Read After Sundown for Free Online

through the kitchen , " Sarah explained. "We need to finish our game before the pizza is done." With those words , the girls raced from the room and dashed up the staircase , leading to the bedrooms.
    Walking quietly through the kitchen, Cole recalled his encounter with Kit in the room . God, it had been exciting and hot. If it wasn't for those damned tears, he would have taken her on the Formica top. The memory stirred a tightening in his groin .
    He found Kit at her desk; her head slumped in a dejected pose, leaning against her forearms which rested a top a pile of papers. He instantly recognized the assortment of paper - b ills. He remembered what both Kit's neighbor and Sonny had said. She was having a hard time making ends meet.
    "Kit , " he said softly. She startled and sat up quickly when she heard him call out her name. He walked to the side of her desk.
    "The girls let me in , " h e explained quietly, looking down into her face. He noticed the dark circles below her eyes. Her complexion was pale. "I hope you don't mind."
    "Where did the girls go?" Kit asked, her voice stiff as she stood up and brushed away imaginary wrinkles from her pink skirt.
    "They went upstairs, said something about finishing a game before the pizza was done."
    "Oh yes," she muttered absently as her hand brushed stray tendrils off her forehead, "I promised them pizza. I didn' t think you'd be here until six- thirty. I still need to put the pizza in the oven." They stood facing each other ; four feet separated them.
    "I don't mean to put you out , " Cole said hesitantly, his fingers raked through his hair. Dark eyes swept over Kit, beginning at her tousled blonde streaked curls, her pale face , which suddenly flushed in embarrassment, to the full swell of her breast beneath a snugly fitting white knit blouse , and down to her bare feet.
    "Don't you?" s he snapped , and then she took a hesitant step backwards.
    "I'm not going to hurt you, Kit , " h e whispered softly. Cole couldn't remember a time he wanted a specific woman as much as he wanted Kit Landon. The urge to draw her into his embrace and toss up her skirt was over whelming. He couldn't help wondering if she would be as wet as she had been on the dance floor and in the kitchen. In spite of the tears, he did not doubt for a momen t, she felt the attraction as keenly as he did . He suspected her tears stemmed more from her inability to control her body's reactions than over a fear of him .
    "I need to put the pizza in the oven , " s he said quickly, then stepped around Cole and walked into the kitchen. Instead of following close at her heels, he lounged in the doorway, reluctant to make her uneasy.
    "Megan seems very happy here , " Cole remarked as he wa tched Kit's graceful movements as she leaned over and placed the pizza in the oven. After closing the oven door, she absently wiped dow n the already clean counter top with a dishrag.
    "It's only been one day , " Kit snapped, yet added softly , " t he girls get along very well. Megan's a very sweet little girl."
    "Course, she'll talk your ear of f, " Cole chuckled.
    "Yes," Kit couldn’t help but laugh at his observation , "she does have quite a bit to say." Kit quickly turned and faced Cole.
    "Do you really want me to watch Megan?" Kit asked softly, her expression serious. Megan was a sweet child, Sarah enjoyed the company, and Kit could really use the extra money.
    "I'm very serious about my child's welfare. You come highly recommended and if she continues to be as happy as she seems today, I would like y ou to agree to the arrangement. "
    "If you plan to use this as a ploy to . . ."
    "Seduce you?" He finished her sentence as he took a step into the kitchen.
    "I guess that's what I'm asking."
    "Kit, anything between you and me will be separate from our arrangement con cerning my daughter , " he said in an even voice.
    "There will be nothing between us , " s he stated. He t ook another step in her direction.
    "There already is , " h is