and Ellie’s jaw dropped. There, standing in the doorway, sunglasses on and hair all mussed, was James. He waved and she clamped her mouth shut, finished getting the coffee order ready for the woman at the counter.
    “Hey,” James said as he sidled up to the counter, looking sexy as hell with his sunglasses and scruffy, fuck it I’m not gonna shave this morning beard.
    “It’s not a Saturday,” Ellie said, widening her eyes and trying to ignore her jackhammering heart. “Did you get confused? I never see you in here unless it's Saturday.”
    “Not confused,” he murmured and ran a hand through his hair. “I just wanted to thank you for your help last night.” He raked a hand across his cheek, making a scratching sound against his beard. He leaned on the counter and lowered his voice. “I found your note.”
    “Good. I didn’t want you to worry about your bike. It’s still there, all safe and sound. I drove past Fantastic Sam’s on my way here and saw it this morning.”
    James nodded. “I saw it, too.” He sucked in his lips and rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey, listen.” He swallowed and ran a hand through his hair again. “The details around last night … I’m a little foggy. I remember… ” He lowered his voice again and leaned in really close. “Did we…?”
    Ellie smiled. “Nope. Ellie stuck out her pinky finger. “Scout's honor. I didn’t take advantage of you. Your dignity is intact.”
    James laughed. “I don’t think the scouts stick out pinky fingers like that.”
    She looked down at her finger and then dropped her hand to the counter. “No, I guess they probably don’t.”
    James shook his head and then pulled his glasses down so she could look into his eyes. His horribly bloodshot eyes. “Well, my friend, from what I can remember from last night, any man would count his lucky stars to lose his dignity with you.”
    She couldn’t stop the blush that worked its way across her face anymore than she could stop the warm feeling of happiness that worked its way through her body. Of course, he didn’t really mean it. He was being nice. Or he was being a flirt. Either way, she liked it.
    A line had formed behind James while they were talking. “Well, hey,” she said. “Let me get you a coffee. Might take the edge off the headache.”
    “Bless you, friend.” He had used that word twice now. Friend. Was he trying to make some kind of point?
    “Black, right?”
    “You know it,” he said and the smile that stretched across his lips looked forced.
    Of course. He wasn’t here to flirt. He was here to be nice. Because even when his heart is broken and he’s busy making a million bad decisions and nursing what had to be one hell of a hangover, James Moore was nice. She handed him the coffee and noticed that his knuckles were all bruised and broken open. Had they been like that last night? She hadn’t noticed.
    “Thanks, Ellie,” he said,