Read Bargain in Bronze for Free Online Page B

him.
    “I guess I’ve got bad manners then.” He carelessly shrugged. “How old?”
    “Twenty-four.”
    “That’s hardly a cougar gap between you and Tom.”
    She knew she shouldn’t ask, knew it had no relevance to this conversation, knew it was taking things a step towards the intimate. But she couldn’t stop the words from tumbling from her mouth. “How old are you?”
    “Twenty-nine.”
    “You act older.”
    His gaze sharpened. “How old do I act?”
    “Like a middle-aged, strict father. Stuck in his ways.”
    “No youthful impulsiveness?” he asked wryly.
    “None,” she declared. “And I’m not interested in Tom. He’s cute but he’s—”
    “Cute?” Jack laughed. “You’re calling my elite-athlete baby brother cute?”
    “He is cute. Kind of like a toy action figure. Very admirable too. But he’s not the man for me. No one is the man for me.”
    “Is that right?”
    She’d been wrong in reading his stance as relaxed. He moved so fast she didn’t even see it all—she was just in his arms all of a sudden. Her body pressed to his—the maple bottle a small hard lump between them. Her mouth parted on an instinctive gasp, but it wasn’t breath that filled her. It was Jack. Not a bruising, dominating invasion, but a simple kiss, then another. Firm brushes of hot lips—until she opened up more, lifted her chin higher. He had one hand on the small of her back, one hand lower, cupping her butt, slowly pressing her closer to him the deeper the kiss grew. His tongue flicked into her mouth—a tease before withdrawing. Stirred, she did the same, taking this moment of bliss for herself. Their tongues tangled, then took turns to explore. She kissed him every bit as fervently—lush and wet. Sensation swished through her like a tumbling waterfall. His muscular, broad body held hers, his hands still rocking her in small movements—closer, ever closer in time with the caresses of his tongue and lips and it wasn’t just the glass bottle that was digging hard into her now. She yearned not to rock but to thrust— hard . The ache opened in her womb, need knifing into her. Heat that could only be doused by him—deep inside.
    Her hands gripped the maple bottle so hard it was a wonder it didn’t shatter and slice her palms. She was so close to inviting him in. In seconds this had become insane.
    She jerked back, out of his arms. His breathing was irregular, but was nothing on her embarrassing panting .
    “Um, um…” Great. Kissed into confusion. Only one thought dominated her brain and it wasn’t one to be uttered aloud. More . “Um…”
    “You’re good with words,” he teased— so cocky.
    Pleased with himself, wasn’t he?
    “Yes.” Libby clawed back her sensibility. “I’m a copywriter during the day,” she said primly.
    His mouth twitched. “No wonder your website reads so well.”
    He’d looked at it when he was researching what had happened to her business? “You are the suspicious sort aren’t you?”
    “I prefer to think of it as curious . Just like you,” he answered calmly. “And in a way it’s a compliment.”
    “You thinking I was some kind of scheming witch wasn’t a compliment,” she fired at him, needing to regain some distance.
    “Okay.” He laughed. “It’s not that you’re a scheming witch. It’s that you’re so beguiling, any guy with the good fortune to be in your presence wouldn’t have a hope of concentrating on anything he was supposed to.”
    “Oh that’s good and grovelly,” she breathed.
    “Flattery works,” he said smoothly.
    “You think?”
    “You know, you were right about me. That kiss wasn’t impulsive. I’ve been plotting it for hours now.”
    She licked her lips, swallowing to buy a moment and settle the reaction to those words. Because her reaction was too much. She really needed to get a grip. “So this is the real reason you’re offering me the deal?”
    “It could be part of it. I’m serious about not distracting Tom